With more than 150 miles (241 km) of trails, Lassen Volcanic National Park in California offers hikes ranging from easy walks and moderate rambles, to challenging slogs and strenuous treks.
Hikers on a portion of the Nobles Emigrant Trail, Lassen Volcanic National Park / Rebecca Latson
You can hike a part of the historic Nobles Emigrant Trail to follow the path pioneers and prospectors trekked to gold, fertile soils, and a better life in California. You can wander the Devastated Trail dotted with interpretive signs explaining the area’s formation during the 1915-1916 Lassen Peak eruption. A moderate 1.5-mile (2.4 km) hike along Bumpass Hell Trail will lead you into one of the park’s largest hydrothermal areas filled with steaming fumaroles and bubbling mudpots and hot springs. Expend a little energy trudging up loose, unconsolidated volcanic pumice, scoria, and sand to the summit of a cinder cone above colorful ash dunes and black lava fields, or trek up 1,957 ft (596 m) on a packed dirt and rock route to the summit of the volcano for which the park is named to enjoy expansive views of the landscape while catching your breath.
Now comes the hard part along the Cinder Cone Trail, Lassen Volcanic National Park / Rebecca Latson
Snows begin to melt in May and are clear through October. Late July through most of September is peak hiking season. It’s also the busiest time in the park, so be prepared to share the trails with others.
Around November, snow begins accumulating and the landscape can be covered with 30 feet of the cold, white stuff, lasting all the way through April. While winter snows require closure of the park road, and trails are neither cleared of snow by the park nor groomed or marked, you can still enjoy a short or lengthy winter constitutional on snowshoes or cross-country skis.
Cross-country skiing over winter snow, Lassen Volcanic National Park / Rebecca Latson
Hikes Featured On The Traveler
Bumpass Hell Trail
If there's no other hike you do at Lassen Volcanic National Park -- and hiking to the park's roof atop 10,457-foot (3,187 m) Lassen Peak is not for everyone -- the nice walk to Bumpass Hell is the one to do.
To read more of this hike, head to this page.
Cinder Cone Trail
… I personally believe there are three trails you should attempt to tackle in this park (health and time permitting): Bumpass Hell, Lassen Peak, and Cinder Cone trails. Granted, the Lassen Peak and Cinder Cone trails are quite the challenge (a mild understatement) but the rewards are worth the effort. I know that from hiking the Cinder Cone Trail.
To read more of this hike, head to this page.
Day Hiking
Park staff divides day hike trails into different areas:
Southwest Area (Southwest Entrance to Sifford Lake)
- Brokeoff Mountain
- Bumpass Hell
- Mill Creek Falls
- Ridge Lakes
- Lassen Peak
- Terrace, Shadow, and Cliff Lakes
- Cold Boiling and Crumbaugh Lakes
- Kings Creek Falls
- Sifford Lakes
Northwest Area (Northwest Entrance to Summit Lake)
- Manzanita Lake
- Lily Pond Interpretive Trail
- Nobles Emigrant Trail
- Manzanita Creek
- Crags Lake
- Devastated Area Trail
- Hat Lake to Paradise Meadow
- Echo Lake
- Summit Lake to Cluster/Twin Lakes Loop
Butte Lake Area
- Bathtub Lake Loop
- Cinder Cone
- Prospect Peak
- Butte Lake to Window Lake
- Snag Lake Loop
Juniper Lake Area
- Horseshoe Lake
- Inspiration Point
- Mount Harkness
- Crystal Lake
Warner Valley Area
- Boiling Springs Lake
- Devils Kitchen
- Drake Lake
- Dream Lake Basin
- Terminal Geyser
- Little Willow Lake to Terminal Geyser
- Warner Valley Road to Juniper Lake (a.k.a. Heart Rate Hill)
FYI, a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail also runs through the park.
To read more details about these available hikes, view the trail key, and understand trail conditions and fire hazard safety, click on the “Day Hiking” link above.
Backcountry Hiking
Backpackers at the Summit Lake trailhead, Lassen Volcanic National Park / NPS file
The largest network of backpacking trailheads are located in the eastern half of the park, which is also the area most affected by the 2021 Dixie Fire.
Backcountry hiking means backcountry camping, and you’ll need a wilderness permit for this, available through recreation.gov. Since you’ll be hiking through parts of the park affected by the 2021 Dixie Fire, you’ll need to understand burned area safety and check the 2021 Dixie Fire vegetation burn severity map to inform your route and camp locations. The park’s backcountry camping page provides camping, trail, and preparation information to help you plan for a safe and enjoyable trek away from the more populous spots and into Lassen’s wilderness, where you will find plenty of solitude and beautiful scenery.
