Lassen Volcanic Day Hikes: A 2-Day Itinerary

Day 1 of 2

The Park Highway · Bumpass Hell & Lassen Peak

Enter from the southwest at the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center near Mineral and drive the Lassen Park Highway, the scenic road that climbs over the park past most of its big hydrothermal and volcanic sights. Start with the roadside Sulphur Works, a hissing, sulphur-smelling thermal area right beside the road, then hike Bumpass Hell (about 3 miles round trip), the largest hydrothermal area in the park, where boardwalks lead out over boiling mudpots and roaring fumaroles.

5 stopsDay one

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⠿Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.

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   Drive from where are you driving from?~1 hr · fuel up first · Drive

   The closest airport is Redding (RDD), about an hour west of the southwest entrance, with Reno about 2.5 hours southeast. Fuel up and grab supplies before you head in, then enter at the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center near Mineral. Confirm the Lassen Park Highway is fully open before you plan a one-way drive across the park.

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   Sulphur WorksRoadside steam vents & boiling mud · Viewpoint

   Just inside the southwest entrance, the Sulphur Works is a hissing, sulphur-smelling hydrothermal area right beside the road, with steam vents and boiling mud you can see without a hike. It is a quick, dramatic first taste of the park's active volcanic plumbing. Stay on the marked path and behind the railings.

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   Bumpass Hell~3 mi RT · boardwalks over mudpots · Hike

   Hike Bumpass Hell (about 3 miles round trip), the largest hydrothermal area in the park, where boardwalks lead out over boiling mudpots and roaring fumaroles in a steaming basin. The crust here is thin and the water and mud are scalding, so stay strictly on the boardwalks and keep kids and pets close.

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   Lassen Peak Trail~5 mi RT · strenuous · 10,457 ft · Hike

   If you have the legs, take on the Lassen Peak Trail (about 5 miles round trip, around 2,000 feet of gain, strenuous) to the 10,457-foot summit of this plug dome volcano. The switchbacks top out at a 360-degree view over the park and, on clear days, north to Mount Shasta. Start early, carry water and sun protection, and watch for afternoon storms.

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   Stay near Mineral or in the parkManzanita Lake cabins · books ahead · lodge

   Base in Mineral by the southwest entrance, or grab one of the Manzanita Lake Camping Cabins inside the park if they are available. In-park cabins fill fast for summer weekends, so reserve early. Redding about an hour west and Chester on the southern side are the other main options.

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Day 2 of 2

Kings Creek Falls, the Cinder Cone & Manzanita Lake

Start the day with Kings Creek Falls (about 2.3 miles round trip), a forested hike down to a tiered cascade in the heart of the park, then head to the far northeast corner for the park's most distinctive hike. The Cinder Cone Trail (about 4 miles round trip) climbs steeply through loose volcanic cinders to the rim of a textbook cinder cone, with the multicolored Painted Dunes and the black Fantastic Lava Beds spread out below.

5 stopsDay two

▾

⠿Not the order you want? Drag a stop, or use the arrows beside it. Stops move between days too.

1. ⠿↑↓1
   Kings Creek Falls~2.3 mi RT · tiered cascade · Hike

   Start the day with Kings Creek Falls (about 2.3 miles round trip), a forested hike down to a tiered cascade in the heart of the park. It is a cool, shaded leg-stretcher before the steep Cinder Cone climb, and the trail down can be steep and rocky in places, so take care on the descent.

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   Cinder Cone Trail~4 mi RT · steep · Painted Dunes · Hike

   Drive to the far northeast corner for the park's most distinctive hike. The Cinder Cone Trail (about 4 miles round trip) climbs steeply through loose volcanic cinders to the rim of a textbook cinder cone, with the multicolored Painted Dunes and the black Fantastic Lava Beds spread out below. The climb is short but brutally steep, like walking up a sand dune.

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   Painted Dunes & Fantastic Lava BedsMulticolored ash above black lava · Viewpoint

   From the Cinder Cone rim and the surrounding trails, the Painted Dunes glow in oxidized reds, oranges, and tans where volcanic ash settled on hot lava, set against the jagged black Fantastic Lava Beds. It is one of the most surreal landscapes in any national park and best photographed in low, raking light.

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   Manzanita Lake loop~1.8 mi RT · easy · Lassen Peak reflections · Hike

   Wind down with the easy Manzanita Lake loop (about 1.8 miles round trip), a flat, family-friendly walk near the northwest entrance that delivers postcard reflections of Lassen Peak on still mornings and evenings. It is the gentlest hike of the trip and a perfect finale, especially at first or last light.

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   Getting home: Redding or RenoRDD ~1 hr · Reno ~2.5 hr · Drive

   From the northwest side it is about an hour west to Redding (RDD), or roughly 2.5 hours southeast to Reno. Fuel up in a gateway town before the drive out, since services inside the park are limited. If you have an extra day, the Echo and Bathtub Lakes, Mill Creek Falls, and Paradise Meadows are all easy add-ons before you leave.

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