Planning a trip to one of the most underrated National Parks in the US? Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California is one of my favorite National Parks because there are some epic hikes, diverse scenery, and hardly any crowds!
My husband and I spent 3 days at Lassen Volcanic National Park in September of 2023 while on a road trip through Northern California. We didn’t really know what to expect (I had literally never heard of this place until I was looking at a map planning this trip), but this park definitely way exceeded any expecations we had!
If you’re looking for the perfect Lassen Volcanic National Park itinerary, keep reading! This post will cover how to spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Lassen along with where to stay, how to get there, and more.
Lassen Volcanic National Park Overview
Lassen Volcanic National Park is located in a remote part of northern California and is the largest and most diverse hydrothermal area in the the Cascade Mountain Range. It contains a very diverse set of features from the last 3 million years of volcanic activity in the area.
The park’s namesake, Lassen Peak, last erupted in 1915 where it devastated nearby areas and was seen over 150 miles away. This was the most recent volcanic eruption in the contiguous United States until Mt. St Helens in 1980.
In 2023, Lassen Volcanic was the 43rd-most visited National Park out of all 63. You won’t have to worry about finding parking at trailheads or dealing with lines at the entrance gates. On a visit here, you’ll see bubbling hydrothermal areas, all 4 types of volcanoes, alpine lakes, waterfalls, and beautiful scenery.
California Highway 89 winds through the park and connects the two entrance gates to the park. This road is often called the “Lassen Peak Highway” or “Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway.” Most of the trailheads and main attractions are located off of this road.
We found Lassen Volcanic National Park to be a fantastic combination of the best parts of our Yellowstone and Grand Teton road trip we took earlier the same year without the insane crowds.
The map below is annotated with some the major points of interest. Download a high-resolution map here.
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 in the park.
Lassen Volcanic National Park is open, but remnants of the fire damage are still evident in some areas. The Drakesbad Guest Ranch (the only in-park lodge) remains closed for the 2024 season and is expected to reopen in 2025.
The Warner Valley and Juniper Lake areas of the park are closed (no access via Warner Valley and Juniper Lake roads), which means that the trailheads to some popular hikes, like Devil’s Kitchen and Boiling Springs Lake, are also closed.
There are still plenty of fantastic ways to spend a few days at Lassen despite some areas being closed. The itineraries listed here include only places that are currently accessible in the park. Trust me, there is plenty to do here for 1-3 days even with these areas closed!
As always, check the NPS website for the latest info on reopening plans after the Dixie Fire before planning your trip.
The Best Time to Visit Lassen Volcanic National Park
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 6000+ feet, so it gets a lot of snowfall in the winter and the park roads close between October and May, depending on weather.
Winter conditions often persist until mid-June at the higher elevation areas in the park (mainly the Lassen Peak area, which sits at 10,500 feet). Snow here can also start as early as October.
Due to the elevation of the park, there really isn’t a “shoulder season” in the spring and fall like many other National Parks have. You pretty much only get winter or summer!
The weather in the summer will be very pleasant for hiking and outdoor adventuring with daily highs in the 70’s and maybe 80’s if you’re lucky. You won’t see many crowds here either, so Lassen Volcanic National Park makes an excellent summer vacation destination.
elated: 13 Fantastic Things to Do in Lassen Volcanic National Park
How to Get to Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park is located in a remote part of northern California in the Cascade Mountain Range. The closest major town is Redding, which is an hour west of the park along the I-5 corridor.
Lassen is a 4 hour drive from San Francisco and a 3 hour drive from Sacramento. Both cities are the most convienent to fly into and rent a car for your trip.
If you’re coming from Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Seattle, you can get a direct flight to the Redding Municipal Airport. This is a small airport with limited options, so it probably doesn’t make sense to book a connecting flight here due to prices and layover times. It can be a convenient option if you’re coming from one of the cities with a direct flight though!
From San Francisco or Sacramento, you’ll want to take I-5 north until you get to Red Bluff. Here, you will head northeast on California Highway 36 until you reach Highway 89 which will take you to the park.
