Lassen Volcanic National Park | OK Which Way

Lassen Volcanic National Park

The highlights of Lassen Volcanic National Park are the features related to its active volcano status. Steam vents, mudpots and boiling pools can all be found within the park, as well as four types of volcanoes. Lassen Peak was originally a national monument, but following its eruption in 1915 was designated a national park.

Lassen Volcanic National Park is located a bit out of the way in northern California, about an hour and a half drive from Redding and three hours from Klamath Falls.

Lassen Volcanic National Park sign | OK Which Way

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Park Info

Location: northern California. Hour and half SE of Redding
Established: Designated a National Park in 1916
Elevation: 5650′ +
Things to See: Lassen Peak, hydrothermal features, rim of a caldera
Things to Do: hike a cinder cone, rent a kayak at Manzanita Lake, snowshoe in the winter
Lodging/Camping: Lodging is available at Drakesbad Guest Ranch. Cabins are an option at Manzanita Lake. Multiple campgrounds are scattered throughout the park.
Food: Food options are available at the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center, the Camper Store at the Manzanita Lake Campground, and Drakesbad Guest Ranch. Offerings are limited during the winter.
Dogs: Pets are welcome in parking areas, campgrounds, and picnic areas.
Entrance Fee: $30/vehicle click here to see current fee pricing
Park Maps: Link to park maps

Thinking about Going for a Hike?

Things to keep in mind when hiking Lassen Volcanic National Park:

1. The park is at a high elevation, which makes breathing more difficult. Be kind to yourself and allow a little extra time.

2. Many of the trails are exposed to the sun, so keep in mind sun protection and drink plenty of water.

3. Trust the experts in cautioning us that the hydrothermal areas are piping hot. Don’t touch them. The acid can irritate your skin even if it’s not hot.

Best Time to Visit

The park itself is open year round. Summer and Fall are the best time to visit, though, with easy access to all the park has to offer. During the winter, the Lassen National Park Highway is closed. You can enter the park from the south and stop at the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center, as well as the Sulphur Works nearby. The Manzanita Lake area in the northern part of the park is also open. However, you can’t drive from one end to other like you can in the warmer months.

Transportation

You will need your own vehicle to travel through Lassen Volcanic National Park. There are not public shuttles in the park. Unleaded gas may be available at the Manzanita Lake Campground, but other than that there aren’t any fuel stations within the park. Two charging stations are in the visitor center parking lot.

Audio Tour

Using the NPS Mobile App, you can listen and learn during your drive through the park. Numbered markers are along the road indicating which section to listen to. Be sure to download the audio, as cell service is not great in park.

Lassen Volcanic National Park meadow | OK Which Way

8 Things to See and Do in 1 Day

The park is divided into five sections. It is unlikely you will get to visit all five in one day. The easiest to visit in one day are the Manzanita Lake area and the Southwest Area. The Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway connects these sections and the road has been newly paved. The road is windy, but in great condition. It takes about an hour to drive from one end to the other.

1. Visit the Loomis Museum

The Loomis Museum is located near the NW entrance, so will likely be your first stop or your last. The building was constructed in 1927 of native stone and concrete. Stop in to view geological and native american exhibits, watch the park film, stamp your Passport To Your National Parks book, or purchase a souvenir.

In 1975, the Loomis Museum was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Lassen Volcanic National Park Loomis Museum | OK Which Way

Lassen Volcanic National Park Atsugewi baskets | OK Which Way — Using native plants, such as willow, bear grass, and maidenhair fern, the Atsugewi created baskets for gathering and storing food.

2. Gaze at Chaos Crags and Chaos Jumbles

There is a pull-out along the highway to stop and look at Chaos Crags. Chaos Crags was a cinder volcano that formed a dome over its vent and erupted 1000 years ago. 350 years ago a huge rock slide, known as Chaos Jumbles, sent rocks down the mountain burying the original forest. The rocks moved with such force they reached and damned Manzanita Creek, creating Manzanita Lake.

Lassen Volcanic National Park Chaos Crags Chaos Jumbles | OK Which Way — Chaos Crag, a plug dome volcano

3. Admire Lassen Peak

Lassen Peak is the southern most active volcano within the Cascade Mountain Range and is considered the most likely to erupt within the next century. It can be viewed from many places throughout the park. It is 10,457 feet high and known as the world’s largest plug dome volcano. The largest, most recent, eruption occurred in 1915, but minor activity continued through 1921.

