Things To Do In Lassen Volcanic National Park [2022]

If you want to take the road less traveled and explore the nature, visit a great national park that doesn’t get the same lime light as others in the state of California, yet deserves one, then take a look at the things to do in Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Located in Northern California, this park is filled with stunning hydrothermal features, volcanic peaks, gorgeous alpine lakes, and waterfalls, all of these san the crowd.

Things To Do In Lassen Volcanic National Park[2022]

Is Lassen Volcanic National Park Worth Visiting ?

Resounding Yes, it is absolutely worth visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park. Here is why, this off-the beaten path treasure located near the town of Chester offers, flower-filled meadows that you can drive to, stunning volcanoes and mountains you can climb, steaming hydrothermal features you can visit and see them action even in the winter, no-crowd hiking trails.

If you are anything like me, I am sure adding new national parks to your experience is a thing for you this year. Most visitors to California and the locals tend to visit Yosemite , the most popular national park in northern California. Don’t get me wrong, Yosemite is gorgeous.

One of the weekends in February, we visited Yosemite and ended getting turned around because of the crowd, all this after spending an hour in the line for the park entrance. Millions visit Yosemite national park year.

From San Francisco, if you can drive an additional hour, you will get to Lassen National Park.

A weekend trip from bay-area is possible. We drove out early morning, with a quick stop at the town of Chico for brunch. It took a total of 5 hours including the stop to reach the park. On a winter day, it was literally just us and a boys-scout of 20 kids that camped at the only open campground at the Southwest campground. For more details on campsite availability, check the park website.

Winter Things to do in Lassen Volcanic National Park

Given the park is at a higher elevation ranging from 5,650 feet to 10,457 feet, Lassen Volcanic National Park is a winter wonderland.

From October you can expect road closures that takes you from one end to the other end. But, that shouldn’t stop you from visiting the park and here’s why:

Snow Activities

• Snow Shoeing
• Snow Tubing
• Cross country skiing
• Alpine skiing

Yes, all of these can be done in the national park. On weekends there is a ranger-led snow-shoeing walk for a couple of miles. We learned a lot about the park’s volcanic activity, and trail conditions. I highly recommend taking this walk if its your first time to the park.

The rangers give the snowshoes. You don’t have to bring your own. They usually have enough for the group.

Every winter the park publishes route maps for snowshoeing and skiing that are safe for general public to attempt. I highly recommend looking at the map or even better stopping at the visitor center to talk to the rangers before heading out on any snow activities.

Snow camping

If you want to camp in the snow like we did, the southwest campground is always open. It is extremely cold at night, if you do want to camp in the snow, take all precautions before you attempt it. It was my first and last time. I have to admit, I didn’t enjoy it even a tiny bit. I just couldn’t sleep at all.

I wore two two layers of clothing, two thick pairs of socks, winter grade sleeping bag and sleeping pad, it was still freezing cold. We also ate warm food and had a lot of chocolate before sleeping. Wonder if I needed another layer of sleeping bag to survive a 23F night with wind.

If snow camping is not your thing, there are several small towns nearby and you could easily stay at a hotel or an airbnb in Redding and still enjoy the park comfortably.

Spring Things to do in Lassen Volcanic National Park

Starting sometime in April, they will start clearing snow in the park to make way for the transportation. This clearing goes on till May or even June at times depending on the amount of snow that year.

Hiking / Biking in Lassen Volcanic National Park

The best part for us Spring visitors is, you can still access the road either by walk or by bike as they start clearing.

Here is the usual order of road opening for hiking / biking and eventually for cars.

• Loomis Museum to Devastated Area – 10 mi
• Southwest Entrance to Sulphur Works – 1 mi
• Sulphur Works to
  • Bumpass Hell parking – 7 mi
  • Lassen Peak parking area – 8 mi
• Open to through traffic 30 miles

Hiking trails will slowly open up during this time frame and by about June and early July most of the trails should be available for hiking in the park. It’s hard to predict which trails will be open at the time of your visit. Best bet is to stop at the visitor center and find out what you can do on that day.

Wild Flowers in Lassen Volcanic National Park

Wildflower season in Lassen Volcanic National Park runs from May until late into the summer. You are guaranteed a treat of wild flowers anytime in you visit the park between Spring and Summer.

If you don’t want to hike much or don’t have time for long hikes, here are some of the recommended locations for wildflowers in the park. It all really depends on the timing. Depending on what time of the year you go, some flowers might be in peak than others.

• McGowan Lake area
• Brokeoff Mountain trailhead – You don’t need to hike the entire 7.5 miles to see the wildflowers. You will infact see most of the flowers in the first 1/2 a mile itself.
• Kings Creek picnic area
• Mill Creek towards Lake Almanor, along the roadside watch for gorgeous flowers

From Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center, we walked about 2.5-miles to see Lassen Peak, through snow. This trail is shared with skiers and from what we could see, there was at least one person who has gone up this trail.

Summer Things to do in Lassen Volcanic National Park

Must do hikes in Lassen Volcanic National Park

There are about 20+ hiking trails in the park for day hikers to enjoy. Every trail has some unique features and I am highlighting some of my favorite hikes based on my experience of visiting the park several times and in different seasons.

This list below is not the exhaustive list, these are my favorite hikes.

