• Lassen Peak from Hat Creek

    Lassen Volcanic

    National Park California

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  • Road through the park is closed

    Park highway (HWY 89) is currently being cleared of snow, debris, and rocks. Anticipated opening for Memorial Weekend. More »

  • Park highway under construction near Sulphur Works

    Road crews are working to repair the road near Sulphur Works hydrothermal area. Road will be closed at the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center during the week, and open to Sulphur Works on the weekends.

Nature & Science

View of Mt. Diller and Lassen Peak from the top of Brokeoff Mountain
 
 
Although Lassen is primarily known for its volcanic geology, the park boasts a rich diversity of plant and animal life. Over 700 flowering plant species grace the park, providing shelter and food for 250 vertebrates as well as a host of invertebrates including insects. This great diversity of life forms is due to two factors: the geographic location of the park and the abundance of habitats that occur there. Situated at the southern end of the Cascade Range geologic province, Lassen Volcanic National Park lies at the crossroads of three great biological provinces: the Cascades range to the north, the Sierra Nevada mountains to the south and the Great Basin desert to the east. The myriad habitats of Lassen Volcanic National Park are produced by variations in environmental conditions such as elevation (5,000 to 10,457 feet), moisture (precipitation is greater on the western than the eastern side of the park), substrate (rock type and soil depth), temperature, insolation (amount of sun) and prior disturbance (both natural and human-caused).

Did You Know?

Did You Know?

On the evening of May 14, 1915, incandescant blocks of lava could be seen bouncing down the flanks of Lassen Peak from as far away as the town of Manton, 20 miles to the west.