The Lassen Peak Trail is a strenuous 5 mile round trip hike that guides you to the summit and down into the crater.

Lassen Volcanic National Park Lassen Peak | OK Which Way

On the south side of Lassen Peak is a jagged formation known as Vulcan’s Eye. It is 500 feet tall, 500 feet wide, and named after the Roman god of fire, Vulcan.

Lassen Volcanic National Park Vulcan's Eye | OK Which Way

4. Walk the Devastated Area Trail

The Devastated Area Trail is a half mile easy loop showcasing the rocks that fell when Lassen Peak erupted. Many of these rocks were torn from the mountain, then tumbled their way downhill as far as 3 miles away.

The eruptions from Lassen Peak affected 1500 acres. The Mt. St. Helens eruption affected 153,000 acres.

Lassen Volcanic National Park Devastated Area Trail | OK Which Way

5. Spend Some Time at a Lake

Lake Helen, Summit Lake, and Manzanita Lake are all great options for taking a break from driving. They have picnic tables, restrooms, and the views are amazing.

Lassen Volcanic National Park Lake Helen | OK Which Way — Lake Helen

6. Hike the Bumpass Hell Trail

The Bumpass Hell trailhead parking lot was, by far, the busiest place in the park. Understandably, so. It is a 3 mile out and and back trek that displays the largest concentration of hydrothermal features in the park. It took me about 2 hours to complete the hike.

Other hikes to consider in this area of the park are the Kings Creek Falls trail and Cold Boiling and Crumbaugh Lakes Trails.

Sections of the California National Historic Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail also travel through the park.

Lassen Volcanic National Park Bumpass Hell Trail | OK Which Way — View from along the Bumpass Hell trail

Lassen Volcanic National Park Bumpass Hell basin | OK Which Way — Hydrothermal features at Bumpass Hell basin

7. Stop at the Sulphur Works

The Sulphur Works area was one of my favorite stops in the park. Park your car in the lot, then walk on the sidewalk to see some very cool hydrothermal features. This is a super easy way to see steam vents and mudpots.

Lassen Volcanic National Park Sulphur Works | OK Which Way

Lassen Volcanic National Park steam vent | OK Which Way

Lassen Volcanic National Park mudpot | OK Which Way — Boiling Mudpot

8. Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center

The Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center is located near the SW entrance to the park and has the most amenities. There is an exhibit hall and auditorium, a gift shop, and a cafe.

A peak through the window shows a couple of the mountains that form the perimeter of what was once Mount Tehama, also known as Brokeoff Volcano. Yep, the visitor center is situated inside the caldera.

Lassen Volcanic National Park Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center | OK Which Way

Outside the visitor center is a paved path highlighting the geological timeline of Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Lassen Volcanic National Park geological trail | OK Which Way

Optional Items to Bring

Circle of Discovery Road Trip

Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of 7 national park sites located in southern Oregon and northern California:

Native Americans

Lassen Volcanic National Park and surrounding areas are within the traditional territory of the Atsugewi, Maidu, Yana, and Yahi tribes. Atsugewi descendants still live nearby.

Geology

The Lassen Peak region is part of the Ring of Fire, a chain of volcanoes that surround the Pacific Ocean.

Unlike the Rocky Mountains, which are made of solid rock, most volcanoes in the Cascade Range have been formed as the Juan De Fuca oceanic plate moves under the North American continental plate. The oceanic plate fall into the Earth’s mantle and part of the mantle melts. This melted rock, known as magma, works its way to a weak spot and breaks through the Earth’s surface, becoming a volcano. As the volcano continues to erupt, it gets bigger. A chain of volcanoes is formed because the plates continue to move. As more magma continues to come to the surface, new volcanoes will be formed.

Lassen is home to all four types of volcanoes – cinder cone, composite, shield, and plug dome.

Magma can take thousands of years to cool. As it cools, gases are released, heating the surface water and creating hydrothermal features such as geysers, fumaroles, bubbling water, hot springs, and mudpots.

Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway

Lassen Volcanic National Park Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway | OK Which Way

The highway through Lassen Volcanic National Park is part of the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway. This All-American Road travels through southern Oregon and northern California highlighting a number of volcanoes and National Parks including Crater Lake National Park and Lava Beds National Monument.

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One Day at Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California | OK Which Way