Visit Lassen Volcanic National Park with us.
Exceeded Expectations
We just visited Lassen Volcanic National Park for the first time, and it was a HIDDEN GEM. I can’t get over how much I loved this park and all that we got to see there. We did 5 hikes over 2 days and could go back and do days more. The weather is beautiful in the summer with highs in the 70’s and 80’s in the day and cool evenings. The views are stunning, and the wildflowers were amazing.
Add to that the fact that there were very few people and it really was a dream spot to visit. I can’t wait to go back. Read on for a little more info about our 2-day adventure to see what you might like to check out when you visit.
Lassen Volcanic National Park is 5 1/2 hours from Yosemite National Park and we had just been in Yosemite before coming here. Read all about our trip to Yosemite National Park.
The Essentials-Lassen Volcanic National Park sign
If you are a National Park fan like we are then you have certain essentials, you need to do upon arrival. We get pictures with the park sign and this one was pretty cool. Some National Parks have a little different design, and this was one of them. We get through the entrance to grab our maps and newsletters and we couldn’t get over how cute the entry Kiosks were here at the Raker Memorial Gateway at the south entrance. They were like something from the Swiss Alps.
Visitor Center Check In
After that we hit the Kohm Yah-Mah-Nee Visitor Center to talk to a ranger about what their favorite hike is so we can compare notes on what we already had planned and make sure we don’t miss anything great. Usually, our list is about the same but this time the ranger did mention a hike that wasn’t on my radar, and we did it and it was awesome so it’s always good to check that out. They know the park the best.
We check out any movies about the park, and Lassen Volcanic National Park has a great one about the formation of the park, the volcanic activity and how it became a National Park. This was a super informative movie. Finally, we always purchase one of the park stickers for our National Park book that we are slowly filling with all our different visits. Some people love to do the stamps, and this is the place to do that as well. Once we revamped our plan, we headed out for day 1.
Dixie Wildfires
Beware as you plan your visit that Lassen Volcanic National Park was greatly affected by the Dixie Fire in August of 2021. The fire burned nearly a million acres, and you can see the devastation just about everywhere in the park. Thankfully, the park wasn’t as affected as other areas outside the park, but it was still pretty significant. Because of this there are several areas of the park not currently open, and some hikes are affected because you can’t reach various trailheads. You may need to make changes to your schedule to see everything you want to see.
The good news is that the regrowth has already begun and it’s beautiful. We commented so many times on how gorgeous the contrasts were between the burned areas and the amazing new growth that was sprouting up everywhere. It’s worth a visit just to see the regeneration that happens after a fire. BUT there is much more to see here.
Heading Out
After our stop at the visitor center, we headed out on the main road through the park, Highway 89. Just a quick drive up the road is the Sulphur Works. This is worth a stop. Park in the parking lot and walk up the sidewalk to see the sulphur pits and boiling pots. I am a sucker for a boiling pot. Seriously. They are just so fascinating. This is just a quick visit but it’s a cool feature of the park, and I recommend you get a taste of what volcanic features are all about.
According to the park website Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to steaming fumaroles and this is your first view of that. There was a recent road slide right here so this is a one lane area and seems like it may be a while before they fix it. Right now, they have a traffic light allowing one lane to go at a time. This light takes FOREVER so have a book to read while you wait. No lie.
Wildflowers & Snow
We continued along highway 89 heading north into the park. There is a lot to see along the way. The wildflowers were amazing and everywhere along the road. It is truly stunning this time of year. The views around each bend of different peaks and mountains were also just amazing. Because of the huge snowfall in this area this past winter there was still snow on most of the peaks, and when we stopped at the road’s high point near Lassen Peak to get out there was still a HUGE pile of snow to climb on at the end of July.
Alpine Lakes
Make sure to stop at Emerald Lake and Lake Helen. The water is crystal clear and lovely, and you can explore a little at these high elevation lakes. We arrived fairly early and had them to ourselves. There were still piles of snow here as well.
