This realistic Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway Guide helps you plan your next adventure along this scenic drive.

Lassen Volcanic National Park is a park with volcanoes, mud pools, mountain meadows, clear lakes. It is a California alternative to Yellowstone and Hawaii Volcanoes.

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Lassen Volcanic is one of the oldest national parks. Only 10 parks received this status before Lassen Volcanic. Coincidentally, both Yellowstone and Hawaii Volcanoes became national parks earlier.

It is far easier to reach Lassen Volcanic than either of these parks. Ongoing volcanic activity and breathtaking mountain vistas also speak in favor of visiting Lassen Volcanic.

Sights & Places of Interest

Lassen Volcanic National Park has an astonishing variety of sights. You can easily spend a few days exploring all that places Lassen Volcanic has to offer.

There is an easy solution if you would like to make the most from Lassen Volcanic in one day. You need to pick the right area of the park and decide on the places of interest to visit.

The Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway is one of the best ways to explore the park sights. It is a 30-mi (48-km) scenic drive. It brings you from south to north around Mount Lassen and a few other peaks.

This Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway Guide follows a northbound path in the park. The drive starts from the intersection with Highway CA-36. It ends with the junction with Highway CA-44.

1. Raker Memorial Gateway

You will pass through Lassen National Forest no matter where you enter the national park. This setup ensures greater protection to the wildlife and formations in the region.

It also means that you will enjoy unspoiled forests miles before entering Lassen Volcanic National Park. The Drive will already become scenic near the town of Mineral on Highway CA-36.

The Raker Memorial Gateway is an 8-mi (13-km) drive between Mineral and Southwest Entrance Station. It brings you through a magical forest.

There are no scenic vistas on this drive. But you could just stop at any no name pullout and enjoy the unspoiled beauty.

2. Brokeoff Mountain

You will enter the park before the Visitor Center and Entrance Station. The Brokeoff Mountain Trailhead is the only notable stop on the way.

It is a good idea to display your America the Beautiful annual pass or check in at the Visitor Center. This way, you could avoid a fine for not paying the entrance fees.

This stop is a gateway to a picturesque mountain in the park. The 7.4-mi (12-km) trail is a strenuous hike. You would need about 6 hours to gain 2,500 ft (762 m) in elevation to the summit and return safely.

3. Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center

Few visitors take 6 hours to complete the Brokeoff Mountain trail just after entering the park. Most people continue further north on the Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway.

You will reach the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center and Southwest Campground just minutes after the trailhead. This is a great stop to use amenities, buy memorabilia, or get advice from a park ranger.

It is also a start of 10-mi (16-km) out-and-back trail. This route brings you via Conard Meadows and Cold Boiling Lake all the way to Kings Creek Falls.

Just like the Brokeoff Mountain trail, this hiking trail might not work for an average hiker. Day visitors to Lassen Volcanic could find other, more accessible viewpoints and trails.

4. Sulphur Works

Sulphur Works Geothermal Area is a great day use spot. It is just a mile north from the Southwest Entrance Station.

This area is home to Tophet Springs and Supans Springs. These springs are tributes to longer West Sulphur Creek.

Sulphur Works stays true to its name. There are boiling mud pools. You will also feel sulphur gases in this area. In a way, Sulphur Works is a version of Yellowstone and Hawaii Volcanoes in California.

5. Ridge Lakes

Sulphur Works stop also serves as a trailhead. It is the starting point for the Ridge Lakes Trail. This moderate out-and-back trail takes 2 miles (3.2 km) round trip.

You will gain 1,045 ft (319 m) on the way to Ridge Lakes. Get ready for a beautiful hike through Alpine Meadows, just like in Rocky Mountain. Budget between 60 and 90 minutes to complete the hike.

The Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway passes next to a few other lakes. Emerald Lake, Lake Helen, Summit Lake, and Manzanita Lake do not require a hike to see.

6. Diamond Peak

Once you explored Sulphur Works Hydrothermal Area, you could continue your drive on the Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway.

The Highway gains 300 ft (91 m) on the way to the next stop. The Diamond Peak Scenic Vista is an amazing viewpoint.

It provides great views of the Visitor Center, Brokeoff Mountain, and Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway below.

The Diamond Peak Scenic Vista point is the place to see Conard Meadows and Mount Conard. You could also enjoy Lassen Volcanic National Forest in a distance.

But despite the name of this viewpoint, you can barely see Diamond Peak from there. You would want to drive further on the Highway to Bumpass Trailhead. You will be able to catch nice views of the peak then.

7. Little Hot Springs Valley

As you continue further on the Scenic Highway, you will arrive at the Little Hot Springs Valley Overlook. This viewpoint has great views of the volcanic formations.

Just like Sulphur Works, this valley is an area of active geothermal activity. You can see mountain slopes covered in frozen lava. Evergreen trees and meadows already took over parts of the lava flow.

You could see East Sulphur Creek flowing down below towards Mill Creek Falls and Conard Meadows. Unfortunately, there are no viewpoints or trails to explore in this area.

