Although one of the lesser-known national parks, Lassen Volcanic has a lot to offer--from the world's largest plug dome volcano to the most extensive hydrothermal area west of Yellowstone!

The scenic highway that winds through the park showcases a land marked by fire and ice--as well as destruction and rebirth.

The park's main attraction and namesake is Lassen Peak, whose eruptions in the early 20th century helped cement its destiny as a national park.

Experience Lassen Volcanic with Shaka Guide

On Shaka Guide's Lassen Volcanic National Park Tour, we’ll guide you through this gem of the Cascades.

We'll wander through forest groves and mountain meadows, marvel at pristine lakes and spectacular waterfalls, and explore Lassen's unique volcanic and hydrothermal landscape.

As we travel, you'll hear music to go along with the scenery and stories. The park’s 2022 artist-in-residence, Marko Bajzer, composed some of the music we’re excited to feature especially for Lassen Volcanic.

The North State Symphony performs Marko’s original score, Lassen Awakes! and he recorded sounds from the park’s hydrothermal features.

With Shaka Guide leading the way, you’ll explore at your own pace. There’s no schedule to keep or crowd to follow. You’re in the driver’s seat—literally, so take your time!

Or, if you’re in a hurry, feel free to skip a stop. We promise we won’t take it personally. We’ve taken all the guesswork out so all you have to do is enjoy yourself.

Starting Points

There are multiple starting points for this driving tour. If you plan to enter the park from the northwest entrance, you can pick up the tour on OR 89 just north of Old Station or come from the west on OR 44 just past Shingletown.

If you plan to enter from the southwest entrance, you can begin the tour on OR 36--west of Chester or west of Mineral.

Tour Overview

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Our curated itinerary takes you to the best places in Lassen Volcanic National Park. With 16 potential stops and nearly 40 points of narration, this audio tour is packed with helpful information, fascinating stories, and moving music that will make this volcanic landscape come alive.

You can easily drive the tour in just one day. But if you want to hike every trail or spend time relaxing at Manzanita Lake, we recommend spending at least two days in the park.

Hitting the popular trails early in the day will help you avoid the crowds and maximize your time.

Of course, if you have less time, you can choose the places you want to visit and skip the rest. The tour never expires, so you can always come back another time.

Itinerary

1. Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center

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• Duration: 15-30 mins

Located near the park's south entrance, the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center features exhibits, a gift shop, a cafe, and restrooms. You can also grab a trail map and chat with a ranger.

The name of the visitor center comes from the Mountain Maidu word Kohm Yah-mah-nee which means "snow mountain." It's the original name for the volcano we know today as Lassen Peak.

2. Sulphur Works

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• Duration: 15 mins

Sulphur Works is one of the park's colorful hydrothermal features that you can see right from the road. Take the paved walkway to view steam vents, a boiling mud pot, and a landscape tinged yellow, orange, and red from mineral deposits.

Remember to tap the map marker to listen to the bonus story "The Aroma of a Volcano" to learn more about this fascinating place!

NOTE: If you're interested in seeing even more impressive hydrothermal features, we recommend skipping this stop in favor of the three-mile roundtrip hike to Bumpass Hell.

3. Diamond Peak Scenic Vista

• Duration: 5 mins

From the small pullout beneath Diamond Peak, you can see Brokeoff Mountain to the west, Lassen Peak to the north and acres and acres of forest land burned in the 2021 Dixie Fire.

The overlook is located at a bend in the road, so use caution when entering and exiting.

4. Emerald Lake

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• Duration: 5-15 mins

Emerald Lake gets its name from its striking green color which comes from vegetation that grows in the shallow water.

In the 1930s, park rangers stocked this lovely roadside gem with large rainbow trout. Today, the lake no longer has fish, but its stunning green color still makes a great photo op!

5. Bumpass Hell

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• Duration: 1.5-2 hours

The three-mile roundtrip trek to Bumpass Hell leads to the park's largest hydrothermal area, boasting16 acres of boiling springs, mud pots and roaring fumaroles!

The biggest steam vent, named Big Boiler, is one of the hottest fumaroles in the world--reaching over 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

Caution: Stepping off-trail can result in serious injury!

Remember to tap the map marker to hear the bonus story "Bumpass Hell" about the unlucky prospector and namesake of this place.

6. Lake Helen

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• Duration: 5 -30 mins

They named Lake Helen after Helen Brodt, the first white woman to summit Lassen Peak back in 1864. This deep blue lake is nestled at the foot of Lassen Peak and reflects the snowcapped mountain above.

Feel free to dip your toes or even go for a swim. But be warned that the lake's crystal clear water is extremely cold!

7. Lassen Peak View and Trailhead

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• Duration: 10 mins - 5 hours

Pull into the large parking area for a view of the world's largest plug dome volcano and namesake of this park.

You can even climb to the top of this sleeping 10,500-ft volcano!

With an elevation gain of almost 2,000 feet, the trail is not for the faint of heart. If you’re interested in tackling this 5-mile-round trip hike, make sure to read the safety information at the trailhead. Pay close attention to what it says about altitude sickness.

