You can plan your Lassen day trip or weekend getaway in a jiffy using the resources below.
Why Should You Go? Will You Like It?
- Get a Preview: Take a look at our Lassen Area Pictures
- Lassen is popular with nature lovers, hikers, fishermen and the scientifically curious. If you're looking for fine dining, nightlife and shopping, this is not the place for you.
Best Time to Go
Lassen weather is best in summer, a short season that may not begin until well into June. Winter brings snow. If you go off-season and midweek, you'll find many places closed.Don't Miss
If you've only got a day, take a trip through Lassen National Volcanic Park to see what the landscape looks like almost 100 years after a volcanic eruption and explore the area's volcanic and geothermal features.4 More Great Things to Do around Lassen
- Shasta Country: Drive north on Hwy 89 to Mount Shasta, then turn back south toward where you started. Burney Falls near McCloud is one of the most popular stops along the route.
- Wine Tasting: A few fledgling wineries cluster around Manton. Most have no tasting room, but that doesn't mean you can't sample their products. Drop in at the Manton Corner bar and join the local characters on the porch. They serve wines from several nearby places and if you like it, the adjacent general store sells it by the bottle. In late 2008, Anselmo Vineyards plans to open the first full-featured wine tasting room in the region. They will also be offering trail rides (experience riders only).
- Coleman National Fish Hatchery: The largest Chinook salmon and Steelhead hatchery in the contiguous U.S. is open for self-guided tours daily. It's located south of Lassen and a few miles east of I-5, a good stop on the way home if you're headed south.
- Waterwheel Park: Located on Wilson Hill Rd. near Manton, the park opens its facilities to the public by reservation (small fee charged) on weekends June through October. Fishing is free and you pay only for what you catch. Kids may especially enjoy the miniature horses in their petting zoo.
Tips for Visiting Location
- Be prepared for snow any time between October and June.
- This area seldom gets overcrowded and the National Park Service says they almost always have camping spaces available.
- Even if you plan to do only a bit of light hiking, bring your poles if you have them. The rocky, volcanic terrain can be hard to navigate in many places. Bring bright flashlights if you want to tour Subway Cave.
Best Bites
Unless you cook it yourself, you're not likely to find haute cuisine on your plate in this area, and the folks at Weston House in Shingletown encourage their guests to eat dinner before they arrive or bring something with them. Julia's Diner in Manton gets the nod from some locals and the Weston House serves its guests a breakfast big and tasty enough to keep hunger away for much of the day.End a days' driving trip in McCloud and take a ride on the Shasta Sunset Dinner Train for a fun time and a good meal.
Where to Stay
Check our recommended hotels and campgrounds. Your first decision should be whether to stay south of the park or north of it, then pick a specific place. This is also a good place to consider camping.Getting To Location
Driving? Distance depends on which side of the park you stay on. From Redding, which is about 50 miles west of the park. From Redding, it's 215 miles to San Francisco, 160 miles to Sacramento and about 200 miles to Reno.Flying? The nearest airport is in Sacramento. Check airfares.
