Lassen Peak, California
Lassen Volcanic National Park

Lassen Volcanic became a national park in 1916 (106,000 acres), because of its significance as an active volcanic landscape. Lassen Peak began erupting in 1914, had the most significant activity in 1915, and had minor activity until 1921.

Lassen Volcanic National Park is is open year-round, however, access is difficult in winter and spring. The best time of the year to visit the park for hiking and car touring is August and September. Allow at least three hours to drive across the park and to make stops. The best time of the year to visit for cross country skiing and snowshoeing is January, February and March.

Snow covers much of the park mid October through early June. The Lassen Park Road (the main road that connects Highway 89) is usually closed late October through early June. Many of the main park attractions are snow covered and inaccessible by car and foot. July, August, and September may bring mostly sunny skies with warm daytime temperatures and cold nighttime temperatures.

Excerpts courtesy of: U.S. National Park Service - Lassen Volcanic National Park Website, 1999, and Wood and Kienle, 1990, Volcanoes of North America: United States and Canada: Cambridge University Press, 354p., p.216-219, Contribution by Michael A. Clynne

For More National Park Information

Link to: Lassen Volcanic National Park Website

Lassen Volcanic National Park
Post Office Box 100
Mineral, CA 96063-0100
TELEPHONE: (530) 595-4444
TDD PHONE: (530) 595-3480



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Lassen Volcanic National Park with Select Place Names
-- Modified from: U.S. National Park Service

1. Wear low-heeled, sturdy shoes.

2. Hike at a moderate pace, and take short, frequent rests. Enjoy the ever-changing view!

3. Take a lunch along. (Bring water)

4. Dark glasses, sunburn lotion, a hat, and jacket are advisable.

5. Do not start later than two hours before sunset, or when bad weather threatens. Lightning frequently strikes the summit.

6. DO NOT TAKE SHORTCUTS ACROSS THE TRAIL. It is prohibited because: a) It is dangerous. Strained muscles or broken bones can result. b) Dislodged rocks are dangerous to hikers below. c) It can cause landslides which destroy lower sections of trails. Remember, your tax dollars rebuild trails destroyed by shortcutting.

-- Excerpt from: Paul E. Schultz, 1981, Road Guide To Lassen Volcanic National Park: National Park Service and Loomis Museum Association


Start of Lassen Peak Summit Trail, USGS Photo by Lyn Topinka

VIEW from Lassen's summit: Mount Shasta, 14,161-foot elevation looms seventy-five miles to the northwest. Moving clockwise, prominent Park features are: Chaos Crags, Devastated Area, Prospect Peak, Cinder Cone, Butte Lake, and Mount Harkness, with Warner Valley below. The Mountains of Nevada are on the distant horizon. Dyer Mountain and Lake Almanor are in the middle distance, with Kings Creek Meadows below. To the southeast are the High Sierra, including Pyramid Peak near Lake Tahoe. To the south is Brokeoff Mountain - Lassen Peak Ridge, Glaciated Blue Lake Canyon is southwest, Loomis Peak and the Sacramento Valley lie further west, with the Coast Range Mountains beyond. The highest ranges, to the northwest, are the Trinity Alps of the complex Klamath Mountain system . Northwest is Manzanita Lake , with Chaos Jumbles and Chaos Crags to its right (north). -- Excerpt from: Paul E. Schultz, 1981, Road Guide To Lassen Volcanic National Park: National Park Service and Loomis Museum Association

-- Excerpt courtesy of: U.S. National Park Service - Lassen Volcanic National Park Website, 1999