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Hiking Information
Hiking in Lassen Volcanic National Park can be a fun and rewarding experience as in other national parks. It is a great way to both see and experience the park.
Lassen Volcanic National Park contains 150 miles of hiking trails, including 17 miles of Pacific Crest Trails. Trails vary in length and difficulty, winding through coniferous forest, alpine tundra and along water ways.
Thermal warning! Boiling water may be present at or near the surface in park thermal areas. Stay on trails and boardwalks where provided. The crusts over some thermal features are brittle. Breaking through them can plunge you into boiling water. Keep close watch and physical control over young children. The man who named Bumpass Hell lost a leg as a result of falling into the boiling waters.
| Trail | Start | Distance | Time | Terrain | Features |
| Boiling Springs Lake | Parking area west of Warner Valley Campground | 3.0 mi | 2.0 hrs | Easy 200 ft climb | Mud-pots, flowers, forests, trail leaflet |
| Brokeoff Mountain | Road Marker 2 | 7.4 mi | 5.0 hrs | Uphill, steady 2,600 ft climb | Scenic, flowers, streams |
| Bumpass Hell | Parking area by Road Marker 17 | 3.0 mi | 3.0 hrs | Gradual 500 ft climb first mile, 250 ft descent into thermal area | Largest thermal area, hot springs, steam vents, mud-pots. Stay on established trail |
| Cinder Cone | West end of Butte Lake Campground | 4.0 (5.0 if trail followed down So. side of cone) mi | 3.0, 4.0 hrs | 800 ft climb, fairly steep with loose cinders | Forest, scenic, wear high shoes or boots, for geologist & photographers |
| Kings Creek Falls | Road Marker 32 | 3.0 mi | 2.5 hrs | 700 ft descent | Cascade, forest, flowers, for photographers |
| Lassen Peak | Parking lot by Road Marker 22 | 5.0 mi | 4.5 hrs | 2,000 ft uphill on steady, steep grade (15%) begins at 8,500 | Recent volcanic activity, timberline trees, bring water and jacket, watch for lightning |
| Lily Pond Nature Trail | Loomis Museum Parking Area | 1.0 mi | 1.0 hr | Easy Walk | Lakeshores, forest |
| Manzanita Lake | Any place Manzanita | 1.6 mi around lakeshore | 1.5 hrs | Level, pleasant walk | Lake, flowers, wildlife, trees, shrubs, scenic |
| Mill Creek Falls | Southwest Campground | 4.6 mi | 2.5 hrs | Downhill about 300 ft, uphill about same | Highest waterfall, forest, flowers |
| Mt. Harkness | Southeast end of Juniper Lake Campground | 4.0 mi | 4.0 hrs | Enjoyable 1,300 ft climb | Scenic, flowers, historic fire lookout |
| Summit Lake to Echo & Twin Lakes | East side of Summit Lake, from trail encircling lake | 8.0 total, (Echo Lake 4, Upper Twin 7, Lower Twin 8) mi | 6.0 (Echo 3, Upper Twin 5, Lower Twin 6) hrs | 500 ft uphill first mi, descending 500 ft to Lower Twin | Lakes, forest, flowers, good for overnighters, summer swimming |
| Terrace Shadow & Cliff Lakes | Road Maker 27 | 3.0 total (Terrace 0.5, Shadow 0.8, Cliff 1.5) mi | 3.0 (Terrace 1, Shadow 1.5, Cliff 3) hrs | Downhill, 300 ft to Terrace, 350 ft to Shadow, 650 ft to Cliff; uphill on return | Forest, lake, flowers |
Backcountry Hiking
Lassen Volcanic National Park contains 150 miles of hiking trails, including 17 miles of Pacific Crest Trails. Trails vary in length and difficulty, winding through coniferous forest, alpine tundra and along water ways. Please leave no trace behind.
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Boiling Springs Bumpass Hell & trail Butte Lake (except southeast end) Cinder Cone Cold Boiling Lake Cold Spring Crags Lake Crumbaugh Lake Crystal Lake Devils Kitchen Dream Lake Echo Lake |
Hat Creek Cabin area Hot Springs Creek (Devil's Kitchen to s. boundary) Inspiration Point Juniper Lake Kings Creek Falls Lassen Peak (summit & trail) Little Hot Springs Valley Manzanita Creek (bellow bridges to section 29) Mt. Harkness (summit) Soda Lake Warner Valley |
Also upper Hat Creek Drainage, including Paradise Meadows and Terrace, Shadow, Cliff and Hat Lakes. A complete listing of rules and regulations is available at issuing stations.
