The Summer Guide to Lassen Volcanic National Park
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If you’re looking for a fun and different summer road trip destination, Lassen Volcanic National Park is a great choice. With plenty of hiking trails, unique scenery, and intriguing volcanic features to explore, there’s something for everyone in this California park.
This guide features the best things to do in Lassen Volcanic National Park in the summer months.
Why Summer is the Best Time to Visit Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen is different from other National Parks in that you will get a vastly different experience depending on whether you visit in the summer or the winter.
Most of the park closes and becomes a snow play area from November to May.
The park is usually only fully open from late July to October. The summer is the best time to visit as it is the only time you can access the whole park.
Things to Know Before Visiting
Lassen Volcanic National Park is a must-see for anyone interested in geology. The park is home to mudpots and sulphur vents all formed by past volcanic activity.
It is also one of the few places in the world where you can find all four types of volcanoes: plug dome, cinder cone, strata, and shield.
Today, the volcanoes are dormant but provide a stunning backdrop for hiking, camping, and wildlife watching. In addition to its geological features, the park also boasts redwood trees, manzanita bushes, and various wildflowers.
The park can be categorized into five areas:
- Manzanita Lake Area: Area near the Northwest Entrance including the most campsites and amenities.
- Southwest Area: Area near the Southwest Entrance including Bumpass Hell.
- Butte Lake Area: Northwest area including Cinder Cone.
- Warner Valley Area: Southern area formerly home to Drakesbad Guest Ranch. Severely impacted by recent fires.
- Juniper Lake Area: Southeastern high-elevation areas also impacted by fires.
Only Manzanita Lake Area and Southwest Area are connected via the Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway. (Closed in winter.) To get to the other three areas, you must exit the park boundaries and circumnavigate it for over an hour.
What to See in Lassen Volcanic National Park
One of the best ways to experience the park is to drive the highway from the Northwest Entrance to the Southwest Entrance. This will take you through the Manzanita Lake Area into the Southwest Area, providing an up-close look at some of the park’s most fascinating features.
Drive the highway in either direction, stopping at these accessible viewpoints:
- Loomis Museum
- Chaos Crags and Jumbles viewpoint
- Devasted Area footpath
- Summit Lake picnic area
- Kings Creek Meadow
- Lassen Peak trailhead viewpoint
- Lake Helen picnic area
- Bumpass Hell trailhead viewpoint
- Sulphur Works footpath
- Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center
Want to continue along the Volcanic Scenic Highway? Check out my guide to road tripping the Shasta Cascade.
Lassen Volcanic National Park Hikes
There are plenty of great hiking trails to explore in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
One of the most popular is the Cinder Cone hike. You will have to drive an hour outside of the park to the Butte Lake Area. This short but strenuous trail takes you to the top of a cinder cone, providing panoramic views of the surrounding area. Come back soon for my complete guide to hiking Cinder Cone.
Another popular hike is the Bumpass Hell trail right off the highway in the Southwest Area. This 3-mile trail takes you through a colorful landscape of boiling mudpots and steaming fumaroles.
This trail is also what earned Lassen the nickname the “Yellowstone of California.”
Try the Chaos Crags trail in the Manzanita Lakes Area for a more challenging hike. This 8-mile round-trip hike takes you to the summit of Chaos Crags, one of the park’s active volcanoes.
Whichever hike you choose, you’re sure to enjoy some fantastic views of this unique national park:
| Manzanita Lake Area | Southwest Area | Butte Lake Area | Warner Valley Area | Juniper Lake Area | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | Manzanita Lake | Sulphur Works | Butte Lake | Devil’s Kitchen | Juniper Lake |
| Moderate | Chaos Crags | Bumpass Hell | Terminal Geyser | ||
| Difficult | Lassen Peak | Cinder Cone | Mt Harkness |
Other Things to do in Lassen Volcanic National Park in Summer
In addition to hiking and camping, there are plenty of other activities to enjoy in the park.
Paddleboarding
Stand-up paddleboarding is a great way to explore the many lakes, and swimming is a refreshing way to cool off on a hot day, as temperatures can get up to 90 degrees in the summer.
There is no swimming or boating in hydrothermal areas, and there are no swimmable hot springs within the park.
Fishing
The park is home to many varieties of fish, making it a popular spot for fishing. To fish in the park, you must have a valid fishing license and adhere to all regulations.
The most common type of fish caught in the park are trout, but there are also opportunities to catch bass and more.
Stargazing
Although Lassen is not a certified International Dark Sky Place, it still offers excellent stargazing conditions.
The night sky is dark and clear, with no light pollution interfering with your view. In addition, the high altitude of the park means that you can see more stars than you would at lower elevations.
Whether you’re an astrophotographer or just looking for some space, Lassen is a great place to enjoy the night sky.
Where to Stay in Lassen Volcanic National Park in Summer
Campgrounds
Lassen Volcanic National Park has many campgrounds to choose from! If you decide to camp within the park, make sure to purchase a fire permit and camp only in designated areas.
Some campgrounds fill up quickly during the summer months, so make a reservation in advance. Come back soon for my experience dispersed camping.
Lodge
Highlands Ranch Resort is the (only) way to go if you’re looking for a more lux option. Just outside of the Southwest Entrance to the park, you will find a restaurant and rustic cottages with modern amenities.
Redding
If you’re looking for an alternate option outside of the park, Redding is a great choice. Redding to Lassen Volcanic National Park is only about an hour apart. Redding is an excellent option as the nearest city to Lassen if you’d rather have amenities close by.
Lassen Volcanic National Park FAQs
There are over 20 volcanoes and volcanic vents within the park.
In the park, you can find black bears, squirrels, chipmunks, mule deer, and the Sierra Nevada red fox.
You don’t need a reservation for a day visit. However, you must purchase a $30 day pass at the entrance station. Reservations are required for overnight camping within the park.
If you are visiting multiple parks, or if you are planning on returning to Lassen, the America the Beautiful pass is worth the $80 investment!
Cell service is limited at the Northwest entrance and at Bumpass Hell. Otherwise, there is no cell reception in the park.
Yes!
Is Lassen on your summer road trip list yet? Where else can you get up close and personal with some of the most amazing geological formations on earth.
Whether you’re interested in geology or just looking for a beautiful place to explore, a visit to Lassen Volcanic National Park in the summer is definitely worth it.
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