From Redding, you have an easy drive east on California Highway 44.
How Many Days Do You Need at Lassen Volcanic National Park?
Lassen Volcanic National Park is a large park, so plan to spend at least 2-3 days here if possible. Plus, it’s also pretty far from any major airport so you’ll want to make the drive worth your time by staying at least a few days (Lassen makes an excellent Northern California road trip stop!).
2-3 days is enough time to do the scenic drive, hike a few of the best trails, and make a quick day trip to the neighboring Burney Falls State Park.
If you enjoy hiking and want to plan a more strenuous day hike, add an extra day for this experience exlusively. The hike to Lassen Peak is only 5 miles round-trip, but you’ll climb almost 2000 feet in elevation so it is an all-day experience.
If you don’t like hiking, you only really need 1 day at Lassen to do the scenic drive and visit the main highlights.
Fees & Passes Information
Admission to Lassen Volcanic National Park costs $30 per vehicle, and the pass is good for 7 days. There are no timed entry or permit requirements beyond reserving a campsite or a backcountry permit if you plan an overnight hike.
If you plan to visit 3 or more National Parks or Monuments on your trip to California (or within one year), getting the America the Beautiful National Park Pass will save you money vs. paying the separate fees at each park. It costs $80 and you must order ahead of time as they will ship you a physical pass.
Where to Stay at Lassen Volcanic National Park
The best place to stay near Lassen Volcanic National Park is in Chester, Mineral, or Mill Creek. All of these are small towns that are less than 30 minutes from the south entrance gate to the park.
I would recommend looking for an Airbnb close to these towns, or book one of the following accommodations:
- 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.
- Best Western Rose Quartz Inn: Clean, basic hotel in Chester with free breakfast.
We found the restaurant selection in Chester to be pretty slim and a lot of places were closed Monday – Wednesday. We did visit the week after Labor Day, so I assume we were there at the beginng of off-season when things start to close down.
There is a nice grocery store in Chester with grab-and-go items that we frequented often for picnic lunch supplies and bottled water.
If you want more amenities, you could also stay in Redding. Redding is an hour away from the north entrance gate to the park though, so you will be doing lots of driving back and forth!
Lassen Volcanic National Park’s only in-park lodge, the Drakesbad Guest Ranch, remains closed for the 2024 season due to the Dixie Fire. Check the NPS website for the latest info on reopening plans before planning your trip.
Helpful Tips for Visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park
Pets are not allowed on hiking trails, lakes, or in the backcountry areas of Lassen Volcanic National Park. They are allowed in campgrounds, parking lots, and picnic areas, but must remain on a leash. These rules are in place to protect your pet and the native wildlife. More info on the pet policy can be found on the NPS website here.
Most of Lassen Volcanic National Park sits at an elevation of more than 6000 feet. Hiking at elevation will be more difficult than what you are likely used to (especially if you are a near-sea-level midwesterner like me!), so use caution when hiking and assess your fitness level before choosing your hikes.
Gas stations, restaurants, and cell signal are few and far between in the park. You can find grab-and-go sandwiches and snacks at the Kohm Yah-Mah Nee Visitor’s Center and the Manzanita Lake Campground store. Gas is also available at Manzanita Lake between May and October, but it’s best to fill up before entering the park.
Download maps on your hotel wifi before heading out for the day!
Stay on the boardwalks in hydrothermal areas. These areas are very dangerous if you venture off the path. The water is boiling and acidic and will severely burn you if you touch it or fall in! (If you have any doubts about the dangers of the hydrothermal areas, make sure you read up on Kendall V. Bumpass and how Bumpass Hell was discovered!)
1-Day Lassen Volcanic National Park Itinerary
With a 1-day Lassen Volcanic National Park itinerary, you’ll be able to do the scenic drive, do a couple of short hikes, and see the highlights.
I recommend packing a picnic lunch for your day in Lassen. You can grab supplies at the grocery store in Chester, at the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor’s Center, or the Manzanita Camper Store. There are picnic tables and pit toilets at various stops along the highway, but no food!
