Lassen Volcanic National Park is often overlooked and overshadowed by more famous parks such as Yosemite, but this park is one of the best of its kind. Lassen is home to the largest plug dome volcano in the world, and is the only place in the world where you can find all types of volcanoes in one place. Hikes range from meadow loops to mountain climbs and the entire park is accessible in the winter via snowshoe or cross country skis.
Mount Lassen offers great views of the surrounding area with Mont Shasta in the distance. To experience the thermal pools and steam vents, take the short 3 mile out-and-back hike to Bumpass Hell.
Mount Lassen offers great views of the surrounding area with Mont Shasta in the distance. To experience the thermal pools and steam vents, take the short 3 mile out-and-back hike to Bumpass Hell.
Hiking Trails
Popular Hikes
Bumpass Hell - a moderate 3-mile hike to boiling mud pools and other hydrothermal areas.
Lassen Peak - a 4.8 climb up loose rock to the top of Lassen Peak with great views of the crater and surrounding mountains.
Cinder Cone - strenuous 4-mile steep climb to the summit of Cinder Cone. Great views of Lassen Peak.
Prospect Peak - strenuous 6.6-mile trail to the crater's rim with panoramic views of Cinder Cone in the distance.
Devil's Kitchen - moderate 4.2-mile trail through a meadow past mudpots, steam vents, and Hot Springs Creek.
Boiling Springs Lake - easy 1.8-mile trail through a meadow to the lake. The water stays around 125 degrees due to steam vents below. Great for wildflowers and birding.
Inspiration Point - moderate 1.4-mile climb through forests and meadows to the summit with rewarding views of Lassen, Prospect Peak, Cinder Cone, and Mount Harkness.
Easy Hikes
Devastated Area Interpretive Trail - easy 0.5-mile hike explaining the effects of Lassen Peaks most recent eruptions.
Lily Pond Nature Trail - easy 0.75-mile walk to lily pond with interpretive posts along the way.
Crystal Lake - easy 0.8-mile ascent through the forest to a nice lake.
Cold Boiling Lake - easy 1.4 mile trail past forests and meadows to this high lake with gas bubbles escaping from hydrothermal system below.
Manzanita Lake - easy 1.5-mile trail around Manzanita Trail with views of Lassen Peak. Great for birding, wildflowers, and families.
Horseshoe Lake - easy 2.8-mile trail between Juniper and Horseshoe lakes with nice fishing.
Moderate Hikes
Paradise Meadow - moderate 2.8-mile hike up to a meadow surrounded by cliffs.
Kings Creek Falls - moderate 3-mile hike through the Kings Creek meadow before arriving at the waterfall. Great wildflowers in the spring.
Terrace, Shadow, and Cliff Lakes - a moderate 3.4 mile rocky trail between Reading Peak and Lassen Peak with great views of Lassen Peak from the lake.
Chaos Crags and Crags Lake - moderate 4-mile gently climb up and then down to Crags Lake.
Echo Lake - moderate 4.4-mile hike through the forest to Echo Lake with great views of Lassen Peak.
Mill Creek Falls - moderate 4.6-mile , descend through the forest to a view of the falls before arriving at the top of the falls.
Terminal Geyser - moderate 5.8-mile trail from Boiling Springs along the PCT.
Manzanita Creek - moderate 7-mile climb along Manzanita Creek, ending in a meadow with views of Eagle Peak and other mountains.
Strenuous Hikes
Ridge Lakes - strenuous 2-mile trail up to the ridge and basin between Brokeoff Mountain and Mt. Diller.
Mount Harkness - strenuous 3.8-mile climb to the peak with great views awaiting at the top.
Brokeoff Mountain - strenuous 7.4-mile mostly steep, climb through the forests to the top of Brokeoff mountain with excellent views of the park.
Popular Hikes
Bumpass Hell - a moderate 3-mile hike to boiling mud pools and other hydrothermal areas.
Lassen Peak - a 4.8 climb up loose rock to the top of Lassen Peak with great views of the crater and surrounding mountains.
Cinder Cone - strenuous 4-mile steep climb to the summit of Cinder Cone. Great views of Lassen Peak.
Prospect Peak - strenuous 6.6-mile trail to the crater's rim with panoramic views of Cinder Cone in the distance.
Devil's Kitchen - moderate 4.2-mile trail through a meadow past mudpots, steam vents, and Hot Springs Creek.
Boiling Springs Lake - easy 1.8-mile trail through a meadow to the lake. The water stays around 125 degrees due to steam vents below. Great for wildflowers and birding.
