Date: September 18, 2006
Contact: Dan Jones, (530) 595-4444, ext. 5120
Lassen Volcanic National Park Superintendent Mary G. Martin announced that one of the park’s popular trails, the Bumpass Hell Trail, and trailhead parking area will be closed on Tuesday, September 19. This closure will allow materials for boardwalk repair to be air lifted to the geothermal area and provide for visitor safety during helicopter operations.
Even though the boardwalks at the Bumpass Hell geothermal basin are only five years old, the heavy snows each winter season and the changes in geothermal activity within different areas in the basin have left large portions of the boardwalk in an unstable condition and closed to visitor use. “This is an ongoing maintenance issue for the park trails that are located in these geothermal areas. Even though it is a challenge and a cost to build and maintain these boardwalks and trails, it is important that visitors have an opportunity to be able to safely see up-close this type of unique geologic resource,” said Superintendent Martin.
Lassen Volcanic National Park has several geothermal areas that visitors can access by trail and one that is adjacent to the main park road. Sulphur Works is located along the southern portion of the main park road. Other geothermal areas accessible by trail are: Devils Kitchen, Boiling Springs Lake, and Terminal Geyser.
For more information, please contact the park at (530) 595-4444 or for TDD at (530)595-3480, Monday through Friday, except holidays, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or visit the park website at www.nps.gov/lavo.