LASSEN VOLCANIC SCENIC HIGHWAY
Depending on where you are coming from, drive the Lassen Volcanic Scenic Highway through the park north-south or vice versa.
Here are my suggestions on the best stopping points and hikes to do along the way in order from north to south (reverse this itinerary if you’re coming from the south):
- Manzanita Lake Trail: This is a flat, 1.9-mile trail around the lake with amazing views of the Lassen Peak.
- Hot Rock: A 3-ton rock that was moved here via lava during the 1915 Lassen Peak eruptions.
- Devastated Area Interpretive Trail: Short, gravel trail with signs explaining the destruction of the 1915 Lassen Peak eruptions.
- Picnic lunch at Lake Helen
- Sulfur Works: Short, boardwalk trail right off the road with pungent, sulfur-smelling hydrothermal areas.
BUMPASS HELL TRAIL
Once you’ve finished your scenic drive, head to the Bumpass Hell Trailhead. This 2.7-mile, moderate trail leads you around the Bumpass Mountain and down into a densely-concentrated hydrothermal area full of bubbling mud pots and pungent fumaroles.
This is the most popular hike to do at Lassen Volcanic National Park. We loved reading about the history of Bumpass Hell and exploring the boardwalk trail through the hydrothermal area.
When you finish your day in the park, grab dinner in Chester and relax in your accommodations!
Related: 7 Best Hikes in Lassen Volcanic National Park
2-Day Lassen Volcanic National Park Itinerary
2 days in Lassen will allow you to do the scenic drive, hike a few popular trails, and make a day trip to Burney Falls State Park.
Day 1: Lassen Volcanic Scenic Highway & Bumpass Hell Trail
This day’s itinerary is the same as the 1-day itinerary above. I’ve briefly recapped it below:
- Lassen Volcanic Scenic Highway
- Manzanita Lake Trail
- Devastated Area Interpretive Trail
- Picnic Lunch
- Sulfur Works
- Bumpass Hell Trail
Day 2: Burney Falls State Park & Cinder Cone Trail
BURNEY FALLS STATE PARK
Grab breakfast at your hotel or in Chester and hit the road for Burney Falls State Park.
I know this part of the itinerary isn’t technically in Lassen Volcanic National Park, but Burney Falls is a fantastic state park with one of the most beautiful waterfalls I’ve ever seen! And it’s only an hour and a half north of Chester.
The hike down to Burney Falls is short and sweet. It’s only 1.1 miles with 164 feet of elevation gain. The trailhead is located just past the entrance gate and there is plenty of parking.
It will cost you $10 per vehicle to get in, unless you have the California State Parks Pass (the America the Beautiful National Parks Pass won’t get you into state parks).
There is a nice viewing platform at the base of the 129-foot waterfall that is great for taking photos. All of the water flowing down is groundwater, which makes these falls really unique!
Grab lunch in the small town of Burney after visiting the falls.
CINDER CONE TRAIL
After lunch, spend the afternoon hiking my favorite trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park: The Cinder Cone Trail.
The drive back to Chester from Burney Falls conveniently passes by the Butte Lake area of the park where the Cinder Cone Trailhead is located, which is located in the northeast corner.
You will have to drive the last 6 miles on a dirt road to get here, but you’ll be fine in any vehicle.
You’ll hike slightly uphill through a meandering pine forest, see some insanely tall lava flows, and then climb up and into the cinder cone volcano for sweeping views of the unique scenery. The total round-trip hike is 4.7 miles with 1053 feet of elevation gain.
The Cinder Cone portion of the hike is strenuous not only for the steep climb, but also due to the loose sand you’ll be climbing over. Every step forward results in a half-step back as you sink into the sand.
The Painted Dunes, Fantastic Lava Beds, Lassen Peak, Snag Lake, and Prospect Peak are all visible from the top. This incredible scenery absolutely blew my mind!
If you’re up for it, hike down into the Cinder Cone before retracing your steps the way you came to finish the hike. The good news is that the hike down the volcano is much easier than the hike up!
DINNER IN CHESTER
Head back to Chester and grab dinner and a drink, you earned it after that hike!
