Lassen Volcanic National Park

Copyright: National Park Service Lassen Volcanic National Park

The park is a compact laboratory of volcanic phenomena and associated thermal features (except true geysers). Active volcanic features within the park include hot springs, steaming fumaroles, mud pots and sulfurous vents. The site is part of a vast geographic unit - a great lava plateau with isolated volcanic peaks - that also encompasses Lava Beds National Monument, California, and Crater Lake National Park, Oregon.

The western part of the park features great lava pinnacles (mountains created by lava flows), jagged craters and steaming sulfur vents. It is cut by glaciated canyons and is dotted and threaded by lakes and rushing clear streams. Snowbanks persist year-round and beautiful meadows are spread with wildflowers in spring.

The eastern part of the park is a vast lava plateau more than one mile above sea level. This area includes small cinder cones (Fairfield Peak, Hat Mountain, and Crater Butte) forested with pine and fir and studded with small lakes. Warner Valley, marking the southern edge of the Lassen Plateau, features hot spring areas (Boiling Springs Lake, Devils Kitchen, and Terminal Geyser). This forested, steep valley also has gorgeous large meadows.

Recreation - The park facilities support a variety of activities in all seasons. Recreation opportunities include hiking, backpacking, scenic driving, viewing exhibits and viewing scenery. A great place to begin your visit to Lassen is the Loomis Museum and visitor center, near Manzanita Lake. It is open weekends from late May to mid June and week days from mid June to late September.

The Lassen Park Road runs 29 miles south-north through the park. It is usually open by mid June and remains open through mid
October, weather dependent. There are three access roads into other areas of the park: Butte Lake Road (six miles, gravel), Juniper Lake Road (13 miles, gravel), and the Warner Valley Road (14 miles of paved road, then three miles of gravel). The Warner Valley and Butte Lake roads are usually open June through late October. The Juniper Lake road is usually open early July to late October.

There are eight campgrounds in the park. Group sites are available at Lost Creek and Juniper Lake. Reservations for group campgrounds are required and must be made in advance. All other park campgrounds operate on a first come, first served basis.

Climate - This park lies in the north central California mountains. Much of the park isn't accessible from late October to early June. The months of July, August and September bring mostly sunny skies with warm daytime temperatures and cold nighttime temperatures. Expect snow at anytime of the year, especially at higher elevations.

Location - Lassen Volcanic National Park is located in north central, California. It is surrounded by the lands of the Lassen National Forest. Lassen peak is the southernmost volcano in the Cascade Range, which extends into Canada. The major thoroughfares in the area are State Highways 44 and 89.