Established
1916
Size
106,452 acres
Visitors / yr
420K
Entrance
$30
Best season
July through October
Nearest airport
RDD Redding Municipal
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Why Lassen Volcanic is worth the trip
California · Established 1916
Lassen is the volcano park nobody talks about, which is odd, since Lassen Peak blew up barely a century ago. Its 1914 to 1915 eruption cycle flattened forests and threw ash for miles, and the park was created the following year with the wreckage still smoking. Today it is the rare place holding all four types of volcano found on Earth, plus a full menu of boiling springs, fumaroles, and mud pots without Yellowstone's traffic.
Walk the boardwalks at Bumpass Hell, the park's largest hydrothermal basin, named for a guide who lost a leg learning how thin the crust is. Then climb Lassen Peak itself, about 2,000 feet of switchbacks to a summit view across the southern Cascades. Snow buries this park most of the year. July through October is the honest window.
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Top things to do in Lassen Volcanic
Where we would start, and what we would plan a day around. Read the full guide.
Start here
20 Things to Do in Lassen Volcanic National Park
Read the guide
01
Hiking · nps.gov
Hike to Bumpass Hell
Hike the three-mile, round-trip trail to the largest hydrothermal area in the park.
02
Snow Play · nps.gov
Sledding & Snowplay in the Southwest Area
The steep slopes behind the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center are a popular destination for sledders. Lassen's deep snowfall also provides ample opportunity for snowplay....
03
Snowshoeing · nps.gov
Snowshoe a Winter Route
Enjoy Lassen’s winter wonderland by snowshoe! Meander along the park highway route (snow-covered Hwy 89), circuit an icy lake, visit boiling hydrothermal features, or,...
04
Skiing · nps.gov
Ski & Snowboard at Lassen
Enjoy Lassen’s winter wonderland by ski or snowboard! Cross-country ski along one of the park’s numerous winter routes or, for experienced explorers, backcountry ski...
Hiking · nps.gov
Hike to Bumpass Hell
Hike the three-mile, round-trip trail to the largest hydrothermal area in the park.
02
Snow Play · nps.gov
Sledding & Snowplay in the Southwest Area
The steep slopes behind the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center are a popular destination for sledders. Lassen's deep snowfall also provides ample opportunity for snowplay....
03
Snowshoeing · nps.gov
Snowshoe a Winter Route
Enjoy Lassen’s winter wonderland by snowshoe! Meander along the park highway route (snow-covered Hwy 89), circuit an icy lake, visit boiling hydrothermal features, or,...
04
Skiing · nps.gov
Ski & Snowboard at Lassen
Enjoy Lassen’s winter wonderland by ski or snowboard! Cross-country ski along one of the park’s numerous winter routes or, for experienced explorers, backcountry ski...
Before you go
Get the Lassen Volcanic heads-up
Permit windows, closures and seasonal alerts, plus our best Lassen Volcanic guides, in your inbox before you go. Free, no spam.
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Plan your trip
Our guides for the big decisions, plus the gear, maps and lodging we would actually use for Lassen Volcanic.
Where to stay
Gateway towns with lodging, food and outfitters.
Maps & guides
Carry paper. Cell service dies fast inside most parks.
Lassen Volcanic Trails Illustrated map
Waterproof National Geographic topo of the park.
View on Amazon
America the Beautiful pass
$80 a year. Covers entrance fees at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.
Get the pass
What to bring
Field-tested picks we bring on park trips.
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Trekking PolesSave your knees on steep descents and river crossings. View on REI
-
Rain JacketMountain weather turns fast. Pack a shell even on clear mornings. View on REI
-
Fleece JacketMid-layer warmth for alpine mornings and evening campfires. View on REI
-
Hiking BootsAnkle support and grip for rocky, uneven terrain. View on REI
Getting there
- RDD Redding Municipal 50 mi
- SMF Sacramento International 180 mi
Some links in this section are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend what we would use ourselves.
Lassen Volcanic map
VC Visitor Center
CG Campground
Nearby Park
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When to go
Loading weather...
Month-by-Month Conditions
Tap any month for details
Month
High
Low
Crowds
Roads
Jan
41°
22°
Low
Partial
Feb
42°
22°
Low
Partial
Mar
46°
24°
Low
Partial
Apr
50°
28°
Low
Partial
May
61°
35°
Moderate
Partial
Jun
70°
41°
Peak
Open
Jul Best
79°
46°
Peak
Open
Aug Best
78°
45°
Peak
Open
Sep Best
72°
41°
Peak
Open
Oct Best
59°
33°
Heavy
Partial
Nov
47°
26°
Low
Partial
Dec
40°
22°
Low
Partial
Best months to visit
Crowd level (low to peak)
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More Lassen Volcanic guides
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Parks near Lassen Volcanic
Within reach if you are building a longer trip.
Worth protecting
Lassen Volcanic belongs to all of us
Protections that took generations to win can be rolled back in a single session of Congress. We keep watch so they hold.
Stay in the Loop
Free dispatches on the parks and the policy fights around them, almost every day. Threats tracked, wins celebrated, no fluff.
Threatened Lands Map
Follow what's happening on federal lands across the country with our interactive map.
View the Tracker