Inspiration Point - moderate 1.4-mile climb through forests and meadows to the summit with rewarding views of Lassen, Prospect Peak, Cinder Cone, and Mount Harkness.
Easy Hikes
Devastated Area Interpretive Trail - easy 0.5-mile hike explaining the effects of Lassen Peaks most recent eruptions.
Lily Pond Nature Trail - easy 0.75-mile walk to lily pond with interpretive posts along the way.
Crystal Lake - easy 0.8-mile ascent through the forest to a nice lake.
Cold Boiling Lake - easy 1.4 mile trail past forests and meadows to this high lake with gas bubbles escaping from hydrothermal system below.
Manzanita Lake - easy 1.5-mile trail around Manzanita Trail with views of Lassen Peak. Great for birding, wildflowers, and families.
Horseshoe Lake - easy 2.8-mile trail between Juniper and Horseshoe lakes with nice fishing.
Moderate Hikes
Paradise Meadow - moderate 2.8-mile hike up to a meadow surrounded by cliffs.
Kings Creek Falls - moderate 3-mile hike through the Kings Creek meadow before arriving at the waterfall. Great wildflowers in the spring.
Terrace, Shadow, and Cliff Lakes - a moderate 3.4 mile rocky trail between Reading Peak and Lassen Peak with great views of Lassen Peak from the lake.
Chaos Crags and Crags Lake - moderate 4-mile gently climb up and then down to Crags Lake.
Echo Lake - moderate 4.4-mile hike through the forest to Echo Lake with great views of Lassen Peak.
Mill Creek Falls - moderate 4.6-mile , descend through the forest to a view of the falls before arriving at the top of the falls.
Terminal Geyser - moderate 5.8-mile trail from Boiling Springs along the PCT.
Manzanita Creek - moderate 7-mile climb along Manzanita Creek, ending in a meadow with views of Eagle Peak and other mountains.
Strenuous Hikes
Ridge Lakes - strenuous 2-mile trail up to the ridge and basin between Brokeoff Mountain and Mt. Diller.
Mount Harkness - strenuous 3.8-mile climb to the peak with great views awaiting at the top.
Brokeoff Mountain - strenuous 7.4-mile mostly steep, climb through the forests to the top of Brokeoff mountain with excellent views of the park.
Trails
Summary
Difficulty
Distance
Subway Cave, Lassen National Forest
Descend into the dark volcanic underworld of the Subway Cave lava tube for a short yet highly memorable hike.
Descend into the dark volcanic underworld of the Subway Cave lava tube for a short yet highly memorable hike.
Easy
0.4 mi/
0.6 km
0.6 km
Manzanita Lake, Lassen Volcanic National Park
Picturesque Lassen peaks are reflected by the tranquil waters of Manzanita Lake on this short 2 mile loop trail.
Picturesque Lassen peaks are reflected by the tranquil waters of Manzanita Lake on this short 2 mile loop trail.
Easy
2.0 mi/
3.2 km
3.2 km
Bumpass Hell, Lassen Volcanic National Park
Bubbling mud pots, sulfur vents and boiling pools make this trip to hell and back well worth the effort.
Bubbling mud pots, sulfur vents and boiling pools make this trip to hell and back well worth the effort.
Easy
3.0 mi/
4.8 km
4.8 km
Chaos Crags, Lassen Volcanic National Park
Clamber around the rocks of an enormous volcanic rockslide.
Clamber around the rocks of an enormous volcanic rockslide.
Easy
3.5 mi/
5.6 km
5.6 km
Lassen Peak, Lassen Volcanic National Park
Tackle highest peak in Lassen Volcanic National Park and stand atop an active volcano.
Tackle highest peak in Lassen Volcanic National Park and stand atop an active volcano.
Moderate
5.0 mi/
8.0 km
8.0 km
Cinder Cone, Lassen Volcanic National Park
Marvel at Lassen's volcanic landscape from atop the rim of a cinder cone.
Marvel at Lassen's volcanic landscape from atop the rim of a cinder cone.
Moderate
5.5 mi/
8.9 km
8.9 km
Brokeoff Mountain, Lassen Volcanic National Park
Climb one of the park's best trails to experience the unrivaled views from the summit of Brokeoff Mountain.
Climb one of the park's best trails to experience the unrivaled views from the summit of Brokeoff Mountain.
Moderate
7.0 mi/
11.3 km
11.3 km
Cluster Lakes, Lassen Volcanic National Park
Whether you measure your lakes by quality or quantity, this hike's a winner either way.
