Is Lassen Volcanic National Park Worth Visiting? (2024)
Have you ever wondered, “Is Lassen Volcanic National Park worth visiting”? We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know!
Lassen Volcanic National Park is a popular destination for hiking, camping, fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing.
It’s also a popular destination for stargazing, as the skies are dark and free from light pollution.
Lassen Volcanic is one of the few areas in the world where all four types of volcano can be found—plug dome, shield, cinder cone, and stratovolcano.
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Is Lassen Volcanic National Park Worth Visiting?
Yes, Lassen Volcanic National Park is worth visiting.
The highlight of the park is Lassen Peak, the largest plug dome volcano in the world and the southernmost volcano in the Cascade Range.
I highly recommend this one day itinerary when you plan your visit so you can enjoy the thermal areas and scenic drives.
You can see our full one day itinerary in this video on our YouTube Channel.
Popular Attractions In Lassen Volcanic National Park
Here are some of the most popular attractions in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
✔️ Lassen Peak
The highest point in the park, Lassen Peak offers views of the surrounding area.
✔️ Bumpass Hell
A hydrothermal area with boiling mud pots, steaming vents, and colorful pools.
✔️ Sulphur Works
A geothermal area with bubbling mud pots and sulfurous fumes.
✔️ Manzanita Lake
A beautiful lake surrounded by mountains.
✔️ Chaos Crags
A group of cinder cones and lava flows.
✔️ Devastated Area
An area of lava flows and ash from the 1915 eruption of Lassen Peak.
Where To Stay When Visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park
There are a variety of lodging options available in the area, including hotels, motels, cabins, and campgrounds.
For this particular trip, we were spending a week in Reno and decided to take a day trip out to Lassen Volcanic National Park on JP’s day off.
✅ Thunderbird Resort Club – Reno, Nevada
We found this resort through a certificate we had with Interval International which is a timeshare exchange program.
Our certificate allowed us to book a 7 night stay directly without having to trade in our timeshare points for it.
Instead we paid cash, which came out to about $50 a night for a 2 bedroom timeshare unit.
On our YouTube Channel you can see a full walk-through tour of our room.
👉🏼 Click Here To Book Your Stay At Thunderbird Resort Club Today!
✅ The Village At Highlands Ranch
If you’re looking to stay much closer, then The Village at Highlands Ranch is as close as it gets.
It’s located in the town of Mill Creek, just outside of the main entrance of Lassen Volcanic National Park.
👉🏼 Here To Book Your Stay At The Village At Highlands Ranch Today!
How To Get To Lassen Volcanic National Park
The park is located in northeastern California, about 200 miles north of Sacramento.
The closest major airport is Reno-Tahoe International Airport.
Pros For Visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park
Here are some of the reasons why you should visit Lassen Volcanic National Park.
✅ Volcanic Activity
Lassen Volcanic is home to a variety of volcanic features, including volcanoes, lava flows, and hot springs.
This makes it a great place to learn about volcanoes and see the power of nature.
✅ Wildlife
Lassen Volcanic is home to a variety of wildlife, including bears, deer, and birds.
This makes it a great place to go hiking and camping, and to see animals in their natural habitat.
✅ Scenic Beauty
Lassen Volcanic is located in a beautiful setting, with mountains, lakes, and forests.
This makes it a great place to relax and enjoy the outdoors.
Cons Of Visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park
The park can be crowded, especially during peak season.
It’s also located in a remote area, so it can be difficult to get to.
The park can be dangerous, due to the volcanic activity.
Tips For Planning Your Trip To Lassen Volcanic National Park
We also ALWAYS recommend checking out the National Park Service site for this park before traveling.
For those that are not too familiar with National Parks, this is where you can get all of the latest information about park conditions, closures, weather, trails, ranger programs, etc.
Everything you could possibly need is right there.
If you need help planning your trip to Lassen Volcanic National Park, check out our Tips For Planning A Trip To Anywhere (A Step-By-Step Guide).
Also, read our Best Tips For Staying Safe When Traveling During Extreme Weather if you’re traveling during potential wildfires or the snow in Winter.
Check out our Best Tips For Staying Well While You Travel if you’re prone to getting colds or allergies when you travel or have other ailments.
Lastly, if you’re traveling on a budget, read up on our Best Tips For Traveling On A Budget: Your Guide To Planning An Affordable Trip.
☑️ When Is The Best Time To Visit Lassen Volcanic National Park?
The best time to visit Lassen Volcanic National Park is during the summer, when the weather is warm and sunny.
However, the park is also beautiful in the spring and fall.
Mainly, you want to visit while the Bumpass Hell Trail is open, which is typically only around April through October.
☑️ What Is There To Do In Lassen Volcanic National Park?
There are a variety of activities to enjoy in Lassen Volcanic National Park, including hiking, camping, fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing.
☑️ How Much Does It Cost To Visit Lassen Volcanic National Park?
The entrance fee to Lassen Volcanic National Park is $30 per vehicle.
There are also day-use fees for some of the park’s facilities.
More Great National Parks To Visit In California
California is home to 9 of America’s National Parks.
Pair them for an epic California road trip or if you’re a local, take a weekend to visit each one.
☑ Yosemite National Park One Day Itinerary
Yosemite National Park is easily the most well known and popular of the National Parks in California.
There’s so much to do in this park, but the average visitor can see many of the highlights in a one day trip.
☑ Death Valley National Park One Day Itinerary
Death Valley is in the middle of the desert and is home to the lowest elevation in the US.
It’s an easy visit from Vegas or from Southern California.
I recommend visiting in the shoulder season so it’s not 115+ degrees outside when you visit.
Some of the original Star Wars scenes were filmed here too!
☑ Channel Islands National Park Santa Cruz Island Day Trip
Santa Cruz Island is one of the most visited islands in the Channel Islands.
It’s an easy boat trip from Ventura Harbor Village.
You schedule your trip in advance for arrival and departure times on the island and you can even choose to stay and camp overnight on the island if you like.
☑ Channel Islands National Park Santa Rosa Island Day Trip
Santa Rosa Island is a bit further out, but can still be visited on a day trip from Ventura.
It takes a little longer to get there and back, but that’s more opportunities for whale watching along the way.
☑ Joshua Tree National Park Day Trip Itinerary
Joshua Tree is just outside of Palm Springs and is best paired with a trip to the whole area.
It’s one of the Dark Sky Parks where you can see virtually everything in the sky at night due to its distance from any neighboring cities.
But if you’re visiting just for the day, we have an easy itinerary that takes you through the whole park, ending with the perfect sunset where you can see all the way to Mexico.
☑ Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park One Day Itinerary
Sequoia and Kings Canyon are technically 2 separate National Parks, but they’re connected to each other, so most visitors will see both when they visit.
You’ll see some of the oldest and tallest trees in the US and venture down into the valley into a completely different environment.
Lunch at the lodge is also a great experience.
Click here for more National Park itineraries around the US.
Conclusion: Is Lassen Volcanic National Park Worth Visiting?
Lassen Volcanic National Park in my opinion, is the most underrated National Park I’ve ever been to.
It’s an easy trip out from Lake Tahoe or Reno and is completely worth visiting.