Kings Creek Trail
Our first hike of the day was the Kings Creek Trail. This was recommended by the ranger and wasn’t on my list originally. After the events unfolded on our hike, I realized that perhaps God intended us to be there at just that right time. But I will get to that.
The trailhead doesn’t have much in the way of parking but just along the side of the road. A ranger I met in the hours after the hike was telling me that during busy seasons it gets a little crowded but that as long as emergency vehicles can get through, they don’t make much of a fuss about the cars being on the side of the road so just park responsibly.
Trail Stats
The trail is right about 2.8 miles with just over 500 feet of elevation. This is one of those hikes where you really notice the fire damage. It’s everywhere. But you are also following a creek as you hike along, and you notice right away the regeneration along the creek specifically. The green of the grass and other flowers is stark in contrast to the burned trees. It’s quite beautiful.
Kings Creek Waterfall
You will eventually come to a fork in the trail. You have to go to the left and do a loop down to the waterfall and then back up a steep stairway on your way back. Because of the steepness and narrowness of the stairway back up they have made it one way. Around the first part of the loop there is a lot of burn and there is actually a bit of dust and ash. I have a little issue with asthma, and I noticed the effects on my breathing just a bit. If you have issues be prepared in this park and carry your inhaler.
The waterfalls are pretty and there is a brand-new overlook rebuilt after the fire for you to stand and enjoy the rushing water. The snowpack has made GREAT water features in lots of parts of California right now. You will backtrack up the hill and head up the steep rock stairway following the creek up. It’s really flowing and fun to stop and stick your feet in in several places where logs cross the water, and you can sit and hang your feet down.
Emergency in the Park
While we were hiking up the stairs, we saw what we thought was a small group sitting to the side having a picnic. Instead, it turned out to be a first-time experience for us in a National Park.
We ran across a man, Craig, having a heart attack on the trail. We were about a mile from the trailhead and there was no service. The man and his wife had been hiking up the stairs when he started complaining of chest pain. A young man at the scene ran the last mile out and up the trail to try and reach service. He got none so he drove till he ran into a ranger.
The ranger went to grab his gear and the young man ran all the way back to continue helping out. A young rising college junior who wants to be a paramedic was amazing to help as well. My husband is a dentist and takes CPR and other training every year. We were able to sit with him, keep him shaded, hydrated and as calm as possible while we waited for the rangers to show up. It was almost 2 hours until the paramedic ranger reached us with his gear. We had gotten an aspirin into him, but he was in a lot of pain, and we felt for him.
Helicopter rescue
The California Highway Patrol came by helicopter and cased us out with about 5 passes around the area to get their bearings. It was so impressive because we were in a bit of a canyon next to a cliff and a river. It wasn’t the best area to reach. They eventually came back and lowered a canvas seat that the rangers and my hubby got him into, and he was lifted out of the canyon area we were in. The ranger paramedic and other two rangers were amazing. Craig’s wife has kept in touch and Craig is home and doing well after a few days in the hospital.
It was an amazing process to watch. The rangers were fantastic! I hiked out with Craig’s wife as they were lifting him up and when we got to the trailhead, we were met with several vehicles with flashing lights ready to help get her to where the hospital helicopter was meeting the CHP helicopter to transfer him to the hospital. They were all so efficient.
The ranger I chatted with afterward said they had just done their yearly hoist training the day before, so everyone was feeling pretty good about it. Overall, it was 3 hours from first encountering him and getting him off to the hospital and I was so impressed with everyone involved. So many good people.
Break for lunch
It was about 3:00 p.m. when we got back into the car, and we drove to a pretty meadow and finally ate out lunch. All the different meadows in the park are amazing and we were glad for a break and some lunch. From there we headed to the Hat Creek Trailhead and hiked to Paradise Meadows which was a pretty hike and the only hike that we saw any wildlife. There was a beautiful mule deer just sitting in the shade by the trailhead and she didn’t seem bothered by us at all.
