Lassen Volcanic National Park

Lassen Volcanic National Park is an incredibly underrated hidden gem in northern California. You’ll see bubbling hydrothermal areas, all 4 types of volcanoes, alpine lakes, waterfalls, and beautiful scenery. 

The park’s namesake, Lassen Peak, last erupted in 1915 where it devastated nearby areas and deposited volcanic ash over 200 feet away. The geologic history here is absolutely fascinating. There are incredible hiking opportunities to marvel at the remnants of Mount Tehama and experience unique volcanic scenery.

And the best part? People don’t even know it’s here so there are hardly any crowds!

Best Things to Do in Lassen Volcanic

BUMPASS HELL TRAIL: This 2.7-mile trail leads you around the Bumpass Mountain and down into a densely-concentrated hydrothermal area full of bubbling mud pots and pungent fumaroles.

MANZANITA LAKE: Kayak on the lake or walk the short loop trail around the lake for fantastic views of the Lassen Peak and the chance to see wildlife. Go in the morning when the water is still for the best reflection of the Lassen Peak in the lake!

HIKE TO THE TOP OF LASSEN PEAK: Up for a strenuous hike to the top of the park’s namesake? You’ll start at 8500 feet in elevation and climb to over 10,500 at the top, but you will be rewarded with panoramic views over the entire park.

LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK SCENIC HIGHWAY: Drive the Lassen Volcanic Scenic Highway and admire the scenery and attractions right from the road. This highway mostly runs north-south through the park so it’s a great thing to do on your way in if you’re coming from Redding.

DEVASTATED AREA: The 1915 Lassen Peak eruptions devastated nearby areas with volcanic ash, lava, and rocks. The Devastated Area Interpretive Trail is a short gravel trail through one of these areas with signs that explain the history.

HIKE TO THE TOP OF THE CINDER CONE: The Cinder Cone Trail makes my list of top 5 hikes I’ve ever done. Starting from the Butte Lake Campground, you’ll walk slightly uphil for 1.5 miles until you reach the Cinder Cone. Climb up to the top through loose volcanic sand and admire the incredibly unique scenery from the top!

KING’S CREEK FALLS TRAIL: The King’s Creek Falls Trail packs a lot of scenery into a short, 2.8-mile hike. Starting from the King’s Creek Picnic Area, you’ll hike down through a burned forest to a waterfall (remnants of the 2021 Dixie Fire) with some great views over the Lassen Volcanic Wilderness. 

SULFUR WORKS: Sulfur Works is an easily-accessible hydrothermal area right off the Lassen Volcanic Scenic Highway. You’ll probably smell it before you see it!

SWIM IN BATHTUB LAKE: You can swim in all of the alpine lakes at Lassen Volcanic National Park, but most of them are freezing cold all year round. Bathtub Lake is the exception since it’s so small. Jumping in this lake is a great way to end a long day of hiking!

BURNEY FALLS STATE PARK: Located just 45 minutes northeast of Lassen, it would be a shame if you missed seeing the Burney Falls while you’re here! Hike 1 mile round trip down to the base of a breathtaking 129-foot waterfall.

2021 Dixie Fire Update

During the summer of 2021, the Dixie Fire burned almost 1 million acres in Northern California, making it the largest single fire in California history. The southeast corner of Lassen Volcanic National Park was the most severely burned area.

Lassen Volcanic National Park is open, but remnants of the fire damage are still evident in some areas. The Drakesbad Guest Ranch remains closed for the 2024 season and expects to reopen in 2025.

The Warner Valley and Juniper Lake areas of the park are still closed (no access via Warner Valley and Juniper Lake roads). This means that the trailheads to some popular hikes, like Devil’s Kitchen and Boiling Springs Lake, are also closed. 

Check the NPS website for the latest info on reopening plans after the Dixie Fire before planning your trip.

When to Visit

The best time to visit Lassen Volcanic National Park is in the summer between July and September. This area of California is at an elevation of 7000+ feet, so it gets a lot of snowfall in the winter and the park roads close between October and May, depending on weather.

The weather in the summer will be very pleasant for hiking and outdoor adventuring. Don’t worry about summer crowds here either- Lassen is one of the least-visited National Parks in the US!

How Many Days Do You Need?

Plan to spend 2-3 days at Lassen Volcanic National Park. This is enough time to do the scenic drive, hike a few of the best trails, and make a quick day trip to Burney Falls State Park. If you want to hike to the top of Lassen Peak, Brokeoff Mountain, or one of the other strenuous hikes, plan an extra day per trail.

If you don’t like hiking, you only really need a day at Lassen to do the scenic drive and visit the main highlights.

How to Get There

Lassen Volcanic National Park is located in the central part of northern California, basically in the middle of nowhere. It’s about a 4 hour drive from San Francisco and a 3 hour drive from Sacramento.

If you’ll need to fly and rent a car, flying into San Francisco or Sacramento are your best options.

Where to Stay

The largest major town close to Lassen is Redding. Redding is a good hour away from the north entrance gate to the park, so it doesn’t make a great home base for visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park.

There are a few small towns located on the southern side of the park that provide a much more convenient location. Chester, Mineral, and Mill Creek are your options and are all less than 30 minutes from the south entrance gate to the park. The south entrance is also closer to a lot of the main attractions in Lassen.

However, the restaurant selection here is pretty slim and a lot of places are closed Monday – Wednesday. There is a nice grocery store in Chester with grab-and-go items as a backup though!

I would recommend looking for an Airbnb close to these towns, or one of the following accommodations:

• Best Western Rose Quartz Inn: Clean, basic hotel in Chester with free breakfast.

• St. Bernard Lodge: Affordable bed and breakfast in Mill Creek. We stayed here for 3 nights and would recommend it! The breakfast is made to order and included in the nightly price, but you won’t have a private bathroom, so keep that in mind.

• Timber House Brewery and Lodge: Accommodations in Chester that are attached to a great brewery!

Lassen Volcanic National Park does have one in-park lodge, the Drakesbad Guest Ranch. However, the lodge is currently still closed following the 2021 Dixie Fire and is expected to reopen for the 2025 season.