40.4977° N, 121.4207° W
HIDDEN IN THE FAR NORTH OF CALIFORNIA, LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK IS A TRUE OFF-THE-BEATEN-NATIONAL PARK THAT HAS A LOT TO OFFER THE ADVENTUROUS TRAVEL. LEARN MORE HERE.
Sitting in the far northern corner of California - a state that has plenty of other spectacular natural areas and national parks on offer - Lassen Volcanic National Park easily stays under the radar. But while it doesn't get the fanfare like other parks do, it is still just as worthy of a visit. In fact, since visiting in June of 2019, we have told everyone who would listen that Lassen should be on their list of places to explore in California. It is not only beautiful, but it is incredibly unique. In fact, it is one of only a few places on Earth where you can explore all four types of volcanoes: plug dome, shield, cinder cone, and stratovolcano. Similarly, the namesake mountain of the park - Lassen Peak, is the largest plug dome volcano in the world, and the southernmost volcano in the Cascade Range (another volcano in that range includes the much more famous Mt. Saint Helens).
So if you are looking for a spot in the western United States, and California in particular, that is not overrun with tourists but still offers plenty of outdoor adventure then head north and explore this incredible national park.
\\ Fast Facts
Year Established: 1916
State: California
Size: 166 square miles
Number of Visitors: 519,000 visitors in 2019
Cost to Enter: $30 per vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, and $15 per person (all valid for 7 days)
\\ History of Lassen Volcanic National Park
Native American tribes had inhabited the area now known as Lassen Volcanic National Park long before any Europeans arrived west. The natives knew that the peak (Lassen Peak) was full of fire and water and believed that one day it would blow itself apart. Jump forward to the mid 19th century and a few white settlers were using Lassen Peak as a landmark on their trek to the fertile Sacramento Valley, which lies to the south of the area. The name of the park actually comes from a Danish blacksmith, Peter Lassen, who worked as a guide - helping the settlers navigate their way through the area.
There were some questionable accounts of intense volcanic activity occurring in the park in the 1850s, though geologists would later prove the last eruption had occurred in the late 1600s or early 1700s. The area was protected in 1907 under two different National Monuments: Lassen Peak and Cinder Cone. But weirdly, after increased volcanic activity starting in 1914 the park was designated a national park in 1916.
\\ When to Visit Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park is open 365 days a year, though some services are not available during the winter months (December-March). The busiest time of year for the park is the summer (July-September), though even then, due to the park’s relative lack of visitors it won’t ever get too crazy.
We visited in late June and found that parts of the park were still covered in a deep layer of snow - including Mount Lassen itself. Even though we were there in the busier season we never felt cramped or like we were being herded around in packs of tourists. So no matter the time of year you choose, prepare to feel like you have much of the park to yourself.
GOOD TO KNOW: during the winter parts of the park do close, so make sure to do some research ahead of time if you are thinking of visiting between December and March.
\\ How to Get to Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen is pretty far north in terms of the state of California, so there are not a lot of options for flying in. The closest airports are San Francisco, almost 4 hours away, and Sacramento, just under 3 hours away. There is an option to fly into the town of Redding, just to the west of the park, but we don’t expect flights to be very regular.
If you are already in the state of California or are okay with renting a car, driving up to Lassen is an okay experience (we want to be honest with you here). While you can definitely make the drive quite scenic - notably going along the coast until you reach the town of Fortuna then beelining it east, we would say the majority of people will head up Interstate 5, which is pretty darn boring. Luckily, once you reach the outskirts of Lassen it gets much, much prettier.
\\ What to Not Miss in Lassen Volcanic National Park
Animals
The park is home to approximately 300 species of vertebrates, which include birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. This richness of species is due to the variety of habitats found within three specific ecological zones: mixed conifer, red fir forests, and subalpine. Some of the most common animals you will find in the park include pika, Douglas’s squirrel, chipmunks, mule deer, Steller’s jay, and Clark’s nutcrackers. One interesting thing to note is that this park is one of only two known habitats for the threatened Sierra Nevada red fox.
Points of Interest
Lassen Volcanic National Park is full of unique landscapes, many having to do with volcanoes. Some of the neatest spots are Cinder Cone, a once active volcano that you can now hike to the top of (and down to the inner caldera if you like). The top of this volcano gives you fantastic views of the surrounding mountains, including Lassen Peak. Also, don’t miss its next door neighbor, the Fantastic Lava Beds - a basalt flow that was created from its base (and the reason it no longer erupts).
Other unique points of interest are Bumpass Hell (which is possibly the craziest name for a place ever) and Sulphur Works. Both give you the chance to see some fumaroles, which are steam and volcanic-gas vents that rise from far below the ground. In both of these areas of the park, you can see rainbow-colored landscapes, bubbling mud pots, and boiling pools of water. If you are looking to explore more of these unique areas consider hiking to places such as Boiling Springs Lake, Terminal Geyser and Devil’s Kitchen.
\\ Top Adventures in Lassen Volcanic National Park
Hiking
With over 150 miles of trails within the park, you could spend multiple days here and not see everything. Like many other national parks, you have the option to choose how difficult and how far you would like to hike. We believe some of the best trails to explore are:
| Lassen Peak (Mount Lassen): it would be almost sinful to come to the park and not hike the namesake peak. Luckily, while it is part of the Cascade Range (which stretches north and includes peaks such as Mt. Rainer and Mt. Saint Helens) it is a relatively easy hike and one that requires just a day to complete. Mount Lassen stands at an elevation of 10,457 feet or 3,187 meters. The hike up to the top is 2.5 miles long (5 miles roundtrip) and climbs approximately 2,000 feet. While you can hike up and down the mountain, we suggest - if the conditions are right - to instead glissade down one of the sides.
INSIDER TIP: while you can glissade down on your butt, we instead suggest bringing up a sled to make it even more exhilarating (aka faaaast).
| Brokeoff Mountain: if you are looking to tackle another peak in the park, consider doing Brokeoff Mountain - which sits at 9,235 feet. The hike up to the peak is just over 7 miles roundtrip and affords you some stunning views of the surrounding peaks (including far off Mount Shasta). It is also relatively unpopular, so if you are looking to get more off-the-beaten-path then this is a great option.