A Weekend in Lassen Volcanic National Park

I’m so excited that it’s finally National Park Week (I love that my birthday falls during National Park Week and Earth Day every year). Make sure to check back on the blog all week because I’m posting THREE National Park blog posts and YouTube videos over the next few days to celebrate…and if you sign up for my Newsletter, you’ll have instant access to my free Travel Guides for each park we’ll be visiting.

Today we’re starting off the week at an incredible National Park in northern California…join me for a weekend at Lassen Volcanic National Park. Established in 1926 and covering over 106,000 acres, Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of the few places in the world where you’ll find a plug dome, shield, cinder cone and composite volcanoes (all four types of volcanoes) in the same area, along with beautiful lakes, waterfalls, sprawling meadows, and clifftop overlooks.

Lassen Peak

Lassen Peak is definitely a park highlight. It is the largest plug dome volcano in the world, reaching over 10,457 feet tall. The 5 mile hike to the top of this peak is safe but certainly strenuous with over 2,000 feet in elevation gain. The most recent eruption happened here between 1914 and 1921, but this sleeping volcano still has a functioning magma chamber underground and is fully capable of more eruptions in the future.

Sulphur Works

Sulphur Works is the most easily accessible hydrothermal feature in all of Lassen Volcanic National Park. Less than 200 feet from the parking area you can stroll along the sidewalk for close-up views of the boiling mud pots and steam vents here. Just make sure to stay on the maintained trails.

Bumpass Hell

The 3 mile round trip hike to Bumpass Hell is one of my favorite trails in the whole park. The National Park Service has built a beautiful boardwalk down inside the basin for spectacular up-close views of the hydrothermal activity, including the Big Boiler, the hottest and largest fumerole in the whole park. It’s very important to stay on the marked trails inside of this park (especially at Sulphur Works and Bumpass Hell)…the surface ground can look stable, but it can be dangerously thin. Visitors have unnecessarily and severely been burned by heading off the trails and stepping through the thin surface crust into boiling mud and water. For detailed Bumpass Hell information, see my full Bumpass Hell blog post here.

Lakes

Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to numburous exciting and beautiful alpine lakes. All of Lassen’s lakes are sure to impress, and I’m sharing 4 of my personal favorites below.

Lake Helen

Lake Helen was named for Helen Tanner Brodt, the first woman to climb Lassen Peak in 1864. Sitting at 8,200 feet above sea level, this alpine lake offers some of the most spectacular views of Lassen Peak (often with hints of snow even into the Summer months).

Emerald Lake

One of my favorite lakes in the park, Emerald Lake is a small lake located just off Highway 89, a 1/3 of a mile west of Lake Helen. This lake was shaped by a glacier, and its emerald green water is caused by the abundant green algae that grows at the warm shallow lake bottom. At sunrise the calm waters give a glass like reflection you won’t want to miss.

Manzanita Lake

Located by the park’s northwest entrance, this lake is a popular destination for camping, fishing, and kayaking. It also makes a great home-base for exploring Lassen, and you can easily enjoy the 1.5 mile hike around the lake.

Reflection Lake

Situated just across the highway from Manzanita Lake, Reflection Lake is a smaller lake. but the 0.6 mile easy flat trail offers incredible views of the Chaos Crags and Lassen Peak.

Loomis Museum & Visitor Center

Built in 1927, the historic Loomis Museum offers great park history, including the seismograph building that features three large windows, allowing visitors to view the seismographic equipment inside. Current visitor information in the Manzanita Lake area of Lassen Volcanic National Park is available here, and the site is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Devastated Area

The result of the 1915 Lassen Peak eruption, this interpretive trail tells the story of how devastating the most recent eruption was here, which is 3 miles from the peak. There are plenty of informative signs as well as giant boulders that crashed down from Lassen Peak.

Kings Creek Trail

This trail starts just off the side of the road and leads through a dense pine forest along the edge of King’s Creek Meadow. If you take the full 2.5 mile trail, you’ll enjoy a 40-foot waterfall that cascades over a basalt cliff preceded by a mountain stream.

Kings Creek Meadow

Located near the Kings Creek Falls trail, this lovely meadow and meandering stream are draped by green plants and California Red Firs. This is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the beauty of this park.

Know Before You Go

• Please remember to take only pictures and leave only footprints. Pack out everything you pack in and stay on the designated paths. If you’re not familiar with the Leave No Trace Principles, consider familiarizing yourself with them before your trip. Please help leave this special place better than you found it so its natural beauty can be enjoyed for years to come.

• Many of the roads through the park close during the Winter due to snow, so it’s important to check the NPS website for current road conditions before traveling (especially October - June).

• Over 150 miles of hiking trails can be found inside the park, but conditions can be extreme in different seasons throughout the year…so always bring layers, sun protection, and plenty of water.

• Wildlife is abundant throughout the park (I’ve seen mule deer and bears along the trails). Never leave food unattended and stay on the marked trails for your own safety and to protect the local flora and fauna.

Lassen Points of Interest:

• Sulpher Works

• Bumpass Hell

• Devastated Area

• Lassen Peak

• Lake Helen

• Kings Creek Falls

• Manzanita Lake

• Cinder Cone

• Spatter Cone & Subway Cave

• Burney Falls

Free Lassen Travel Guide

Thanks for joining me today in Lassen Volcanic National Park. Make sure to sign up here for my monthly newsletter so you can have access to the Lassen Weekend Top 12 Guide, along with free Travel Guides for Yosemite and Sequoia!

In Summary & Behind the Blog Video

For more views of Lassen, check out the Behind the Blog video below…and until next time, I hope you find adventure and encouragement wherever you go.

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