Lassen Volcanic National Park
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Plumas County shares beautiful Lassen Volcanic National Park with the neighboring counties of Lassen, Tehama and Shasta. Wondrous sights await visitors such as seething sulphur springs, belching mud pots and hissing steam vents.
A national park since 1916, Lassen Vocanic National Park is a treasure trove of hydrothermal activity with access just north of Plumas County via Highway 89.
Mt. Lassen
The peak is the southernmost volcano in the Cascade range, which extends from here to Canada. The western part of the park features lava pinnacles and huge mountains created by lava flows, while the eastern part features small cinder cones, forested with conifers and studded with small lakes.
Just a short 30-minute drive from the Chester-Lake Almanor area, the park is a great day trip.
Visit the park...
Put your starting address in the "From" box below for directions to the main gate of the park...
Observe the hydrothermal activity along the road, or take short hikes and strolls through some of the most pristine, untouched wilderness in the country.
Hiking trails take visitors through a hydrothermal area called Bumpass Hell and through the Devastated Area, which exhibits remarkable recovery since Lassen's last eruption in 1921.
For a longer trek, visitors can climb to the top of Lassen Peak, elevation 10,457, on a five-mile, four- and-one-half-hour journey that climbs 2,000 feet.
Be sure to pick up a detailed map from the Chester-Lake Almanor area, at either park entrance and consider exploring the listed trails. These walks are a great way to see just a few of the 700 species of plants and wildlife in the park.
In addition to the landscapes, there are breathtaking views of the entire Almanor Basin, and on a clear day you can see Mount Shasta from Lassen Peak.
The park also offers talks and evening programs in summer.
During the winter, park rangers lead snowshoe walks that enable visitors to explore the beauty of the park year-round.
There is a fee of $10 per vehicle to enter Lassen Volcanic National Park. The park road (which connects with Highway 89 north and south of the park) covers 30 miles and takes approximately an hour to drive. The best time to visit the park for car touring or hiking is August and September. The road may be closed from late October to mid-June, but there is parking and access to the area at both the north and south entrances.
A graphic display of the current road conditions through the park can be found here.
Campground fees are $10-$16 and are first-come, first-served.
For more information, call the park office at (530) 595-4444 or visit the website at www.nps.gov/lavo.
Chester, located a half hour east of the southern entrance to the park, is the nearest full-service town, offering complete visitor services including lodging, camping, dining and shopping.
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