Day Hiking

Young hikers on the Bumpass Hell Trail with Lassen Peak in the background.

 

More than 150 miles of hiking trails provide access to a wide-variety of park features including hydrothermal areas, volcanic peaks, alpine lakes, and mountain meadows. Hiking is the best way to explore Lassen Volcanic Wilderness, a designation afforded to just five percent of America’s public lands. You can enjoy and preserve these wild areas by practicing Leave No Trace (LNT) principles and not contributing to recreation-related impacts in the park including litter, erosion, social trail creation, and food-conditioned wildlife.

Recreate Responsibly

Please practice Leave No Trace principles, avoid unnecessary risk, and select less popular trails or hiking at non-peak times (e.g. holidays, weekends).

 

On This Page Navigation

 

Plan Your Hike

Hiking season generally occurs between June through October. The park receives up to 30 feet of snow each winter. Hiking trails can remain snow-covered into June and sometimes July. Trails are not plowed or shoveled during the winter. Learn more about hiking and over-snow travel in the winter or early spring (November through April).

As a reminder, pets are not allowed on trails at Lassen Volcanic National Park. Please leave your pet at home if planning to hike. You may leave a pet unattended inside a vehicle but if hazardous conditions exist, such as hot weather, owners can be cited for endangering an animal.

1. Choose a Trail

• View the table below for descriptions and current conditions of popular day hikes. Conditions are updated when information is available.
• In summer, view trails on the park map and in winter, view routes in the Winter Guide. Maps and newspapers are also distributed at park entrance stations.
• In the winter, plan to access a trail near the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center or Loomis Plaza, as the main park road is not open/plowed.
• If you plan to backpack, learn more about obtaining a free permit.

2. Prepare for Your Hike

• Learn more about reducing risk when hiking at high-elevation in a remote area.
• Find out how you can reduce your risk while visiting the park.
• Learn more about visiting in summer, fall, or winter.
• If planning a hike in the winter, be sure to bring winter snowgear including winter boots, layers, sunglasses, and snowshoes/cross country skis.

 

Map of park areas and trailheads. Click on map for larger image.

 

Trail Conditions

During the winter, hiking trails are snow-covered and are considered to be routes. Trails are not plowed or shoveled. Snowshoes or skis are necessary in winter.

Check weather forecasts and current snow depths before hiking.

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Difficulty ratings: * Easy | ** Moderate | *** Moderately Strenuous | **** Strenous
[P] Parking limited | [K] Good for kids | [B] Busy/popular | [N] Part of a National Trail | [I] Self-guided interpretive trail

