Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of America’s least visited national parks, with annual visitation of roughly 500,000 people, but it belongs squarely in the “Hidden Gem” category. Located in Northern California, it’s an easy 45 minute drive from Redding, making it easily accessible. The park isn’t on the same level as Yosemite or Sequoia, which isn’t a criticism, as not many places in the world are. While Lassen Volcanic doesn’t have a signature feature that makes it famous, its landscape is still spectacular.
As its name implies, Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to a variety of volcanic features. But that’s not the end of the story. In addition to the volcanic peaks and hot springs, the park is home to pristine lakes, colorful meadows, and expansive forests. The park’s elevation ranges from 5,650 feet to 10,457 feet, allowing for mild temperatures, with summer highs in the low 80’s. If you’re looking for an outdoor adventure, where you can escape the heat, Lassen Volcanic is an excellent option.
Lassen Volcanic is surprisingly easy to navigate, as most of the highlights are situated along a 30 mile stretch of Highway 89. If you’re just passing by, taking a quick drive through the park is a worthwhile detour. There’s plenty of scenic turnouts along the way, and all the major hiking trails are accessible from the road as well. The park’s layout makes it especially well suited for quick weekend trips, as you can see most of the park in a day or two.
The park’s scenery is quite picturesque, and the lack of crowds makes it a wonderful place to enjoy nature in peace. While the overall scenery is wonderful, my favorite part was the various hydrothermal features. I haven’t been to Yellowstone yet, so this was my first experience with volcanic hot springs. They are spread throughout the park, with some more accessible than others. “Sulphur Works” is the easiest volcanic feature to visit, as it straddles the main road, while most others require a couple mile hike to visit. Whether you visit one or all of them, they are all really cool to see.
Lassen Volcanic isn’t the type of national park you build a dream vacation around. There’s a reason it’s not as famous as Yellowstone, Yosemite, Glacier, etc. But that shouldn’t take away from the fact that it’s spectacular in it’s own right, while falling short of the upper echelon of national parks. It’s particularly well suited as a destination for outdoor enthusiasts, who have already visited the marquee parks, but are looking for somewhere new to explore. With direct flights into Redding available from Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Las Vegas, the park is well situated for quick weekend getaways. So if you’re looking for something new, consider giving Lassen Volcanic National Park a shot.
I visited many years ago when I was in my early 20’s. It made a lasting impression on me. I would visit again in a heartbeat! Love the critiques and the stunning photos Zach. Did you take all the photos in your blog?
Hi Stacey. 99% of the photos are mine, including all of the pictures in this post. All shot from my iPhone, amazing the technology we can fit in our pockets now. Every once in a while will borrow a picture, but only when weather prevents me from taking a photo that does a location justice.