Lassen Volcanic Trail & Visitor Guide
Lassen Volcanic · United States · About 106,000 acres (approximately 166 square miles) in northeastern California, spanning Shasta, Lassen, Plumas, and Tehama counties.
Why Visit Lassen Volcanic
Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of the few places on Earth where all four types of volcanoes — shield, composite, cinder cone, and plug dome — can be found. Lassen Peak last erupted in 1914-1917, making it the most recent volcanic eruption in the Cascades before Mount St. Helens in 1980. The park's hydrothermal areas, including Bumpass Hell, feature boiling pools, fumaroles, and mud pots fed by volcanic heat beneath the surface.
Free Lassen Volcanic Audio Guide with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free, self-guided Lassen Volcanic audio guide. It narrates trails, viewpoints, geology, and wildlife as you explore — Bumpass Hell, Lassen Peak Trail, Cinder Cone, plus quieter spots like Boiling Springs Lake and Manzanita Lake. No guide, no schedule, works offline.
explore by interest
Signature Trails
- Lassen Peak Trail5 miles round trip · Strenuous
Climbs about 2,000 feet to the 10,457-foot summit, one of the largest plug dome volcanoes on Earth and source of the 1915 eruption; on clear days you can see Mount Shasta about 75 miles north.
- Bumpass Hell Trail3 miles round trip · Moderate
Leads to the park's largest hydrothermal area, with boardwalks over boiling mud pots, fumaroles, and steaming pools. Stay on the boardwalk; the ground and water can exceed boiling temperature.
- Kings Creek Falls TrailAbout 2.3 to 3 miles round trip · Moderate
Descends to a 30-foot waterfall; a steep cascade section of the loop can be slick.
- Cinder Cone TrailAbout 4 miles round trip · Strenuous
Steep climb up loose cinder to the rim of a symmetrical cinder cone overlooking the Painted Dunes and Fantastic Lava Beds; reached from the Butte Lake area in the northeast.
- Mill Creek Falls TrailAbout 3.8 miles round trip · Moderate
Reaches the park's tallest waterfall at roughly 75 feet; starts near the Southwest entrance.
Must-See in Lassen Volcanic
- •Bumpass Hell — a 3-mile round trip to the park's largest hydrothermal area with boiling pools and fumaroles
- •Lassen Peak Trail — a 5-mile round trip to the 10,457-foot summit with views of the volcanic landscape
- •Cinder Cone — a 4-mile round trip to a nearly perfect volcanic cone with painted dunes at its base
- •Kings Creek Falls — a 3-mile round trip through meadows to a 50-foot cascade
Best Viewpoints
- •Lassen Peak summit (10,457 ft), with views to Mount Shasta
- •Bumpass Hell overlook of the hydrothermal basin
- •Cinder Cone rim above the Painted Dunes and Fantastic Lava Beds
- •Sulphur Works, a roadside hydrothermal area along the main highway
- •Manzanita Lake, which reflects Lassen Peak
Quieter Corners of Lassen Volcanic
- •Boiling Springs Lake — a 3-mile round trip to a large, milky-green thermal lake at the park's southern end
- •Manzanita Lake — a calm lake reflecting Lassen Peak, with a 1.8-mile loop trail and excellent evening light
Wildlife You May See
Entrance Fee
$30 per private vehicle for a 7-day pass (summer rate); $25 per motorcycle; $15 per person on foot or bicycle. A $55 Lassen annual pass and the $80 America the Beautiful interagency pass are accepted. Winter rates are lower when the main highway is closed.
Getting There
The park is in northeastern California. The Southwest entrance near Mineral is about 50 miles east of Red Bluff via Highway 36 then Highway 89; the Manzanita Lake (northwest) entrance is about 50 miles east of Redding via Highway 44. Highway 89 (the Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway) connects the two entrances through the park but is typically closed by snow from roughly November into June. Nearest commercial airport is Redding (RDD); Reno-Tahoe and Sacramento are larger options 2 to 4 hours away.
Where to Stay
Inside the park: Manzanita Lake Camping Cabins and Manzanita Lake Campground in the northwest, plus several other seasonal campgrounds (Summit Lake, Butte Lake, Juniper Lake, Warner Valley). Drakesbad Guest Ranch in the Warner Valley is the only in-park lodge. Outside, the towns of Mineral, Chester, Old Station, and the cities of Red Bluff and Redding offer motels and services.
Best Time
Late July through September offers the most reliable access, when Highway 89 and high-elevation trails are usually snow-free. The main park road is commonly closed by snow from November into June.
Safety
Hydrothermal areas are the top hazard: the ground at Bumpass Hell and Sulphur Works can collapse into boiling, acidic water, and people and pets have been severely burned by leaving the boardwalks. Stay on marked trails and keep children and dogs close. Lassen Peak and high trails hold snow into July; afternoon thunderstorms are a lightning risk on the exposed summit. Highway 89 closes in winter, and elevations of 6,000 to 10,000 feet bring rapid weather changes and altitude effects.
Scenic Drives
- •Highway 89, the Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway, about 30 miles between the Southwest and Manzanita Lake entrances, passing Sulphur Works, Bumpass Hell, Lake Helen, and the Lassen Peak trailhead
Start Your Lassen Volcanic Park Tour
Get a trail route with narrated stories —
personalized to your interests, ready in seconds
Your personal guide in 5 seconds