Lassen Volcanic National Park

Visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park

• Hours: Park is open all year, but snow may close roads from fall through late spring
• Cost: National park entry fee
• Location: About 50 miles east of Redding or Red Bluff about 170 miles west of Reno, Nevada. Driving directions below
• How Long: Allow a half day for a leisurely drive through the park, longer if you hike or fish
• Best Time to Visit: Summers are short, with snow lingering into May and starting again as early as October. Wildflower season peaks in early summer
• See It Now: Photo tour

In 1915, Mount Lassen erupted, blowing ash up to 30,000 feet in the air, flinging house-sized boulders miles away and devastating a large forested area. As you might expect, part of today's landscape was formed by this event, with lava flows and a devastated area still clearly visible. The area is also active geothermally, with steam vents, boiling pools and a geyser.

About 400,000 people visit Lassen every year, most of them in summer.

Things to Do at Lassen Volcanic National Park

• Auto Tour: The most common way people see the park is on a driving tour. It's roughly 25 miles from one entrance to the other and takes about an hour with no stops. Stops include Manzanita Lake, the devastated area, Bumpass Hell (a 3-mile hike with 300-foot elevation gain) and Sulphur Works. The road's high point is 8,512 feet. The visitor center near the south entrance has a small cafe if you're hungry. There's also a small store near Manzanita Lake and the north entrance.

• Hiking: The Pacific Crest Trail passes through Lassen for 17 miles and it has over 150 miles of trails total. Overnight hikes require a free permit. The climb to the top of Mount Lassen is 5 miles with almost 2,000 feet elevation gain and it takes 4 to 5 hours.

• Fishing: You'll need a California fishing license and if you bring a boat, motors (including electric ones) are not allowed.

Lassen Volcanic National Park Review

We give Lassen Volcanic National Park 3.5 stars out of 5 for its interesting volcanic and hydrothermal landscape. Hikers tell us it has lots of great trails, but if you're not the hiking type, you may not find a lot to do.

Where to Stay in or Around Lassen Volcanic National Park

Eight campgrounds are located inside the park, all of them above 5,650 feet elevation. Amenities vary, but some have running water and pay showers. Some have RV sites but none have hookups.

The only lodging located inside the park boundaries is Drakesbad Guest Ranch, at the end of an unpaved road near the south entrance. It's open in summer only, offering horseback riding and a hot spring-fed swimming pool. Some people love it and making reservations far is advance is recommended, but it's not for everyone - rooms have no electricity and the place barely has telephone service. Other options for places to stay are available within a 30-minute drive of each entrance in Shingletown, Redding, Red Bluff or Chester.

Getting to Lassen Volcanic National Park

Lassen Volcanic National Park
530-595-4480
Lassen Volcanic National Park Website

The main park road runs north and south. The north entrance is from Highway 44, 50 miles east of Redding or 180 miles west of Reno, Nevada via US Hwy 395 and CA Hwy 44. The south entrance is 45 miles east of Red Bluff on Hwy 36 or 160 miles west of Reno, Nevada via US Hwy 395 and CA Hwy 36. Check road status online or call call 530-595-4480.

Three other dead-end roads go to Butte Lake, Juniper Lake, and Warner Valley (location of Drakesbad Guest Ranch)

If You Liked Joshua Tree National Park, You May Also Like:

• Mt. St. Helens which erupted in 1980 makes a good place to compare how a landscape recovers
• Mount Shasta

Lassen's nearest neighbor in the Cascade Range.