Lassen Volcanic National Park

🌲 Park Overview

Tucked in Northern California’s southern Cascade Range, Lassen Volcanic National Park showcases all four major volcano types—shield, plug-dome, cinder cone, and stratovolcano—within one compact 106,000-acre wonderland. After Lassen Peak’s dramatic 1914–17 eruptions, the area became a national park, preserving eruptive landscapes, steaming fumaroles, sapphire lakes, and wildflower-strewn alpine meadows. Whether you’re summiting the world’s largest plug-dome volcano, snowshoeing under Milky-Way skies, or backpacking across lava beds to painted cinder-cone craters, Lassen offers Yellowstone-like hydrothermal thrills without Yellowstone-scale crowds.

🌟 Fun Facts

Lassen Peak (10,457 ft) is the world’s largest plug-dome volcano and the southernmost active Cascade volcano.

The 1915 eruption sent a 30,000-ft ash plume visible from 200 miles away and created the Devastated Area you can still hike today.

Lassen hosts more than 300 hydrothermal features: boiling mud pots, fumaroles, and 240 °F steam vents.

The park became an International Dark Sky Park in 2021—its annual Lassen Dark Sky Festival draws astrophotographers each August.

📅 Best Time to Visit

Season

Weather

Highlights

Caveats

Jun – Jul

40–70 °F

Bumpass Hell boardwalk opens (late Jun), raging waterfalls, snow-melt reflections

Snow lingers above 8,000 ft; peak mosquitoes

Aug – Sep

50–80 °F

Lassen Peak trail snow-free, Dark Sky Festival, wildflowers

Afternoon t-storms, smoky skies during wildfire years

Oct

35–65 °F

Fall colors in Manzanita Creek, crisp air

Lassen Park Rd closes with first big snow

Nov – May

15–50 °F

Snowshoe/ski the main road corridor, boiling fumaroles under snow

30+ ft annual snowfall, road closed except 10-mi snow corridor, avalanche risk

🎯 Things to Do

Families

Bumpass Hell Trail (3 mi RT boardwalk) to bubbling mud pots—Yellowstone vibes.

Junior Ranger & Night Explorer booklets; earn dual badges.

Paddleboard Manzanita Lake with rental gear from the Camper Store.

Adventure-Seekers

Summit Lassen Peak (5 mi RT, 2,000 ft) for 100-mile Sierra-Cascade views.

Overnight Cinder Cone & Painted Dunes backpack via Butte Lake (10 mi loop).

Backcountry ski the north-face Lassen Peak couloir (Apr–May corn snow).

Photographers

Sunrise alpenglow on Chaos Crags reflected in Manzanita Lake.

Milky Way over Lake Helen (Aug).

Drone-like pano—without drone—by climbing Cinder Cone at golden hour.

🥾 Top Hikes & Highlights

Trail / Site

Dist./Gain

Why Go

Lassen Peak

5.0 mi / 2,000 ft

Plug-dome summit, eruption crater, pika sightings.

Bumpass Hell

3.0 mi / 400 ft

Largest hydrothermal basin in park, boardwalk loops.

Cinder Cone & Painted Dunes

4.4 mi / 850 ft

Martian pumice dunes, 360° crater rim.

Kings Creek Falls

3.0 mi / 500 ft

Cascading 40-ft waterfall, wildflower-lined meadow.

Devastated Area Nature Trail

0.5 mi ADA

1915 lava rocks, interpretive signs, wheelchair-friendly.

👨‍👩‍👧 Kid-Friendly Extras

Evening “Volcano Campfire” at Manzanita Lake Amphitheater (summer).

Borrow Adventure Packs—bug nets, plant ID cards—free at Loomis Museum.

Winter Ranger-led snowshoe walks (Dec–Mar) from Kohm-Yah-mah-nee VC (ages 8+).

♿ Accessibility Notes

Devastated Area Trail and Kohm-Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center fully ADA.

Boardwalk & overlook ramp at Sulphur Works.

Designated campsites Manzanita Lake Loop A; accessible cabin at Manzanita Lake.

🗓️ Itinerary Ideas

1-Day “Hydro & High Point”

8 a.m. Drive to Lassen Peak Trailhead—summit by noon.

Picnic at Lake Helen shoreline.

Afternoon Bumpass Hell walk.

Sunset photo at Manzanita Lake with Chaos Crags backdrop.

3-Day “Lava & Lakes”

Day 1: Arrive North Entrance → set camp Manzanita Lake → kayak sunset paddle.

Day 2: Drive Lassen Park Rd stops → hike Lassen Peak → soak feet at Kings Creek Falls.

Day 3: Butte Lake → hike Cinder Cone, explore Painted Dunes → swim Butte Lake pumice beach.

🧳 Planning Tips

Road Status: Lassen Park Road (HWY 89) usually snow-free mid-June – late Oct; check plow update.

Altitude: Trailheads 6,500 – 8,500 ft—hydrate & pace.

Wildfire Smoke: Carry N95 mask Aug–Sep; monitor AQI.

Camping: Seven campgrounds—book Manzanita & Summit Lake six months ahead on Recreation.gov.

🚧 Permits & Safety

Wilderness permits free at kiosks for backcountry overnight.

Stay on boardwalks—thin crust can collapse into scalding pools.

Snowfield glissade only with ice axe; late-season sun cups hide rocks.

🌄 Compare This Park With

Yellowstone NP: Similar hydrothermal features; Lassen quieter, more alpine hikes.

Mount Rainier NP: Both volcanoes; Rainier glaciated, Lassen hydrothermal.

Crater Lake NP: Another Cascade volcano; Crater has caldera lake, Lassen active fumaroles.

🔗 Internal Links

Blog – “From Plug-Dome to Painted Dunes: 48-Hour Lassen Photo Itinerary.”

Printable – “Lassen Peak Altitude Checklist & Hydrothermal Safety Bingo.”

📥 Printable Downloads (placeholder)

Lassen Park Road Mile-Marker Map

Cinder Cone Geology Field Guide

Dark Sky Festival Star Chart

🔍 SEO Keyword Targets

Lassen Peak hike difficulty

Bumpass Hell trail status

Best time to visit Lassen Volcanic NP

Cinder Cone Painted Dunes photos

Camping Manzanita Lake tips

Lassen Dark Sky Festival dates

Lassen snowshoe winter road corridor

Volcanoes in California national parks

Hydrothermal safety Lassen

Lassen itinerary 3 days

Lassen Volcanic National Park guide—steaming hydrothermal basins, plug-dome summits, and stargazer-worthy night skies—is now in its own full document. Wave “next” when you’d like to continue to New River Gorge—or let me know if you’d like tweaks first!