Campsites
Camp at least 300 ft from other camping groups.
Do not camp in meadows, or on fragile vegetation.
Camp at least 100 ft from high water marks of lakes, springs, and streams.
Do not construct "improvements" such as wind breaks, log bridges, etc.
Camp at least 1.0 mi. From developed areas, campgrounds or park roads.
Fires are Prohibited, use a portable camp stove.
Food, Clothing and Water
Bring extra food, clothing and water in case of an emergency or sudden weather changes.
Hang food and garbage out of animals' reach for your safety and their health. Lassen Volcanic National Park has bears.
Purify park water before drinking by boiling or using 2-micron filters to avoid giardia.
Groups
Up to 20 people may hike together.
Groups are limited to 10 people per campsite.
Permits
Wilderness permits are required for backcountry camping.
There is no self registration.
Permits are available in advance by mail by calling Park Headquarters at 530-595-4444 allow at least two weeks.
Permits are also available in person at the Loomis Museum, Park Headquarters, Southwest Information Station, Southwest Entrance Station, and Manzanita Lake Entrance Station (when Loomis Museum is closed) and through the Forest Station at the Hat Creek Information Center and Almanor Ranger District office. Call 530-595-4444 for operating hours of issuing stations.
Permits are limited to a maximum of 10 people per group.
Camping is limited to 14 days per year
Stock
Permits are required for day use.
No overnight stays in the backcountry.
Corrals are available by reservation at Summit and Juniper Lakes; call 916-595-444
The Six Principles of Leave No Trace
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
Carefully designing your trip to match your expectations and outdoor skill level is the first step in being prepared. Adequate trip planning and preparation helps to accomplish trip goals safely, while minimizing impacts on the environment and on other users.
Know the area and what to expect, including regulations and special concerns of the area.
Travel in small groups, during seasons or days of a week when use levels are low.
Bears may be present; balance safety concerns in bear country with ecological and social impact concerns.
Select appropriate equipment to help you Leave No Trace.
Repackage food into reusable containers, creating less trash to pack out.
2. Camp and Travel on Durable Surfaces
Whenever you travel and camp, confine your use to surfaces that are resistant to impact.
In popular areas, concentrate use. In remote areas, spread use.
Hike on existing trails to minimize disturbance to wildlife, soil and vegetation.
Choose an established campsite, one with a slight slope so rain water can drain.
Store food so that it is unavailable and uninviting to bears and small animals.
Before departing, make sure your camp is as clean or cleaner than when you arrived.
3. Pack it In, Pack it Out
The Wilderness Act states that wilderness "... is recognized as an area... where man himself is a visitor who does not remain,...with the imprint of man's work substantially unnoticeable..." People come to the wildlands to enjoy them in their natural state. Allow others a sense of discovery by leaving rocks, plants, archaeological artifacts antlers, and other objects as you find them.
Minimize site alteration when camping, do not build structures.
Avoid damaging live trees and plants.
Avoid disturbing wildlife.
Leave natural objects and cultural artifacts for others to enjoy.
It is illegal to remove any cultural objects. All "pieces of the past" contribute to our understanding of human and natural history, including the effects of disease, climate changes, and shifting animal populations on the land and her people. Removing these artifacts takes them out of context and removes a chapter from an important story. If you discover an artifact, enjoy it where it is. Leave it as you found it.
Cultural artifacts are protected by the Archaeological Resources Protection Act. All these "pieces of the past" contribute to our understanding of human and natural history, including the effects of disease, climate changes, and shifting animal populations on the land and her people. Removing these artifacts takes them out of context and removes a chapter from an important story. If you discover an artifact, enjoy it where it is. Leave it as you found it.
6. Fires are Prohibited, use a portable camp stove.
These principles and practices depend more on attitude and awareness than on rules and regulations; they must be based on a respect for and appreciation of wild places and their inhabitants.
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This site is in no way associated with the United States Government, the Department of the Interior or the National Park Service
