Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park: Travel Guide
Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of California’s northern national parks. It has two main entrances that lead to the 30 mile (48km) highway through the park and also has 150 miles (242km) of trails to explore. The park is best known for its hydrothermal activity and for containing all 4 types of volcanoes! Sometimes known as “little Yellowstone”, this volcanic park is a hidden gem of northeastern California.
In this article:
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Visiting Lassen National Park
Visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park takes more planning than other parks in California due to its extended road closures during the winter months. This usually lasts until May/June each year and you can find more information of the road opening from the parks website here. The park is still open year-round and can be a great place to visit during the winter for activities like snow-shoeing and cross country skiing.
We went in early June, just after the roads had opened again. The weather was great on our trip, but there was still a lot of snow on the mountains and the Lassen Peak trail.
Manzanita Lake Campground
When we visited Lassen National Park, camping was limited to only a few campgrounds as many were still closed due to snow and unavailable to book online. Manzanita Lake campground was a great option for camping at Lassen National Park and entering from the north side of the park. If you are visiting early into the season (after the snowmelt), then I’d recommend this option.
At Manzanita Lake campground, the campsites are well-spaced out and have a picnic table, fire pit and food storage locker. The best part about this campground is that you can walk to Manzanita Lake which has stunning views of Lassen Peak in the distance! This is a great spot to be for sunset.
Campgrounds in Lassen Volcanic National Park:
Manzanita Lake
Southwest (near Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center and southern park entrance)
Summit Lake North
Summit Lake South
Warner Valley
Juniper Lake
Butte Lake
There are several options when it comes to camping near Lassen and within the national park. You can book your Lassen National Park camping here.
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Lassen Peak Trail
Hiking Lassen Peak was definitely the highlight of our trip, but a challenging hike to do in the snow! Lassen Peak is one of the largest lava domes in the world and happens to have very rewarding views from the top. We hiked this trail when there were some parts of the trail that were still covered in snow and would be quite challenging to pass without shoe spikes.
There is plenty of parking right at the trailhead, but I would imagine that it gets quite busy during the summer time when the snow has melted. There is very little shade on the trail, so definitely remember to wear sunglasses and sunscreen and consider starting this trail earlier in the day.
The trail is open year-round but should not be attempted in the winter time unless you are experienced and prepared!
About the trail:
4.9 mile (7.8km) out & back
Difficulty: Hard
Time: 3hr30min
Elevation Start: 8,500ft
Elevation Gain: 1,971ft
Best time to visit Lassen Volcanic National Park
What is the best time to visit Lassen Volcanic National Park?
Mid-summer to early autumn (May to October) is the best time to visit for the best weather and opportunity to see the most in Lassen Volcanic. Most visit during July and August due to the clear roads and trails. This is also the best time to see the hydrothermal features as they can be covered in snow even in the early summer!
During the winter time (December to April), the park is still technically open and entrance fees are lower, however the 30-mile park road is closed. Skiing and snowshoeing on the trails is the only option in winter.
How many days should you spend in Lassen?
Two to three days would be enough to see plenty of the park.
Best things to do in Lassen Volcanic National Park
The best things to do in Lassen Volcanic National Park depend on the time of year, but the top activities include:
Hiking
Manzanita Lake Loop (1.9mi)
Ridge Lakes Trail (2.0mi)
Bumpass Hell (2.7mi)
Cinder Cone Trail (4.7mi)
Lassen Peak (4.9mi)
Camping
Most of the campgrounds are located near beautiful mountain lakes that can be explored. Also due to the remoteness of this park, it is a great place for stargazing when camping overnight.
Scenic Drive
The 30-mile road easily takes you past lakes, meadows, Lassen Peak and Sulfur Works. If you don’t have much time, you can still see a lot of the park from the road.
Snowshoeing & Cross-country skiing
The winter activities and trails are almost endless at Lassen, you can also backcountry ski, sled, snowboard, and do ranger-led snowshoe walks. Note that pets are not allowed on snow-covered routes.
Seeing the hydrothermal features (Sulfur Works)
Bumpass Hell - the largest hydrothermal area in Lassen Volcanic.
Sulfur Works - the only hydrothermal feature that is accessible year-round (by an over-snow snowshoe route in the winter) and during the spring & summer it can be viewed via a sidewalk next to the road and parking area.
Boiling Springs Lake
Devil’s Kitchen
Terminal Geyser
Cold Boiling Lake
Tips for visiting Lassen National Park
The most important part of planning your trip to this park is to keep checking the weather a few days before you go. This is especially important if you plan to visit in the early summer, but also during the middle of summer when there can be wildfires in the region.
Go for a few days, rather than one day if possible. Whilst you can drive through the whole park in a day, it does take time to drive there from the nearest towns and won’t leave much time for longer hikes such as Lassen Peak.
Make sure your car is filled up with fuel (and snacks) before getting to the entrance. It is a pretty remote part of the state so it’s best to be prepared ahead of time in the closest towns (Chester, Red Bluff, Redding, Chico).
Consider adding Mt. Shasta to your itinerary which is only a 1hr45min drive away from the park and another beautiful area and mountain.
Is it worth visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park?
It is definitely worth visiting Lassen if you are in the northern part of California and can be combined with visiting Redwoods National & State Parks on the coast like we did!
Can you drive through Lassen Volcanic National Park?
Yes, when the road is open, you can easily drive through the entire park on a well-paved and maintained road. There is a lot of effort put into clearing the 30 mile road of snow each year and you can follow the progress like I did on the park’s website here.
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