In 1915, decades before Mt. St. Helens blew its top, Mount Lassen erupted,
raining volcanic ash as far away as 200 miles. The blast created an
other-worldly landscape of boiling mud pots, steaming ground, roaring fumaroles
and escaping sulfurous gases, giving rise to place names like Bumpass Hell and
Fart Gulch. This lightly-visited national park deserves a lot more attention
than it gets, so go now before everyone else discovers it.
Ready to Go? Use our Lassen Weekend Getaway Planner and you'll be ready in no time.
Lassen National Park is Popular For: Family outings, outdoor recreation and driving tours. The thermal features draw photographers who try to capture their beauty.
How Far? Check the map at the beginning of this gallery to see which getaways are closest to your starting point. Most weekend-trippers limit their adventures to about three hours' travel time and most drive there. If you're going by car, Lassen National Park is Within 200 Miles of Reno/Tahoe, Sacramento and San Jose.