Overlooking Bumpass Hell in Lassen Volcanic

Lassen Volcanic National Park Itinerary

Planning your trip to Lassen Volcanic National Park? As a family of experienced adventurers with years of exploring national parks, we’ve crafted the ultimate itinerary to help you make the most of this unique destination. With firsthand knowledge of Lassen’s geothermal wonders, breathtaking trails, and otherworldly landscapes, we’re here to guide you through every step of your adventure. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or visiting for the first time, our expertise ensures a seamless and unforgettable experience.

In this Lassen Volcanic itinerary, we’ll share our first-hand experiences, planning tips, and how to make the most of your trip to Lassen Volcanic. We spent a day and a half at Lassen Volcanic before continuing on to Redwood National Park. Below is what we followed, but this could easily be shortened or extended depending on what you are looking for. I will say you can enjoy most of what the park has to offer easily in one day.

We started in the south, traveling north along highway 89 – the official park highway. There is an audio tour available on the NPS app. We listened to this as we drove through and it was very informative. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to explore the eastern side of the park or stay at Drakesbad Guest Ranch as that whole area is still recovering from the 2021 Dixie Fire. Our next trip will be timed so we can stay at this historic lodge. Before you head that way, check out closure alerts and conditions.

For more details and a full guide, check out Is Lassen Volcanic Worth Visiting?

📸 National Park Sign

Lassen Volcanic National Park Sign

Start at the Lassen Volcanic National Park Sign for the traditional family photo.

📍 Kohm Yah-man-nee Visitor Center

The Kohm Yah-man-nee Visitor Center is the first place to stop. Here you can get up to date information about the park, talk to the rangers about hikes, and check out exhibits and history about Lassen Volcanic. They also have two nice gift areas and a cafe.

🚗 Drive Highway 89

As you head north along Highway 89, you’ll see multiple overlooks and hikes. Check each one out.

Map of first portion of Lassen Volcanic scenic highway

🥾 Sulphur Works

Rocks and hydrothermal area of Sulphur Works in Lassen Volcanic
  • A mile north of the visitor center is this easy road side stop lets you see boiling mud pots up close and look down into a valley to watch the hydrothermal activity.

📸 Diamond Peak Scenic Vista

📸 Little Hot Springs Creek Overlook

  • Both are quick overlooks with beautiful views.

📸 Emerald Lake

  • The water of this lake is truly a beautiful emerald color. You can park along the side of the road and walk down to the water’s edge. This is a great place for photography.

🥾 Bumpass Hell Trail

Children walking along boardwalk in Bumpass Hell in Lassen Volcanic
  • 3 mile round trip, moderate hike
  • Allot 1.5 hours for plenty of time for photos and exploring. You could do it quicker if you are in a hurry.
  • This area is popular! Get there early if possible. First, so you get to have some views without other people, but also so you can find parking.
  • Bumpass Hell is the largest geothermal area in Lassen Volcanic. Here you can walk along a boardwalk between hot springs, fumaroles, and boiling mudpots for an up close and personal experience. Even with other people around, this is worth the hike!

📸 Lake Helen

View of Lake Helen in Lassen Volcanic from the edge showing the blue green water
  • After hiking down into Bumpass Hell, stop by Lake Helen for a picnic lunch.
  • The water here is crystal blue and COLD! When we were there, the water was only 44 degrees! Take a dip if you’re up for it. The boys thought it was fun, but us girls just dipped our feet in.
  • Swimming is allowed on the southern shore, but you can’t use flotation devices.

