Lassen Volcanic
National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park sits in Northern California, roughly an hour east of Redding. The park was shaped over time by intense volcanic activity. Visitors can witness hydrothermal features like bubbling mud pots and steaming vents, admire dramatic volcanic peaks, and see all four types of volcanoes found on Earth.
One of the park’s most iconic landmarks, Lassen Peak, is the world’s largest plug dome volcano. It’s also the southernmost volcano in the Cascade Range and last erupted in the early 20th century.
In many ways, Lassen feels like a more intimate version of Yellowstone, with similar geothermal features but just a fraction of the crowds—only 16% of the visitors that Yosemite sees each year. It’s a true hidden gem in California’s park system.
Lassen Volcanic At a Glance
$30 per vehicle for 7 days, from April 16th through November 30th. $10 per vehicle for 7 days, from December 1 through April 15th. Or FREE with the America the Beautiful pass.
Lassen Volcanic National Park is located in Northern California, about an hour east of Redding, less than three hours north of Sacramento, and around 5.5 hours east of Redwood National Park, another Northern California gem.
The most popular time to visit is during the summer months, as that is when everything in the park is accessible. Despite the park’s elevation and amount of snowfall (up to 30 feet!), Lassen Volcanic National Park is open year round, but because of this, it does experience many closures in the winter season. That’s when we visited and still had a wonderful time!
Reservations are not required to enter the park.
Different Areas of the Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park is made up of six different areas, Manzanita Lake, West Prospect Peak, Prospect Peak, Mount Harkness, Reading Peak and Lassen Peak.
How to visit Lassen Volcanic National Park in the winter & spring
Looking to visit Lassen Volcanic National Park in the winter or spring? These seasons provide a unique experience (+ some challenges) and in this guide we’re sharing how to visit during the off season!
Plan the Ultimate California National Parks Road Trip! (3 itineraries)
Want to go on the ultimate California National Parks road trip? We’re sharing 3 itineraries to help you plan your adventure!
California is easily one of our favorite states! It’s home to just about every type of scenery you can imagine, from the coast, to epic mountains, desert terrain, dense forests, and geothermal activity. And one of the best ways to experience its mix of ecosystems is by visiting the California National Parks!
Videos
We spent the day exploring the park during the shoulder season (April) and while most of the park was closed, the views were still incredible and we had a blast seeing the park with snow and wayyy less people. We already cannot wait to come back in the summer someday to see the rest of it!
