Lassen Volcanic National Park

About

Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of the few places in the world where all four types of volcanoes - shield, plug dome, cinder cone, and composite - can be found in close proximity. Located in the remote southern Cascade Range of Northern California, the park centers on Lassen Peak, a 10,457-foot volcano that last erupted in 1914-1917, making it one of the most recently active volcanoes in the lower 48 states.

The park's main attraction beyond the peak itself is its extraordinary hydrothermal activity. Bumpass Hell, the largest hydrothermal area in the park, features boiling pools, hissing fumaroles, and bubbling mudpots that stink gloriously of sulfur. The Sulphur Works area near the southwest entrance provides a roadside taste of geothermal activity without any hiking required - you can smell it before you see it.

The 30-mile Main Park Road (Highway 89) winds through the park from the southwest entrance to the northwest entrance, climbing through volcanic landscapes, passing alpine lakes, and offering stunning viewpoints along the way. Lake Helen, a deep blue alpine lake nestled in a volcanic basin, is one of the most photographed spots in the park. The Devastated Area, a moonscape left by the 1915 eruption, shows how the landscape is slowly recovering over a century later.

Lassen is also one of California's best-kept secrets for wildflower displays. During July and August, the meadows around Kings Creek and Summit Lake burst with lupine, paintbrush, and dozens of other species. The park's relative remoteness - it sits about three and a half hours north of Sacramento - keeps crowds manageable even in peak season.

Camping is available at several campgrounds, and accessible camping cabins are available near Manzanita Lake. The park is typically open from late May through November, though the Main Park Road may remain snow-covered into June. Winter brings cross-country skiing and snowshoeing opportunities from the southwest entrance.

Accessibility

Lassen Volcanic National Park has committed to improving accessibility and follows universal design principles in new construction and facility rehabilitation projects.

The Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center near the southwest entrance is fully accessible, featuring tactile exhibits including a relief map of the park and models of all four volcano types. Audio descriptions of exhibits are available at the information desk. The center includes an accessible auditorium, cafe, gift shop, and bookstore, with accessible parking near the entrance. The Loomis Museum near the northwest entrance has a wheelchair-accessible entrance on the west side, with accessible restrooms in Loomis Plaza.

For trails, the Manzanita Lake Loop is the park's most popular wheelchair-friendly trail - a 1.8-mile paved path circling a beautiful alpine lake with mountain views. The Lily Pond Nature Trail near Loomis Museum is a short, mostly flat interpretive walk. The Devastated Area Interpretive Trail is a paved path through the 1915 eruption zone. Note that Bumpass Hell, the park's most famous hydrothermal feature, is not wheelchair accessible due to steep terrain, though accessible viewpoints are planned for future trail improvements. The Sulphur Works area near the southwest entrance offers roadside viewing of fumaroles and mudpots without leaving the car or walking far from the parking area.

Four accessible camping cabins (Cabins 1, 8, 14, and 18) are available near Manzanita Lake with access ramps, stairs with handrails, extended picnic tables, beds, propane heaters, and bear boxes. Accessible campsites are available at Manzanita Lake (sites A32 and B9), Summit Lake North (site A1), and Butte Lake (site A6), all near accessible restrooms. Reservations are required through recreation.gov. Access Pass holders receive a 50% camping discount.

Picnic areas at Manzanita Lake, Lake Helen, Devastated Area, and Kings Creek offer level sites, accessible restrooms, and accessible parking. The 30-mile Main Park Road provides excellent auto-touring with pullouts at scenic viewpoints.

Service animals are permitted on all trails and in all facilities, though they must be leashed and owners must bring waste bags. Contact the park at (530) 595-4480 for current conditions and accessibility questions.

More accessible places in California

• Griffith Observatory (Los Angeles)
• Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) (Los Angeles)
• San Diego Zoo (San Diego)
• Yosemite National Park (Yosemite)
• Exploratorium (San Francisco)
• Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach)

Photo credits

• Lassen Volcanic National Park - ca-lassen-volcanic-national-park-us-national-park-service-1: National Park Service, Public domain (U.S. National Park Service)
• Lassen Volcanic National Park - ca-lassen-volcanic-national-park-us-national-park-service-3: National Park Service, Public domain (U.S. National Park Service)
• Lassen Volcanic National Park - ca-lassen-volcanic-national-park-us-national-park-service-4: National Park Service, Public domain (U.S. National Park Service)