Lake Views Hikes

Echo Lake:

Difficulty Level : Moderate

Distance in round trip: 4.4 miles

Elevation Change: 416ft

Trailhead: 1/2 mile north of North Summit Lake campground

This is one of the popular Trails that climbs through forest and woodland and arrives at Echo Lake; Once you are at the lake you can get a spectacular views of Lassen Peak.

Around Manzanita Lake:

Difficulty Level : Easy

Distance in round trip: 1.5 miles

Elevation Change: 0ft

Trailhead: Manzanita lake boat launch

This is an easy hike mostly flat trail that goes around Manzanita lake. Along the way you will also get Lassen peak view. In late Spring and summer, you will be rewarded with wildflower views. Perfect hike for kids and families.

Boiling Springs Lake:

Difficulty Level : Easy

Distance in round trip: 1.8 miles

Elevation Change: 300 ft

Trailhead: You can start from either Warner campground area or Drake campground

Relatively easy hike that takes you to an hydrothermal active lake where you can observe bubbles along the shore. The water temperature is hot around 125F. This lake is not your hot spring, so don’t get inside the water. It’s prohibited.

You can walk around the lake to get a view of the Lassen peak as well.

Ridge Lake:

Difficulty Level : Strenuous

Distance in round trip: 2 miles

Elevation Change: 1045 ft

Trailhead: You can start from Sulphur Works parking area

This is a steep trail that climbs up a ridge to reach the lake, thus the name I assume. Once you hike up this short but steep hill, you will be rewarded with a spectacular view of the lake with mountain backdrop. Totally worth the effort.

Lily Pond Interpretive Trail

Difficulty Level : Easy

Distance in round trip: 0.5 mile

Elevation Change: flat trail

Trailhead: You can start from Lily Pond Trailhead, across highway from Loomis Museum

Great little hike to see the rich plant and animal life in the park. The target is a tiny pond with lily plants growing in them. For a minute you will forget you are in a volcanic national park.

Hydrothermal / Volcanic Features in Lassen Volcanic National Park

Waterfall Hikes in Lassen Volcanic National Park

Mill Creek Falls

Difficulty Level : Moderate

Distance in round trip: 3.6 miles

Elevation Change: 300 ft.

Trailhead: You can start from Kohm Yah-mah-nee Amphitheater

Really nice trail with the tall waterfall at the end. You can go right up to the top of the waterfall. You can’t see water until the waterfall at the end of the trail.

Mountain Peak in Lassen Volcanic National Park

Lassen Peak

Difficulty Level : Strenuous

Distance in round trip: 4.8 miles

Elevation Change: 2000 ft.

Trailhead: You can start from Lassen peak parking lot

Great challenging hike to reach the Lassen peak and get some awesome panoramic view. Be prepared to scramble up the loose rocks at the last stretch.

Multi-day backpacking

From as little as 10 miles to 35 miles, Lassen volcanic national park has several options for backpacking.

• Cluster Lakes Loop Trail – 10.4 miles
• Bumpass Hell from Southwest Campground – 11.5 mile
• Butte Lake, Snag Lake and Cinder Cone Loop- 12.4 mile
• King’s Creek Falls to Devil’s Kitchen – 13.6 mile
• Butte Lake, Snag Lake, Twin Lake, Silver Lake Loop – 25.4 mile
• Butte Lake to Snag Lake Loop – 14.5 mile
• Lower Twin and Snag Lakes Loop Trail – 14.5 mile
• Juniper Lake, Cinder Cone, Red Cinders Loop – 23.8 mile
• Twin Lakes, Horseshoe Lake, and Summit Lake – 15.9 mile
• Badger Flat via Nobles Emigrant Trail and PCT – 12 mile
• Butte Lake, Cluster Lakes and Cinder Cone Loop – 20.3 mile
• Boiling Springs Lake via Kings Creek and Pacific Crest Trail – 13.9 mile
• Snag Lake, Butte Lake, and Cinder Cone via Pacific Crest Trail – 32.9 mile
• Juniper Lake to Butte Lake Loop – 22 mile
• Butte Lake to Snag Lake, Nobles Emigrant, PCT and Rainbow Lake Trail Loop – 12.5 mile

Biking in Lassen Volcanic National Park

Once the snow is completely cleared, you can ride your bike through the entire 28 miles one-way and ride back.

Distance: 56 miles out and back
Elevation gain: 5180 ft

It’s not a flat bike ride as you can see from the elevation gain above. Go prepared and be self sufficient on the road. Good thing is more than likely you will have less car traffic on weekdays and less traffic compared to Yosemite for sure.

Swimming in Lassen Volcanic National Park

You can swim in all the lakes in Lassen Volcanic National Park except for hydrothermal waters. All the alpine lakes are really refreshing. So, do plan to take a dip.

Boating in Lassen Volcanic National Park

Non motorized boats are allowed at most of the lakes.  The most popular boating lakes include Manzanita, Butte, Juniper, and Summit. Near Manzanita lake there is boat rental available.

However, in these following lakes, you are not allowed to boat – Helen, Emerald, Reflection, and Boiling Springs.

Camping in Lassen Volcanic National Park

 

Refer to NPS.gov webiste for the latest campsite information. Here is the website with details: https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/camping-in-campgrounds.htm

All in all, I highly recommend taking time to visit Lassen Volcanic national park and spending at least two days here. What are your favorite things to do in Lassen Volcanic National Park.