Until 1980, when Mount St. Helens erupted, Lassen had been the last volcano in America’s lower 48 states to blow, close to a century ago.
Now considered dormant, the 10,457-foot Lassen Peak is still very much alive and is the centerpiece of Lassen Volcanic National Park in the far northeastern corner of California. Lassen’s proximity to popular Yosemite and Sequoia national parks, less than a day’s drive away, keeps the crowds to a minimum. What you get in return is an area that bubbles over with boiling lakes, geysers and mud ponds.
After taking a spectacular mountain drive into the park, try a hike to the steam vents of Boiling Springs Lake. Scouts longing for a bit more adventure have the chance to bag their first—or their latest—five-digit peak. The two-and-a-half-mile climb up Lassen Peak is a steady ascent on a rocky trail, with numerous switchbacks. Once on top, you’re on the rim of the crater, staring at mighty Mount Shasta, some 60 miles in the distance.
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Contact:
Lassen Volcanic National Park
P.O. Box 100
Mineral, CA 96063