Signs of Volcanic Activity
Just past the Hat Creek Trailhead there is a short self-guided walk through the devastated area where you can see some effects of the volcanic activity in the past. It’s very easy and has interpretive signs about some of the different lava rocks etc. that can be found here. You also don’t want to miss a stop at the hot rock. On your left at you continue north after the Devastated Area is a pull out next to a huge boulder.
The 300-ton boulder is a chunk of lava from the crater of Lassen Peak. In 1915 there was a huge mud flow caused by melting snow after an eruption. The debris roared down the mountain and destroyed everything in its path. This boulder remained hot for days and was discovered by B.F. Loomis and other local residents days after the initial eruption. The rock actually traveled over 5 miles to get to this location. If you are like me, you will need to climb all over it. Have fun.
Our final stop for the day was Manzanita Lake. This was a gorgeous lake with a 2-mile flat trail roaming all the way around it. We were there around 6 and the light was just perfect for lots of great mirror image pictures of the mountains on the lake. There are campgrounds here and there were kayak and canoe rentals which people were enjoying on this warm summer evening. We really loved this hike for a cooldown after the two other hikes and excitement of our day. It was calming and we needed that after the high stress afternoon. I highly recommend checking out this trail.
Dinner and where to stay
We finished day one by heading back to our hotel for dinner. We stayed about 15 minutes outside of the south entrance at The Village at Highlands Ranch and they have a sister property across the street called the Highlands Ranch Resort. It was a perfect place for us. Hotel rooms, cabins, and camping. There was a fantastic, yummy restaurant for nice big breakfasts, (the pancakes were delicious) and a cute grill for burgers, sandwiches, and beer after a day in the park.
The rooms had a great scenic view out the front door, and we enjoyed watching the sunset after dinner in the chairs right outside our room. The rooms were newly remodeled and only around $200 a night. There is not a lot of lodging outside of Lassen Volcanic National park so this is a great spot.
Day 2
We were up early for our next day in Lassen Volcanic National Park. We had to head back to San Francisco this afternoon to overnight for our flight back, but we really wanted to see more of the park’s volcanic features.
One of people’s favorite spots to see in the park is Bumpass Hell. It’s like a mini-Yellowstone with mud pots, boiling pools, and sulphur smells everywhere. During this visit that trail was closed due to yearly maintenance. However, we could get to the spot via a longer more strenuous hike from the Cold Boiling Lake Trail to the back of the Bumpass Hell trail. It’s about 5 miles round trip with just over 1000 feet of elevation gain. You start in the Cold Boiling Lake parking lot and hike to the lake which is just over 1/2 a mile.
From there it’s about 2 miles of fairly steady uphill but you are too awed by the views to really notice. There are several lakes below you and you walk through a lot of burned land and then a lot of regrowth. The flowers were absolutely stunning during our visit. There were little streams running down and over the path in several places and it was all just so neat. We both agreed that this trail itself was even better than the destination which was still pretty cool.
Bumpass Hell
As we neared Bumpass Hell, we saw several areas of snow. In late July. Just amazing. When you come across Bumpass Hell from this direction you see it from high up above. There is a lot of steam and hot pools and a distinct sulphur smell. You can walk down to a boardwalk area which is as close as you are allowed to get to these thermal features. We spent about 45 minutes just exploring and reading signs.
The area is named Bumpass Hell after Kendall V. Bumpass the first European to visit this area of the park. He “walked off the trail” and fell through some thin crust ground and burned his foot. I guess he was lucky to just have that injury. The water in the thermal pots here hovers around the boiling point and you can see several of them really boiling away. The whole area is quite fascinating. I highly recommend you try this trail. It’s well worth the visit. It’s probably much better now that the short easy boardwalk trail is closed because only those who really want to work for it can see this area.
Hiking Back
With all our stopping and gawking along the trail and our exploring and eating at the top this was about a 5-hour hike. A great ½ day plan. It was a perfect way to end our visit to Lassen and head out for our 4+ hour drive back to San Fran. We both agreed that we were not done with this park. There is a lot left to see here and a lot more trails. Let me know if you have been to Lassen and what your favorite thing to see is. I hope you will follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn and X.
Keep exploring,
Stephanie