Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of California’s most underrated national parks, this diverse park has it all! The dormant, Lassen Peak Volcano, shares the spotlight with a plethora of bubbling mud pots, boiling springs, and rumbling steam vents. Contrasting the volcanic terrain are alpine lakes, conifer forests, breezy meadows, plummeting waterfalls, vast meadows and smoking fumaroles. A trip to Lassen Volcanic National Park is sure to leave you eager to dive even deeper into this diverse landscape!
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When to Visit Lassen
Lassen Volcanic National Park has a very short window of time when it’s widely accessible, due to all of the snow that the park receives. There is one main highway that runs through the park connecting the northwest entrance to the southwest entrance. The highway usually closes due to snow in late October and often doesn’t reopen until the snow clears in the summer (usually in July or mid-August).
To experience Lassen Volcanic National Park in its entirety and have the best weather, you will want to visit in late August or September. In the summer months, you can expect warm daytime temperatures and cool evening temperatures with averaging highs of 82 degrees and lows of 39 degrees.
Keep in mind that the temperature decreases with elevation (which changes drastically throughout the park), I would recommend wearing layers!
Now, that’s not to say that Lassen isn’t worth visiting in the winter. In the winter, Lassen offers a whole new experience and is breathtakingly beautiful! However, if you want to be able to see the majority of the park, then you definitely want to stick to August and September!
Helpful Tips in Lassen
Lassen is more bare bones than other larger national parks in California, such as Yosemite, and there are very few services offered. With services being limited year-round, it is important to plan ahead.
- There is only one gas station within the park, located at the Manzanita Visitor Center (and it isn’t cheap). I would recommend filling up your tank before entering the park.
- Lassen has only two general stores in the entire park (located at the visitor centers). Bring water and extra snacks! In the summer, there are places to fill your water at each of the campgrounds. If you visit in the winter, the water is shut off at all campgrounds, but you can fill your water at the Southwest Entrance visitor center.
- There is little to no cell service within the park, bring a map with you or be sure to grab one at the visitor center on your way into the park!
Where to Stay in Lassen Volcanic
Drakesbad Guest Ranch
Drakesbad Guest Ranch is located in the scenic Warner Valley, near the southeast section of the park. The only lodge within the park, Drakesbad is open June through mid-October. Providing access to several trails, guided horseback tours, fishing, and even a swimming pool (that is naturally heated by the hot springs), Drakesbad Guest Ranch is perfect for a relaxing getaway to Lassen Volcanic National Park!
A room at the lodge is all-inclusive, and includes three meals a day, making planning an ease!
Camping
There are seven campgrounds to choose from in the park, with Manzanita Lake being the most popular. Most of the campgrounds are open late-May through early-October, and Southwest Campground is the only campground that remains open year-round, Reservations are recommended for all of the campgrounds in the peak season from July to early-September. Check out the NPS website for more information on the campgrounds. The majority of Lassen Volcanic National Park is designated wilderness, so there are also several options for backcountry exploration. For more information on obtaining a backcountry permit, read Lassen’s backcountry camping guide.
Note: For lodging options outside of the park, the closest options are in Plumas County!
Best Things to Do in Lassen Volcanic National Park
Sulphur Works
Located right along the park highway, Sulphur Works is one of the easiest hydrothermal areas to access in Lassen Volcanic National Park. It’s impossible to miss, as steam rises to the sky out of this bubbling mud pot.
A short interpretive path loops around smelly steam vents, rumbling vents, called fumaroles, and bubbling mud pots.
The largest mud pot is about five feet in diameter and is located right next to the sidewalk, making it easy to see during a quick stop!
Bumpass Hell
Bumpass Hell is the most popular trail in Lassen, and for good reason! This 2-mile round trip hike takes you up close to the largest concentration of hydrothermal features within Lassen Volcanic National Park.
The trail curls up and over the mountain past sweeping views of the valley below leading to a boardwalk that traverses over mud pots, fumaroles & boiling springs.
The boardwalk gets you so close that you can feel the warmth of the bubbling pools…and smell the sulfur from within them!
Lake Helen
Located directly across from the Bumpass Hell trailhead, you can find the sparkling blue, Lake Helen. Lake Helen is an alpine lake tucked at the base of Lassen Peak, offering spectacular views of the dormant volcano and its surrounding peaks! The lake can be seen from the Lassen Volcanic National Highway, but to truly take it in, I highly recommend stopping for a quick dip or a scenic picnic on the lakeshore!
Lassen Peak (Volcano)
Lassen Peak, a volcano that last erupted in 1915, remains one of the largest plug dome volcanoes in the world. Now dormant, you can trek 5 miles (while gaining 1,957 feet in elevation) up to the 10,457 foot summit to take in sweeping views of the park!
Kings Creek Meadow and Falls Trail
No hiking is required to enjoy the beauty of Kings Creek Meadow, as it is located right off the road, though you will feel worlds away as you hear the soft babbling of Kings Creek as it meanders through the lush grasses and wildflowers. Black-tailed deer frequent Kings Creek Meadow, making this perfect spot to set up a blanket and enjoy the wildlife while taking in spectacular views of Lassen Peak in the distance.
Kings Creek Meadow is an excellent spot for stargazing!
If you are up for a hike, then continue through the meadow via the 2.2 mile loop Kings Creek Falls trail to a beautiful 30 foot waterfall draped in ferns. The hike itself includes views of expansive vistas and Kings Creek flowing through several meadows before making a gradual 700 foot descent down to view the falls and then back up a steep, narrow stone staircase.
Devastated Area Interpretive Trail
Offering excellent views of the east side of Lassen Peak, this short and easy half-mile loop is filled with the history of Lassen’s eruption in 1915. Wandering through pink and gray lava rocks, you can learn more about the eruption and view its lasting impact on the area.
Cinder Cone Trail and Painted Dunes
Not for the faint of heart, the hike to the top of Cinder Cone is well worth the effort. The trail is 4 miles roundtrip, and climbs gently at first, past views of Fantastic Lava Beds and then steepens as you finish the climb up to the top of this dormant volcano. Once reaching the top, you get to stand at the crater looking into the volcano while enjoying breathtaking views of Prospect Peak, Lassen Peak, Snag Lake, and the Fantastic Lava Beds.
In addition to vast mountain views, this trail offers a close up view of the Painted Dunes, which are small round pumice hills that formed from layers of oxidized volcanic ash. The top of the dunes are red and look like something you’d find on Mars.
Cinder Cone Trailhead is at the Butte Lake Campground, which requires leaving the park and circling around it and then re-entering. Just a heads up, the road down to the campground is on a gravel forest service road, and there’s no signage that you are in the right place until you arrive closer to Butte Lake.
Manzanita Lake
Manzanita Lake is one of the most photographed lakes in Lassen and for good reason! This picturesque lake offers great vantage points for photographers to capture Lassen Peak’s reflection in the clear blue water. Walk the 1.6 mile loop around the pine tree lined lake while looking for otters frolicking about.
Reflection Lake
Right across from Manzanita Lake is Reflection Lake, a slightly smaller lake with a stunning reflection of Chaos Crags mountain in the water! If you have time, stroll the 1 mile loop path around the lake’s shores.
What are you most excited to see in Lassen? Let us know in the comments:)