Tap the map marker called "Four Types of Volcanoes" to hear a bonus track.

8. Kings Creek and Cold Boiling Lake

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• Duration: 30 mins - 2 hours

The Kings Creek Picnic Area is located in a wildflower meadow and is a nice place to take a break and have some lunch. You'll find picnic tables and pit toilets.

The picnic area also features an easy 1.5-mile roundtrip trail to an unusual hydrothermal feature called Cold Boiling Lake.

Unlike other hot spots in the park, here you can see gas bubbling up through cold water along the shoreline of this pretty lake.

9. Kings Creek Falls

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• Duration: 2 hours

The moderate 3-mile hike to Kings Creek Falls features a spectacular 30-foot cascade. The Dixie Fire burned much of the forest, but life is already beginning to return.

Keep your eyes open for wildflowers in the meadows and other evidence of rebirth. The park offers limited roadside parking.

If you cannot find a spot, we recommend you try again later or skip this hike and do the one to Paradise Meadows instead.

10. Paradise Meadows

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• Duration: 2 hours

Paradise Meadows is a hidden gem tucked away on the northeast side of Lassen Peak. The moderate three-mile round trip hike follows Hat Creek up through a beautiful forest to a large basin surrounded by steep cliffs.

Nestled in the basin is an enchanting wildflower meadow that looks straight out of a fairytale. Along the way, you’ll pass a few waterfalls and catch glimpses of Lassen Peak through the trees.

With an elevation gain of 700 feet, be prepared to do a fair bit of climbing. But the heavenly views at the end are so worth it!

11. Devastated Area

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• Duration: 15-30 mins

People know the blast zone from Lassen Peak's 1915 eruption as the Devastated Area. The blast leveled this entire forest and turned it into a gray desolate wasteland.

But today, the name Devastated Area no longer matches what you'll see. Over the past century, nature has been hard at work, reclaiming the landscape and breathing new life into a once-desolate area.

Plants have risen from the ashes, and wildlife has returned. It’s a testimony of Nature’s power to destroy–and to restore.

Take the short, interpretive walk through the Devastated Area. You'll find picnic tables and restrooms here as well.

12. Hot Rock

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• Duration: 5 mins

Pull over to the side of the road and get a photo of the 30-ton boulder named Hot Rock. During one of Lassen's big eruptions, this giant lava boulder ejected out of the magma chamber and flew down the mountain in a rock avalanche to its final resting place here--five miles away!

A few days later, local photographer B.F. Loomis snapped a picture of the rock. Because it was still steaming and hot to the touch, he named it Hot Rock. You can see Loomis' historic photograph of Hot Rock in the Loomis Museum.

13. Chaos Crags Viewpoint

Image from Flickr by David Fulmer

• Duration: 5 mins

Turn into the pullout for a view of Chaos Crags and Chaos Jumbles--two more volcanic features that tell of the region's fiery past. Chaos Crags are plug dome volcanoes, just like Lassen Peak, except they’re very jagged.

On the other hand, Chaos Jumbles are acres of volcanic rocks strewn about between the crags and Manzanita Lake. Wanna know more? Tap the red map marker called "Born out of Chaos" to hear a Press to Play, bonus story about these fascinating volcanic features.

14. Manzanita Lake Area

• Duration: 15 mins - 2 hours

The Manzanita Lake Area features the Loomis Museum, a gift shop, restrooms, a few lakeside trails, and a campground.

It's a great place to get your bearings if you enter the park from the north. It's also a fun place to just kick back, relax, and hang out for the afternoon.

You can rent a kayak, swim, or walk along Manzanita Lake on the easy 2-mile loop path. You'll find stunning views of Lassen Peak from the lake's north shore.

For details about the other trails or things to do, tap the map marker titled "Exploring the Manzanita Lake Area."

15. Reflection Lake & Lily Pond

Image from Flickr by Theo Crazzolara 

• Duration: 30 mins

Across the street from the visitor center are two short, easy trails. One circles Reflection Lake and the other loops around Lily Pond.

Grab one of the interpretive brochures for the Lily Pond Trail to learn more about the unique plants that live here.

16. Loomis Museum

Image by Robin Montgomery

• Duration: 30 mins

The Loomis Museum is where you'll find displays of volcanic rocks, B.F. Loomis' historic photographs and Selena LaMar's Atsugewi basketry.

This is also where the rangers hang out, so bring your junior rangers here to earn their badges.

B.F. and Estella Loomis donated the Loomis Museum to Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Explore Lassen Volcanic with Shaka Guide

The American naturalist John Muir once said, “Nature is ever at work, building and pulling down, creating and destroying, keeping everything whirling and flowing…out of one beautiful form into another.”

Lassen Volcanic is the perfect place to watch Nature at work and be inspired by its ever-changing forms.

Ready to take the tour? Check out Shaka Guide's Lassen Volcanic National Park Tour!

We hope that we’ve given you all the information you need to make the most of your day. Your vacation is extremely important to us so if you have any questions feel free to reach out at aloha@shakaguide.com.

For more detailed information to help you plan, check out our Lassen Volcanic National Park Know Before You Go article.

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