8. Emerald Lake

You would need to get back on the road. But you are in luck. You are about to enter one of the most scenic parts of the entire highway.

The Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway quickly gains elevation after the Little Hot Springs Valley Overlook. You will be almost 500 ft (152 m) higher in just 1.5 (2.4 km).

You will now be in the land of Alpine meadows. It is a perfect spot to see wildflowers in the summer. Meadows and lakes are also a prime wildlife viewing destination.

You are very likely to see deer on your trip to Lassen Volcanic. Be on the lookout for them between Emerald Lake and Upper Meadow.

The former is a beautiful lake. It is also the next attraction on the Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway. There is no pullout or viewpoint at Emerald Lake.

You would need to park at Bumpass Trailhead and hike back to see the lake. It makes exploring Emerald Lake fairly cumbersome. It is best to enjoy the views as you pass by if time is an issue.

9. Bumpass Trailhead

The Bumpass Trailhead is a major stop in Lassen Volcanic National Park. It is right between Emerald Lake and Lake Helen. A short drive separates these viewpoints.

Even more importantly, it is a major trailhead. You can choose to hike to Bumpass Hell, Cold Boiling Lake, or Upper Meadow. Each of these hikes takes over an hour to complete.

• Bumpass Hell: 2.7-mi (4.3-km) round trip with an elevation gain of 407 ft (124 m).
• Cold Boiling Lake: 6.1-mi (10-km) round trip with an elevation gain of 1,306 ft (398 m).
• Upper Meadow: 7.7-mi (12.3-km) round trip with an elevation gain of 1,355 ft (413 m).

You can get great views of Bumpass Mountain and Conard Mountain from this trailhead even if you do not hike. There is no reason not to stop at this scenic viewpoint.

10. Lake Helen

You would not have to drive long before jumping out of the car again. Lake Helen is right next to the Bumpass Trailhead. It is the most picturesque lake on the Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway.

Just see for yourself. Lake Helen has clear azure waters. When you add reflections of nearby Eagle Peak, you will get an astonishing visual combination.

Lake Helen has picnic tables for you to enjoy. This could be a good time for a snack or lunch. You might feel that it is too soon to stop for an extended break.

Indeed, you will have only covered 7 miles (11 km) of the Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway. But it is the most scenic part of the park. There are far fewer viewpoints on the rest of the drive.

11. Lassen Peak Trailhead

There are two more stops in close proximity to one another and Lake Helen. The Lassen Peak Trailhead is the first of them. As its name suggests, it is the start of the summit hike.

This 5-mi (8-km) strenuous trail brings you to the top of Mount Lassen. Brace yourself for 1,919 ft (585 m) in elevation gain. On the bright side, you will get spectacular views from this plug dome volcano.

You would reach the elevation of 10,457 ft (3,187 m) if you decide to hike Lassen Peak. There are a few things that would help you make the most from this hike.

• Expect snow on the trail. This is true even in the summer.
• Bring plenty of water and sunscreen.
• Layer up since the weather can be change rapidly at such altitude.
• Know your limits and turn around if you start to feel unwell.

12. Road’s High Point

Once you are back on the road, you will pass the Highest Point of the Highway. It is a lot lower than Lassen Peak or Mount Evans. But the elevation is still respectable at 7,512 ft (2,594 m).

You would be driving downhill from this point forward. Get ready for hairpin turns, just like on Beartooth Highway. And enjoy the views of Upper Meadow and Kings Creek from above.

13. Upper Meadow

It is easy to guess the next stop on the Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway. You will enter Upper Meadow as soon as the road descends about 1,100 ft (330 m).

This meadow is another wildlife viewing spot. Look out for deer and black bears. Kings Creek is a place where bear sightings are most common in the summer.

There is still plenty to see even if you see no wildlife at Upper Meadow. You can follow Kings Creek as it flows through this large and flat meadow.

14. Kings Creek

The creek starts to flow more rapidly around the Kings Creek Picnic Area and Trailhead. The latter has a small parking lot. You could choose to hike along the creek to see the rapids and waterfalls.

In this case, you are looking at an out-and-back trail. It takes 2.7-mi (4.3-km) round trip to reach Kings Creek Falls. There is 476 ft (145 m) in elevation gain. If you enjoy waterfalls, consider taking this hike.

But remember that this is one of the most popular day hikes in Lassen Volcanic in the summer. You will be hiking in a crowd.

On the bright side, Kings Creek is one of the closest trailheads to the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). This National Scenic Trail is even longer than the Appalachian Trail.

15. Hat Creek & Devastated Area

Once you finish hiking in the Kings Creek Area, you can buckle up. There no meaningful stops on the Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway for over 6 miles (10 km).

Unless you are camping or taking extended hikes, there is no reason to stop at Summit Lake. You can keep going all the way to Hat Creek Trailhead and Devastated Area.

These two stops are right next to one another. Yet, they could not be more different.

• The Hat Creek Trailhead is the beginning of two 3-mi (5 km) long hikes.
• The Devastated Area houses a 0.2-mi (0.3-km) interpretive walk.