We really enjoyed the food and atmosphere at the Timber House Brewery, but they are only open Thursday – Monday. Hopefully your trip allows for the chance to eat here because it’s the best place in town.
3-Day Lassen Volcanic National Park Itinerary
With a 3-day Lassen Volcanic National Park itinerary, you’ll get to see the highlights, visit Burney Falls, and add on one or two more spectacular hikes!
Day 1: Lassen Volcanic Scenic Highway & Bumpass Hell Trail
This day’s itinerary is the same as the 1-day Lassen Volcanic National Park itinerary above. I’ve briefly recapped it below:
- Lassen Volcanic Scenic Highway
- Manzanita Lake Trail
- Devastated Area Interpretive Trail
- Picnic Lunch
- Sulfur Works
- Bumpass Hell Trail
Day 2: Burney Falls State Park & Cinder Cone Trail
This day’s itinerary is the same as day 2 of the 2-day Lassen Volcanic National Park itinerary above. I’ve briefly recapped it for you below:
- Burney Falls State Park
- Cinder Cone Trail
Day 3: Go Hiking
With your third and final day in Lassen Volcanic National Park, pick another hike or two to do! I wrote a whole blog post on the best hikes in Lassen Volcanic National Park, so check that out for more details on trailhead locations, hiking stats, and more practical tips.
Here are a few trail recommendations:
- Lassen Peak Trail: Extremely strenuous, 5-mile summit to the top of Lassen Peak. You’ll gain over 2000 feet of elevation and end up at 10,500 feet above sea level!
- Kings Creek Falls Trail: Moderate, 2.8-mile hike with almost 700 feet of elevation gain down to an impressive waterfall. The scenery on this hike is unreal- you’ll get panoramic views of the park, up close and personal with burned trees from the 2021 Dixie Fire, and walk through lush meadows. The rock scramble on the way back up is fun too!
- Chaos Crags to Crags Lake Trail: Moderately challenging, 4-mile, out-and-back hike with 984 feet of elevation gain. You’ll hike to Crags Lake and enjoy the scenery of these plug volcanoes, the Chaos Crags, on the way.
- Mill Creek Falls Trail: Moderate, 3.4-mile trail with 767 feet of elevation gain to the tallest waterfall in Lassen Volcanic National Park. You’ll be rewarded with views of Brokeoff Mountain and Mt. Diller.
If you need a break from hiking, you can also go kayaking on Manzanita Lake or go swimming in Bathtub Lake (yes, it is called “Bathtub” Lake because it is the smallest, warmest lake in the park!).
Did this post help you plan an epic Lassen Volcanic National Park itinerary? How many days do you plan to spend in the park? Let me know in the comments below!
-Megan
If You Have More Time
MORE ON LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK: Check out my list of the best things to do in Lassen Volcanic National Park, the best hikes in Lassen Volcanic National Park, and my step-by-step Cinder Cone Trail hiking guide. There are plenty of great hikes in this park that you can easily fill a week with!
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ROAD TRIP: Spend 9 days road tripping through Northern California with this fun itinerary geared toward hikers. You’ll see Redwood and Lassen Volcanic National Parks, and with more time you can visit Crater Lake in Oregon as well. Other highlights are Burney Falls State Park, the California coast, and Point Reyes National Seashore.
REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK: Redwood National Park is home to the tallest trees in the world. It’s located along the northern California coast about 5 hours from Lassen Volcanic National Park. Check out my guide on how to spend 1 thorough day in Redwood National Park.
MOUNT SHASTA: Mount Shasta is a majestic, active, stratovolcano located about 2 hours north of Lassen Volcanic National Park. Its peak sits at over 14,000 feet and has a spiritual history that dates back to the American Indian tribes that lived in the region.
CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK: Crater Lake National Park is home to the deepest lake in the US at over 900 feet! It’s located in Oregon about 4 hours north of Lassen. Again, Crater Lake was on my list for this trip but we didn’t have the time to do it justice. The hiking and scenery here look truly out of this world and I can’t wait to come back and explore!
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