📸 Lassen Peak Scenic Vista

  • The next overlook gives you beautiful views of Lassen Peak
  • 🥾 If you are looking for a longer, strenuous hike, you can hike up Lassen Peak. This 5 mile hike starts at 8500 feet and has an elevation gain of 1957 feet. It takes 4-5 hours depending on your ability. On the way to the summit of one of the largest plug dome volcanoes in the world, you can see gorgeous panoramic views then head down into the crater!
View from observation deck of Kings Creek Falls in Lassen Volcanic

🥾 Kings Creek Fall Trail

  • Rated a easy to moderate trail, this 2.8 mile round trip hike takes you to see Kings Creek waterfall. This beautiful waterfall is visible from the bottom observation decks, but for a real treat – and to make this the moderate difficulty – take the stairs on the way back up. Walking along side the water as it cascades down to the falls is an experience in itself.
Map of second portion of the scenic highway in Lassen Volcanic

📸 Hat Creek Viewpoint

  • North of Kings Creek Trailhead, you’ll come to Hat Creek Viewpoint. This is a pull out that overlooks a beautiful meadow. This area is particularly great for fall colors!

🥾 Devastated Area

  • The hike here is a quick one, at 0.2 miles. Along the path, you’ll find signs with information about the 1915-1916 eruption of Lassen Peak

📸 Hot Rock

  • Farther north, you’ll see Hot Rock, which is a boulder that landed there after Lassen Peak’s eruption. Reportedly, this rock was still hot months after the eruption, hence the name. There’s a neat picture of some explorers on the sign beside the rock shortly after the eruptions.

🥾 Reflection Lake

  • Over by the Manzanita Campground is Reflection Lake. At just 0.5 miles, the circle around the lake takes an easy 11 minutes.
  • The best part of this area is the stargazing! Surrounded by the tall trees with a dark starry night was an absolute dream.

📍 Loomis Museum

  • Right by Manzanita Lake is the Loomis Museum, which is the second visitor center at Lassen Volcanic. Unfortunately, when we were visiting, the Loomis Museum was still closed from The Park Fire of 2024. If you get a chance to visit, let us know how it is!

📍 Manzanita Campground

Starry night sky surrounded by evergreen trees in Lassen Volcanic at Manzanita Campground
  • This is where we spent the night after a long day at Lassen Volcanic.
  • The camp sites themselves were mostly open and not very secluded, but also not too close to one another. After dinner, we sat around the fire roasting marshmallows. Our neighboring campers needed some help with their fire, which made for a great time getting to know some other people. It was a great opportunity to bond over some of our shared adventures!

🥾 Boiling Springs Lake and Devils Kitchen

  • The Warner Valley Area is still greatly affected by the 2021 Dixie Fire. I had really hoped to explore these two hikes as they sound like a lot of fun, but since there are still burned trees and one of the footbridges burned, we decided to skip it this time.
  • If you get to explore Boiling Springs Lake during your trip to Lassen Volcanic, you can expect an easy 3 mile round trip hike that will take about 2 hours. They say the mudpots here are some of the best!
  • Devils Kitchen Trail takes you through the 2nd largest area of hydrothermal activity. At 4.2 miles round trip, it should take about 2 hours and is rated moderate. Now, this hike sounds like the kind of adventure my kids would adore! There are footbridges and boardwalks that cross creeks and streams, marshes, and woodlands. Based on the pictures, this looks a little more “primative” and less busy than Bumpass Hell. Definitely put this one on your list if things seem to have improved from an access standpoint.

Bottom Line: Lassen Volcanic National Park Itinerary

As far as Lassen Volcanic goes, you can really make this park take as long as you would like.

For a quick trip, take the scenic route and follow along with the NPS app guide. Make sure you stop along the road to see some of the sights!

If you only have time for one hike, make it Bumpass Hell. This area gives you a good idea of what Lassen Volcanic is all about.

For a full day or more, add in these other areas and hikes. Spend the night under the stars. Slow down and enjoy.

Hi, I'm Amber Koon, one of the adventurers behind Wander More Together. While I am a general surgeon by day, I am also passionate about exploring national parks and helping families create unforgettable outdoor experiences while unplugging from the rest of the world. I specialize in crafting itineraries for families, National Park guides, and tips for families to enjoy new adventures. We love challenging ourselves on new hikes, spotting wildlife, and connecting with one another through our adventures. When I'm not exploring a National Park, you can find me in the operating room, cheering along on sidelines at soccer games and piano lessons, or spending time with my husband and friends. Follow along for tips and inspiration for next National Park adventure with a healthy dose of family bonding.