Last updated: 1/9/21

Trail	Difficulty	Miles (RT)	Notes	Condition
PCT (17 miles through the park)		18.3		Snow-covered.
Snow-covered Park Highway Route (closed to vehicles in winter)	**	28 one way		Snow-covered. Over 33 inches of snow on the closed park road. Snowshoes or skis recommended. Sulphur Works may be reached with snowshoes, skis, or snow boots with traction devices. Sulphur Works is one mile from the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center. View over-snow routes in the Southwest Area or Manzanita Lake Area. Be aware of avalanche danger and rockfall. As a reminder, no pets are allowed on the snow-covered highway route.
Southwest Area | Elevations range from 6,700 feet to 10,457 feet
Bumpass Hell	**	3.0	[P] [K] [B] [N]	Snow-covered. Must ski or snowshoe 6 miles to the trailhead, from Southwest Entrance Station. Not recommended in winter, due to hidden hazards under the snow.
Brokeoff Mountain	****	7.0	[P]	Snow-covered. Skis or snowshoes recommended.
Cold Boiling and Crumbaugh Lakes	**	2.6	[K]	Snow-covered. Must ski or snowshoe 10 miles to the trailhead, from Southwest Entrance Station.
Kings Creek Falls	**	3.0	[P] [B][K]	Snow-covered. Must ski or snowshoe 11 miles to the trailhead, from Southwest Entrance Station.
Sifford Lakes	**	Varies	[P] [K]	Snow-covered. Must ski or snowshoe 11 miles to the trailhead, from Southwest Entrance Station.
Lassen Peak	****	5.0	[N]	Snow-covered. Must ski or snowshoe 7 miles to the trailhead, from Southwest Entrance Station. If trying to reach the peak, it is highly recommended to bring crampons, ice axe, and avalanche safety gear. Learn more about avalanche safety precautions. Learn more about lightning safety Cutting switchbacks causes resource damage and erosion. Protect the peak and stay on the trail.
Mill Creek Falls	***	3.8	[K]	Snow-covered. Not recommended in winter, due to hidden hazards under the snow.
Ridge Lakes	****	2.0		Snow-covered. Must ski or snowshoe 1 mile to the trailhead, from Southwest Entrance Station.
Terrace, Shadow, and Cliff Lakes	***	4.0	[P]	Snow-covered. Must ski or snowshoe 8.5 miles to the trailhead, from Southwest Entrance Station.
Manzanita Lake and Summit Lake Areas | Elevations range from 5,900 feet to 7,200 feet
Summit Lake to Cluster/Twin Lakes Loop	**	11		Snow-covered. Must walk 12 miles to the trailhead, from Manzanita Lake/Loomis Plaza.
Crags Lake	**	4.2		Snow-covered. Must walk 1/2 mile to the trailhead, from Manzanita Lake/Loomis Plaza. Snowshoes are advised for the Crags Lake route.
Devastated Area Interpretive Loop	*	0.25	[I] [K]	Snow-covered. Must walk 9 miles to the trailhead, from Manzanita Lake/Loomis Plaza.
Echo Lake	**	4.4		Snow-covered. Must walk 11 miles to the trailhead, from Manzanita Lake/Loomis Plaza.
Lily Pond Nature Trail Loop	*	0.5	[I] [K]	Approximately 15 inches of snow on route.
Hat Lake to Paradise Meadow	**	2.8	[K]	Snow-covered. Must walk 10 miles to the trailhead, from Manzanita Lake/Loomis Plaza.
Manzanita Creek	**	7.0		Snow-covered. Must walk 1 mile to the trailhead, from Manzanita Lake/Loomis Plaza. Skis or snowshoes can be used on the Manzanita Creek route.
Manzanita Lake	*	1.8	[K] [B]	Approximately 15 inches of snow on route. Snow is trampled down, so it is possible to hike around the lake without snowshoes. Hiking boots with tractions devices (microspikes) are recommended. **Thin-ice Warning! Walking off the trail and onto the ice-covered lake is not advised.
Nobles Emigrant Trail	*	3.5		Approximately 15 inches of snow on route.
Butte Lake Area | Elevations range from 6,100 feet to 8,300 feet
Bathtub Lake Loop	**	0.8	[K]	Snow-covered. Butte Lake Rd closed for winter. Must access from Hwy 44, which adds 6 miles to the hike.
Cinder Cone	** (****)	4.0	[I]	Snow-covered. Butte Lake Rd closed for winter. Must access from Hwy 44, which adds 6 miles to the hike. (Cinder Cone portion of the hke is strenous, gain of 700 feet in a half mile). Learn more about lightning safety
Prospect Peak	***	6.6		Snow-covered. Butte Lake Rd closed for winter. Must access from Hwy 44, which adds 6 miles to the hike.
Butte Lake to Widow Lake	***	4.5		Snow-covered. Butte Lake Rd closed for winter. Must access from Hwy 44, which adds 6 miles to the hike.
Snag Lake Loop	**	13		Snow-covered. Butte Lake Rd closed for winter. Must access from Hwy 44, which adds 6 miles to the hike.
Warner Valley Area | 5,600 feet
Boiling Springs Lake	**	3.0	[K] [N]	Snow-covered. Warner Valley Rd closed for winter. Must walk from boundary, which adds 3 miles to the hike.
Devils Kitchen	**	4.4	[K] [N]	Snow-covered. Warner Valley Rd closed for winter. Must walk from boundary, which adds 3 miles to the hike.
Drake Lake	**	4		Snow-covered. Warner Valley Rd closed for winter. Must walk from boundary, which adds 3 miles to the hike.
Dream Lake Basin	*	1	[K] [N]	Snow-covered. Warner Valley Rd closed for winter. Must walk from boundary, which adds 3 miles to the hike.
Terminal Geyser	**	5.8	[N]	Snow-covered. Warner Valley Rd closed for winter. Must walk from boundary, which adds 3 miles to the hike.
Little Willow Lake to Terminal Geyser	**	1.8		Snow-covered. Warner Valley Rd closed for winter. Must walk from boundary, which adds 3 miles to the hike.
Juniper Lake Area | 8,000 feet
Horseshoe Lake	*	2.8	[K]	Snow-covered. Juniper Lake Rd closed for winter. Must walk from boundary, which adds 2 miles to the hike.
Inspiration Point	**	1.4	[K]	Snow-covered. Juniper Lake Rd closed for winter. Must walk from boundary, which adds 2 miles to the hike.
Mount Harkness	****	3.8		Snow-covered. Juniper Lake Rd closed for winter. Must walk from boundary, which adds 2 miles to the hike. Learn more about lightning safety. Lookout is closed to visitors this summer due to COVID-19 response.
Crystal Lake	*	0.8	[K] [P]	Snow-covered. Juniper Lake Rd closed for winter. Must walk from boundary, which adds 2 miles to the hike.

 

Hiking in Winter and Early Spring

Trails Are Completely Snow-covered in the Winter Season (December - March)

Hiking in the winter season involves over-the-snow travel. This requires snowshoes, skis, and/or shoe traction-devices. We don't plow or shovel snow from hiking trails. The park highway is not plowed during the winter, so popular trailheads that you can easily access in the summer (like Bumpass Hell or Lassen Peak) are not reachable via car. Learn more about winter activities in the park.

Snow Persists on Trails in the Spring Season (April - June)

Trails in higher elevation areas (Southwest and Juniper Lake) often remain snow-covered well into June or July. Trails in lower elevation areas (Manzanita Lake, Butte Lake, and Warner Valley) are the first to become snow-free, which often occurs in May or June. Visitors are encouraged to hike and bike the park highway as plowed section become accessible to non-vehicular use during spring road clearing.

Trails Are Most Accessible in the Summer Season (July - September) and Fall Season (October - November)

Snow can fall as early as October, however it does not usually begin to accumulate until December.