Whether you measure your lakes by quality or quantity, this hike's a winner either way.
Moderate
11.0 mi/
17.7 km
17.7 km
Ridge Lakes - Lassen Volcanic National Park
2.3 mile trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park
2.3 mile trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park
Difficult
2.3 mi/
3.7 km
3.7 km
Lassen Peak Standard Summit Route and Ski Descent
Via Lassen Peak Trail and Northeast Ridge with optional ski descent
Via Lassen Peak Trail and Northeast Ridge with optional ski descent
Difficult
6.7 mi/
10.8 km
10.8 km
Guides
Tackle highest peak in Lassen Volcanic National Park and stand atop an active volcano.
Climb one of the park's best trails to experience the unrivaled views from the summit of Brokeoff Mountain.
Bubbling mud pots, sulfur vents and boiling pools make this trip to hell and back well worth the effort.
Several great day-hikes, each offering entirely different experiences showcasing the best of Lassen Volcanic NP.
Marvel at Lassen's volcanic landscape from atop the rim of a cinder cone.
Whether you measure your lakes by quality or quantity, this hike's a winner either way.
Picturesque Lassen peaks are reflected by the tranquil waters of Manzanita Lake on this short 2 mile loop trail.
Descend into the dark volcanic underworld of the Subway Cave lava tube for a short yet highly memorable hike.
Clamber around the rocks of an enormous volcanic rockslide.
Via Lassen Peak Trail and Northeast Ridge with optional ski descent
2.3 mile trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park
Community Trips
Brokeoff Mountain (Lassen Volcanic National Park)
Morgan Springs, California, United States
7.2 miles
7.2 miles
I initially wanted to climb up Lassen Peak but had to change my plans after learning that the trail was closed for the remaining of the year. Brokeoff Mountain seemed to be an interesting alternative. Less crowded, with great views, and considered to be the most strenuous of the featured hikes in the park, although it is short (7 miles return trip).It did not disappoint. The path goes through various type of...
I wanted a mellow backpacking trip and this perfectly fit the bill. Drove up the night before, crashed in the Southwest Walk-In Campground, picked up a permit the next day, and set off from Summit Lake after oohing and aahing at Mount Lassen itself. Spent the night at Silver Lake and headed out the next day.The hike definitely has ups and downs but they are not that bad -- mostly you are...
We arrived pretty late in Lassen Volcanic National Park, but we secured a campsite for the night and decided to get in a quick hike before the sun went down. We barely made it before sunset, but it was definitely worth it. The snow was a bit slippery, but the hot sulfur pools were pretty neat.
David and I woke up early today (6:45) to eat a cold oatmeal breakfast (our stove broke) and pack up our campsite before heading over to Lassen peak. It was pretty cold when we got there, but we knew that we would get warm during out 2000ft elevation gain. The snow was a but slippery, but we managed pretty well. We climbed to the highest point we could and then decended into...
Joe and I decided to hike to the Cinder Cone in Lassen National Park. We had three days and did want to back track.. so we choose a loop route. We packed in about 12 miles from Summit Lake to Snag Lake, Friday afternoon. After leaving the trailhead, we didn't see anyone all day. When we arrived at Snag Lake we were definitely ready to stop for the...
Bumpass Hell is the must-visit area in the whole park. It features very impressive mudpots and hissing fumaroles.While accessible only through hiking, it is an easy 3 miles hike (return trip) very doable with young kids. The trailhead is right by the main park road and offers great views of Lassen Peak, Brokeoff Mountain and Mount Diller. It goes down slightly for a few hundred yards until it reaches the road again,...
3 day snowshoe trip to the summit of Mt Lassen. Started at the southwest entrance to the park, generally following the road covered in 16' of snow. Camped near Lake Helen close to the summer trailhead to Mt Lassen.Next day had a wonderful summit day to Mt Lassen, snowshoed all the way to the summit. Rapid glissade down the mountain back to camp. Snowshoed back out the next day.
This is a very short and simple ski or snowshoe, starting from the visitor center at the South entrance to Lassen National Park and following the road to Sulphur Works. Be prepared to smell rotten eggs! Additional Photos and some videos of the Sulphur Works available here
Day 1 hike was a failure. The trails were semi covered with snow and we had no idea which way to go once we hit a fork in the path. We didn't make it to the falls, but instead we climbed up a steep cliff, ascending about 500ft.Day 2 hike was also a failure. There was too much snow and we had no idea where the trail was. We decided to head...
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