23 Best Sights in Lassen Volcanic National Park, California

This 3-mile round-trip hike leads to arguably the park's most mesmerizing feature, a wondrous landscape of hydrothermal activity characterized by boiling springs, hissing steam vents, and roiling gray mud pots. Allow two hours to complete the loop, which involves a gradual 300-foot descent into the Bumpass Hell basin, venturing to the basin's several upper viewpoints, which provide amazing views of the entire scene. Stay on trails and boardwalks near the thermal areas, as what appears to be firm ground may be only a thin crust over scalding mud.  The trail usually opens in June (after a snowy winter in July or August) and closes in early fall. Moderate.

In the park's remote northeastern corner, this fascinating trail offers views of dazzling volcanic features, including Painted Dunes, Fantastic Lava Beds, and Prospect Peak. The somewhat challenging 4-mile round-trip hike to the summit requires a steep 845-foot climb over ground made slippery in parts by loose cinders. A brochure available at the trailhead or visitor centers describes the geology along this hike. Moderate–Difficult.

A moderately hilly 4.2-mile round-trip hike through open meadows and conifers leads to the least frequented of Lassen's three main hydrothermal areas. It's a delightful place to view burping mud pots, misty steam vents, hot boiling pools, and Lassen Peak in the distance. Moderate–Difficult.

In the eastern section at an elevation of nearly 7,000 feet, the park's largest body of water is accessible only in summer. A half-hour drive north of Chester, it's about 90 minutes from the southwest entrance, the last part on a gravel road. The reward for making your way here is the chance to swim and kayak or canoe in a pristine lake. It’s also a lovely spot for a picnic. The area was hit heavily by fire in 2021; check online for current conditions and closures.

A contemporary LEED-certified structure at the southwest entrance, this year-round resource—the name means “Snow Mountain” in the indigenous Mountain Maidu language—is a good place to ask questions about safety and logistics, pick up maps, learn about kids' activities and educational programs, view an engaging film, and check out the interactive exhibits. The bookstore is excellent, and there’s a casual café.

This 30-mile scenic route, the main thoroughfare through the park, passes by such prominent sites as Lassen Peak, Bumpass Hell, Sulphur Works, Kings Creek, Devastated Area, and Chaos Crags, connecting the southwest entrance with Manzanita Lake and the northwest entrance. It's often referred to simply as Lassen Park Highway.

When this plug dome volcano erupted in 1915, it spewed a huge mushroom cloud of debris almost 6 miles into the air. You can admire the peak from several points along the park road, and a fabulous panoramic view rewards those who make the strenuous 2½-mile hike to the 10,457-foot summit.

This trail winds 2.5 miles to the mountaintop. It's an arduous climb—2,000 feet uphill on a steady, steep grade—but the reward is the gaspworthy view into the rim and across the entire park (and much of California's Far North). Give yourself about five hours to complete this climb, and bring sunscreen, water, snacks, a first-aid kit, and a jacket—it can be windy and cold at the summit. Difficult.

In this handsome building constructed of volcanic rock in 1927, you can view artifacts from the park's 1914 and 1915 eruptions, including dramatic original photographs taken by Benjamin Loomis, who was instrumental in the park's establishment. The museum also has a bookstore, exhibits about the area's Native American heritage, and a helpful staff who can recommend hikes and points of interest on this side of the park.

This 3-mile loop leads from the Warner Valley Trailhead to Boiling Springs Lake, which is surrounded by high bluffs topped with incense cedar, Douglas fir, and other conifers. Vents beneath the milky gray-green lake release bubbles into it, heating it to a temperature of 125°F. Most Warner Valley visitors combine this trail with another connecting trail, often Devils Kitchen or Terminal Geyser. Easy–Moderate.

Dark, dramatic lava beds form the western shore of this peaceful body of water with great kayaking and canoeing. Trails run alongside the northern and eastern shores, eventually to Widow Lake. A short loop leads to tiny, neighboring Bathtub Lake, nice for a quick swim on hot days. A boat launch, a campground, and the ranger station are open from early June to mid-October.

More than 350 years ago, an avalanche from the Chaos Crags lava domes scattered hundreds of thousands of rocks—many from 2 to 3 feet in diameter—over a couple of square miles.

This 2.6-mile round-trip hike through meadows and forests to Cold Boiling and Crumbaugh lakes presents an excellent opportunity to view spring wildflowers, but it's quite pretty throughout summer and fall. At Cold Boiling Lake, it's possible to detour to Bumpass Hell (thereby adding 3.8 miles round-trip to your trek). Moderate.

The 1915 eruptions cleared this area, a good chunk of the park’s center, of all vegetation, though the forest gradually returned over time. The easy ½-mile interpretive trail loop is wheelchair accessible.

Junior Rangers, ages 5 to 12, meet with rangers during the summer for talks and activities related to the park’s history and ecology.

Trees shade these creekside picnic tables near a popular trailhead.

A steady 700-foot ascent on this 2.3-mile loop hike through forests dotted with wildflowers leads to the spectacular falls, which many visitors find worth the effort despite fire damage visible in spots.  The trail can be slippery, so watch your step. Moderate.

This site with picnic tables and vault toilets has views of several summits, including Lassen Peak.

This ½-mile jaunt loops past a small lake and through a wooded area, ending at a pond filled with yellow water lilies in summer. Marked with interpretive signs, it's a good choice for families. Easy.

Lassen Peak is reflected in the waters of this rippling lake, which has good catch-and-release trout fishing and a pleasant trail for exploring the area's abundant wildlife.

This 2½-hour 3.8-mile round-trip hike takes you to where East Sulphur and Bumpass creeks merge to create the park's highest waterfall. You can continue past the falls for 2.5 miles to Crumbaugh Lake, and another 1.3 miles past Cold Boiling Lake to Kings Creek Picnic Area. Moderate.

Proof of Lassen Peak's volatility becomes evident shortly after you enter the park at the southwest entrance. Sidewalks skirt boiling springs and sulfur-emitting steam vents. Sulphur Works is usually the last site to close in winter, but even when the road is closed, you can access the area via a 2-mile round-trip hike through the snow.

Midway between the northern and southern entrances, Summit Lake is a fine place for an afternoon swim. A trail leads around the lakeshore, and several other trails lead east—for quite a few miles—toward a cluster of smaller lakes in the park's northeastern quadrant.