16. Sunflower Flat

You will be driving for a while after a stop at the Devastated Area. Hot Rock, Sunflower Flat, Nobles Pass, Chaos Grags stops are more focused on history.

Their natural beauty pales in comparison to the signature sights of Lassen Volcanic like Lake Helen or Bumpass. But they give you a chance to learn more about the pioneers of the region.

17. Manzanita & Reflection Lakes

Two lakes are the final sights on the Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway. Reflection Lake and Manzanita Lake are on different sides of the highway.

The latter lakeshore also serves as the place for Manzanita Lake Campground. Despite captivating names, both lakes do not offer much in terms of additional views.

There will be crowds at these lakes in the summer. But these visitors will not be admiring the beauty of the park. Instead, they will be wading, kayaking, canoeing, and paddle-boarding.

Wood burning grills make Lassen Volcanic look a lot like a recreational area than a national park. You can have a very similar experience in Grand Teton in the summer.

As a result, you would not be able to capture whatever reflections of Chaos Crags and Loomis Peak might exist.

If you have a similar experience, it is best to complete the Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway drive sooner. You can exit the park at the Manzanita Lake Entrance Station.

Enjoy the views of Lassen Volcanic National Forest as you make your way to the next destination.

Continue with this Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway Guide. You will learn more about ways to get to the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.

Getting to Lassen Volcanic National Park

Lassen Volcanic National Park is in Northeastern California. The park is at the northern boundary of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range.

Lassen Volcanic is in a remote part of California. It is quite far from major cities. You would need an hour to get to the park from Redding or Red Bluff.

These are the closest towns to the park. Redding is the larger town of the two. Still, it has less than 100,000 residents and no major airport.

Reno, Nevada is the closest city with a large airport. It takes over 2.5 hours to reach the park from Reno. A drive from Sacramento takes nearly 3 hours.

While both Reno and Sacramento have airports, they are not airline hubs. You would need to fly into San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, or Portland, Oregon.

But the driving distances will add up. You would need about 4 hours to get to Lassen Volcanic from San Francisco Bay Area. A drive from Portland will add 7.5 hours to your itinerary.

It is best to pair Lassen Volcanic with other sights in Northern California, Western Nevada, and Southern Oregon. Lassen Volcanic is a great first stop on the way to Crater Lake, Redwood, Lava Beds, and Oregon Caves.

There are two main entrance stations to Lassen Volcanic National Park.

• The Southwest Entrance Station is next to Highway CA-36.
• The Manzanita Lake Entrance Station is up north, near Highway CA-44.

Lassen Volcanic has three other units. All of them require lengthy drives on unpaved roads.

• You can reach Warner Valley and Juniper Lake from Chester.
• Butte Lake is in the most remote part of the park.

These units are a paradise for hikers. While the elevation gain is reasonable on most hikes, the distances add up. These trails are not for beginner hikers.

Where to Stay near Lassen Volcanic National Park

You could find a place to stay in Lassen Volcanic National Park. But you need to like camping to get the most enjoyment from the campgrounds in the park.

In this case, welcome to Southwest, Summit Lake South and North, or Manzanita Campgrounds. All of them are on the Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway. All three remote units also have campgrounds.

You should not worry if camping is not your thing. There are a handful of places to stay near the park. Look into the town of Chester on Lake Almanor and properties along Highway CA-36.

You would have to drive west from the park to find more places to stay. The Interstate Highway I-5 corridor between Red Bluff and Redding is a good spot to look for affordable lodging.

Entrance Requirements & Passes

Lassen Volcanic National Park is open year round. Thanks to its remote location, you do not need a reservation to drive on the Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway.

The highway closes in the winter due to snow levels. Reopening dates vary by year. But the Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway is usually open from Memorial Day to Halloween.

This is a longer exploration season than in Crater Lake National Park. But it still means you only have about 5 months to enjoy the beauty of Lassen Volcanic.

The park charges admission fees. You would need to pay $30 per car if you visit Lassen Volcanic between April 15 and December 1. The fee drops to $10 per car between December 1 and April 15.

Motorcyclists can expect to pay $25 and $10 during the same periods. Anyone who enters the park on foot or bike needs to pay $15 per person fee.

Lassen Volcanic is no different to other national parks. America the Beautiful annual pass grants you free admission to this park and its scenic highway.

Takeaways: Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway

Lassen Volcanic National Park is a beautiful yet somewhat remote park. You can describe Lassen Volcanic as a hidden gem. It is far from major cities and metropolitan areas.

This park has a remarkable Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway. This scenic drive brings you to all the main sights of the park. Focus your exploration on the Southwest Section.

Geological formations, mountain peaks, Alpine meadows, and clear lakes await Lassen Volcanic visitors. The park is a more accessible alternative to Yellowstone and Hawaii Volcanoes.

Lassen Volcanic is well worth a drive from Reno, Sacramento, or Bay Area. Late summer and early fall are the best times to visit Lassen Volcanic. You can avoid crowds and enjoy trails almost without snow.

Take a look at this Lassen Volcanic National Park Video Guide. And visit the YouTube channel for the latest videos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Safe realist travels!