Lassen Volcanic National Park
♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA
Located in Northern California
General
The park is located in Northern California, about a three-and-a-quarter-hour drive from San Francisco.
At the center of the reserve is the Lassen volcano, reaching an altitude of 3,187 meters. This park features forests, lakes, bubbling pools due to thermal activity, sulfur-smelling gases emitted from the ground, multicolored earth surfaces, and many hiking trails.
In total, it is recommended to dedicate about six hours to touring inside the park.
After visiting the park, it is recommended to stay in the city of Redding and the next day you can continue the trip to the following destinations:
Those continuing south will reach San Francisco, which is about a three-and-a-quarter-hour drive away.
Those continuing north for a trip to Oregon are recommended to start at Crater Lake, which is stunningly beautiful and about a 4-hour drive from Redding.
Recommended Hotels in Redding:
There are no luxury or unique hotels in Redding, but there are plenty of recommended motels and hotels belonging to the major chains. Highly recommended:
Belongs to the Hilton chain. The hotel has a swimming pool and a good breakfast. The hotel features standard rooms and studio rooms with a kitchenette. Suitable for up to 4 people.
Best Western Plus Twin View Inn & Suites
The hotel has a swimming pool and a good breakfast. The hotel features standard rooms suitable for up to 4 people and suites suitable for up to 5 people (3 adults and two children).
The hotel features a bar, swimming pool, and a good breakfast. The hotel has rooms suitable for up to 4 people.
Hiking trails in Lassen Park
Trails and places worth visiting in Lassen Park: Manzanita Lake loop trail - about 3 km long, the lake has boats and ducks, and squirrels on the shore. In the northwestern part of the trail, there is a beautiful view of the lake with the volcano in the background. Adjacent to the lake is a cabin campground.
A circular trail called Devastated Area - 500m long, with explanatory signs about the different rocks and recordings explaining how they were formed.
♦ To book from Viator: Guided tour of Lassen Park
Summit Lake - features a swimming beach, picnic tables, and a loop trail around the lake.
Kings Creek - hiking trails along the stream and a 15m high waterfall.
Geothermal Phenomena
Bumpass Hell - a 4.5 km round-trip hiking trail (about one hour and 45 minutes), including a moderate climb. In the final part of the trail, there are boardwalks over bubbling pools and holes emitting sulfur-smelling gases, with rocks in white, orange, and more colors. It is forbidden to step off the raised trail because the ground is unstable and to avoid damaging the reserve.
Sulphur Works Ridge Lakes - a bubbling water pool near the parking lot and colorful hills where there was thermal activity in the past.
Short video of the bubbling pools area: