Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to steaming fumaroles, meadows freckled with wildflowers, clear mountain lakes, and numerous volcanoes. Jagged peaks tell the story of its eruptive past while hot water continues to shape the land. — nps.gov
Lassen Volcanic National Park at a glance
- State
- California
- Established
- August 9, 1916
- Size
- 106,589 acres
- 2025 visits
- 504,777
- Busiest-park rank
- #40 of 63
- Entrance
- $30 / vehicle
Best time to visit
When is Lassen Volcanic quiet?
Lassen Volcanic is busiest in July and quietest in December. For a quieter visit outside the dead of the off-season, August is the quietest shoulder-season month, going by National Park Service visitor counts for 2021–2025.
In 2025 the park logged 504,777 recreation visits, the #40 busiest of the 63 national parks. Quiet months can also mean closed roads or facilities, so check current conditions before you go.
Crowd calendar, all 63 parks →Is Lassen Volcanic open right now? →
Average visits by month
2021–2025 · NPS IRMAQuietest: DecemberBusiest: July
Fees & passes
What it costs to visit Lassen Volcanic
From the NPS fees data, checked October 1, 2026. Fees on nps.gov
Visiting several parks this year? The pass calculator shows whether the America the Beautiful pass pays off.
Reservations · 2026
No park-wide reservation
The National Park Service lists no timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Lassen Volcanic National Park. Campgrounds, tours and backcountry permits may still need booking, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.
Things to do
Things to do in Lassen Volcanic
- Fish Butte Lake0-0 Minutes · Summer, Fall
Fly fishing, Fishing Butte Lake
- Fish Manzanita Lake0-10 Hours · Summer, Fall
Manzanita Lake is one of the most popular fishing spots in the park and it is easily accessible. This lake holds a fair number of rainbow and brown trout and is rated as a blue-ribbon fly fishery by the state of…
- Visit Sulphur Works10 Minutes · All year
This steamy spot is accessible via a short walk along Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway. Sulphur Works is the easiest to access of the park's seven hydrothermal areas.
Pets OK - Hike Reflection Lake Loop15-30 Minutes · Spring, Summer, Fall
A short and relatively flat walk offers views of Lassen Peak and Chaos Crags volcanoes, often seen reflecting in the water. The trailhead is across the road from the Loomis Museum.
- Walk Devastated Area Interpretive Trail15 Minutes · Summer, Fall
Trailside signs on this wheelchair-accessible, 0.2-mile loop provide an introduction to the 1915-1916 Lassen Peak eruption and the resulting Devastated Area.
- Walk Lily Pond Interpretive Trail15-60 Minutes · Spring, Summer, Fall
A half-mile, self-led, interpretive loop explores the rich diversity of plant and animal life in the Manzanita Lake Area.
- Walk Manzanita Lake Trail30-90 Minutes · All year
Manzanita Lake Trail is an easy, mostly flat walk suitable for families with young children. It is not stroller-friendly. The walk offers scenic views of Lassen Peak and Chaos Crags volcanoes and birding and wildlife…
- Drive Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway60 Minutes · Summer, Fall
The 30-mile park highway connects the northwest (Manzanita Lake) and southwest entrances of the park. This scenic route passes through dense forest, winds around alpine lakes and meadow, crests at 8,512 feet near Lassen…
FeePets OK
Show all 16 things to doShow fewer
- Visit Sulphur Works in Winter60 Minutes · Winter, Spring
- Hike to Bumpass Hell90 Minutes · Summer, Fall
- Hike to Kings Creek Falls90 Minutes · Summer, Fall
- Hike Lassen Peak4-5 Hours · Summer, Fall
- Ski & Snowboard at LassenWinter, Spring
- Sledding & Snowplay in the Manzanita Lake AreaWinter, Spring
- Sledding & Snowplay in the Southwest AreaWinter, Spring
- Snowshoe a Winter RouteWinter, Spring
From the National Park Service (checked October 1, 2026). Each title opens its nps.gov page with current conditions.
By activity
- Astronomy44
- Auto and ATV33
- Backcountry Camping51
- Backcountry Hiking43
- Biking44
- Birdwatching48
- Boating27
- Camping60
- Canoeing19
- Car or Front Country Camping41
- Compass and GPS10
- Cross-Country Skiing20
- Dining20
- Fishing41
- Fly Fishing15
- Food46
- Freshwater Fishing19
- Freshwater Swimming6
- Front-Country Hiking42
- Geocaching5
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs25
- Group Camping33
- Guided Tours54
- Hiking60
- Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)21
- Horse Trekking32
- Horseback Riding25
- Kayaking23
- Living History8
- Museum Exhibits36
- Paddling32
- Picnicking34
- Road Biking25
- RV Camping28
- Scenic Driving30
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto19
- Skiing23
- Snow Play17
- Snowshoeing24
- Stand Up Paddleboarding12
- Stargazing39
- Swimming17
- Wildlife Watching53
The number shows how many of the 63 national parks offer each activity.
Weather
Weather at Lassen Volcanic
Weather at Lassen can vary dramatically throughout the year. Average January temperatures are a high of 40.4 °F (4.7 °C) and a low of 20.8 °F (-6.2 °C). Average July temperatures are a high of 88.4 °F and a low of 49.8 °F. Temperatures reach 90 °F or higher on an average of 36.9 days, and drop to 32 ° or lower on an average of 164 days days annually.
From the National Park Service.
Getting there
Getting to Lassen Volcanic
From Interstate 5 (Redding), take Hwy 44 - 48 miles east to the junction of Hwy 89. Follow Hwy 89 south 1 mile to the north entrance of the park. From Interstate 5 (Red Bluff) take Hwy 36 E - 51 miles east to the junction of Hwy 89. Follow Hwy 89 north 6 miles to south entrance of the park.
38050 Highway 36 East, Mineral, CA, 96063 · Directions on nps.gov
Nearby
National parks near Lassen Volcanic
- Redwood National and State Parks150 mi~4 h drive (est.)
- Crater Lake National Park173 mi~4 h drive (est.)
- Yosemite National Park208 mi~5 h drive (est.)
- Pinnacles National Park277 mi~7 h drive (est.)
- Kings Canyon National Park298 mi~7 h drive (est.)
- Sequoia National Park317 mi~8 h drive (est.)
Straight-line distance between park centers; drive times are rough estimates.
Closest big cities: Sacramento (133 mi) · San Francisco (210 mi) · San Jose (222 mi) · Portland, Oregon (354 mi)
Road trip
Crater Lake, Redwood & Lassen Volcanic
3 parks, about 295 miles between them (~7 h of driving, estimated).
Lassen Volcanic is the orange dot. Tap any park to tick it off your checklist.
Photos of Lassen Volcanic National Park
FAQ
Lassen Volcanic, quickly
- When is the best time to visit Lassen Volcanic National Park?
- If you want fewer people, go in August, the quietest shoulder-season month. July is the busiest month on average, and December the quietest, based on NPS recreation visits for 2021–2025. Check nps.gov for seasonal road and facility closures before you go.
- How much does it cost to visit Lassen Volcanic National Park?
- $30 / vehicle. An America the Beautiful annual pass covers entrance fees at every national park.
- Do you need a reservation for Lassen Volcanic National Park in 2026?
- The National Park Service lists no park-wide timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Lassen Volcanic National Park. Campgrounds, tours and some popular hikes may still need bookings, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.
- What are some things to do in Lassen Volcanic National Park?
- The National Park Service lists 16 things to do in Lassen Volcanic National Park, including Fish Butte Lake, Fish Manzanita Lake, Visit Sulphur Works, Hike Reflection Lake Loop, Walk Devastated Area Interpretive Trail. Each has its own page on nps.gov with current conditions.
- When did Lassen Volcanic National Park become a national park?
- Lassen Volcanic National Park was established as a national park on August 9, 1916.
- What is the closest national park to Lassen Volcanic?
- Redwood National and State Parks, about 150 miles away in a straight line (roughly 4 hours' drive, estimated).
Sources · 3
- 1.Lassen Volcanic National Park — official site · National Park Service
- 2.NPS Data API — /parks (all park units) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- 3.Lassen Volcanic National Park — Visitor Use Statistics · National Park Service (IRMA)
About this page
Park facts, photos, fees and visitor counts come from the National Park Service (NPS Data API and Visitor Use Statistics), last checked October 1, 2026. Park'd is an independent app and is not affiliated with the National Park Service. For official, current information, visit nps.gov/lavo.
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