Lassen Volcanic

Snapshot

Planning Your Visit

When we visited the park
We spent a morning at Lassen Volcanic in early August.  It was warm early, so hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen were a must.  I can imagine the afternoon getting very hot here, with little shade when hiking the peaks in the park.  I would say that if you plan to hike, it should be in the morning, and then cool off in one of the lakes in the park in the afternoon.  The main park road closes in the winter, so fall and spring would be ideal times to visit the park. 

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​Things to Consider
1. The first thing to know is, this park is fairly remote, with limited lodging options nearby.  Camping or a small cabin rental is an option in the park, otherwise you will need to travel to the park the day of your visit.  
2. There are parts of the park that are more difficult to reach, and require a backcountry permit.  To reach these places, you will have to drive around to other entrances than the main road through the park. 
3. Drive the whole Volcanic Legacy Scenic drive.  Download the NPS app and use the free driving tour.  It is well worth it to understand the historic and scientific geography of the park.  It is so different than 100 years ago when the park was identified for volcanoes.  
4. The hikes here are more difficult.  Make sure to pack plenty of snacks and water, as you will be hiking up the mountain peaks here.  
5. If you have time, drive north about 30 minutes to Burney Falls at McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park.  It is a stunning waterfall, and has great hiking.  

How to Get There
The closest towns are Mineral (to the south) and Shingletown (to the north).  
​State Route (SR) 44/89 provides access to the Northwest Entrance / Manzanita Lake from Redding, CA.  This will be the largest town, with the most amenities to the park.  State Route (SR) 36/89 provides access to the Southwest Entrance / Southwest Area from Mineral, CA.  There is not much between these towns and the parks, so fill up on gas and necessities, before you head to the park. 
Additional Maps Provided by the Park

Where to Stay
Drakesbad Guest Ranch
Drakesbad Guest Ranch is a secluded getaway lodge at the southeast end of Lassen Volcanic National Park, featuring 19 traditional lodge and bungalow units. Guests of Drakesbad spend their days hiking, horseback riding, swimming, fishing, or just relaxing.  It will cost between $180-$355 a night per person.  The lodge includes three meals a day.  The scenic Warner Valley is a perfect backdrop for the traditional lodge rooms and cabins, and the award-winning service provided by the dedicated Ranch Staff is unmatched.
Camping
Butte Lake Campground
This remote 101-site campground is located in a remote part of the park, about 45 minutes from the main park road.  Some sites are first come, first served, but you can rent sites from May through October.  There is not water, showers, or electricity at these sites.  You need to drive on a gravel road to reach this campground.  It will cost $15-$22 a night to stay here. 
Manzanita Lake Campground
Manzanita Cabins
This 179-site campground offers a variety of accommodations; from campsites to cabins.  It is located at the northern part of the park along Manzanita Lake.  The campground has running water, a store, showers, and flush toilets available. It will cost between $26-$100 depending on the type of lodging needed.  
Summit Lake North Campground
This 46-site campground is located along Summit Lake, and about a quarter mile from Lassen Peak trail.  It has water, but non-electric sites and vault toilets.  It will cost $22 to stay here a night. The campground is open from June to September. 
Summit Lake South Campground
This -site campground is located along Sum49mit Lake, and about a quarter mile from Lassen Peak trail.  It has water, but non-electric sites and vault toilets.  It will cost $22 to stay here a night. The campground is open from June to September. 
Warner Valley Campground
This remote 17-site campground is located just outside the south border of the National Park.  It does not have running water or electricity.  Reservations here are not available, and the campground is open from June to September.  

What We Did
We only spent a morning at the park, so have very limited experiences.  I do know that this park draws in people for some great hiking, that isn't always kid friendly.  Some of the hikes are longer and require stamina to make it up the peaks.  So keep that in mind when making plans. 
We came in from the north entrance by Manzanita.  This entrance takes you to a small hub with a camp store, the Manzanita Campground and cabins, and Loomis Museum.  We explored these places, filled up with water, and made a plan for the scenic byway.  We then headed for a short hike around Manzanita Lake.  We hiked early in the morning, and would recommend morning hikes here during the summer.  It got hot very quickly!  
After hiking, we decided to do the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway.  We turned on the NPS self-guided tour of this drive, and it was very well done.  The landscape is so different than 100 years ago when scientists and biologist were studying the landscape after Volcanic eruptions.  You would drive by and not even realize the changes to the landscape and how they were shaped by volcanic activity.  There are plenty of places to stop, but we made it to Summit Lake before we got out and explored the area.  If we were camping in the park, this would be my first choice of places to stay.  It was such a tranquil and beautiful spot in the park.  We had a picnic lunch here, before finishing the rest of the drive.  
After our lunch, we continued on the Scenic Byway.  The one spot I thought would be good to hike at was Helen Lake, however, my kids were not interested in stopping here.  We stopped at the Sulphur Works and walked around the parking area.  You can hike up to Ridge Lakes here too.  On our way out of the park, we stopped at the southern entrance at the official visitor center of the park, Kohm Yah-ma-nee.  It was as short trip, but I would like to explore here with older kids or on my own.  

Burney Falls

Where this fit in our Road Trip
We came down from Crater Lake National Park to fit this park into our trip.  We spent the night in Mt. Shasta, and I loved the unique feeling of this eclectic town.  We learned about chakras and healing waters, while staying here.  Before we made it to the park, we did stop at Burney Falls, about 30 minutes north of the park entrance.  It was a stunning waterfall! After we finished the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, we cut across California to Redwood National Park along the coast.  It was a long trip, and if possible, consider splitting it in two days. 

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Oregon Road Trip

NPS App and All Trails Maps
I highly recommend using the National Park Service (NPS) App, as well as the All Trails App for hiking.  There is limited service in the park, so planning ahead is helpful.  These two apps allow you to download sights, maps, and trails so that you can access information anywhere.  The NPS app also links to the full National Parks Website, with a plethora of information. 

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