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).

 

No Pets on Trails

Pets are not permitted on any park trails, including in a carrier. We encourage you to leave your pet at home if you are planning to hike. You can help protect native animals like rare Sierra Nevada red fox by keeping your pet in paved areas. Learn more about visiting the park with your pet.

 

Plan Your Hike

CAUTION: The Dixie Fire is currently impacting park operations. Air quality is unhealthy in the park and we do not recommend strenuous outdoor activities. Consider alternate hiking and backpacking destinations. Please visit InciWeb for more infomation about the Dixie Fire.

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, and most likely will require snowshoes or skis. Learn more about hiking and over-snow travel in the winter or early spring.

1. Choose a Trail

• View descriptions and conditions of popular day hikes (June-October).
• View descriptions and conditions of over-snow routes (November-May).
• View the park map with distances for all trails.
• 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, winter, or spring.
• Purchase hiking books or trail maps from the Lassen Association bookstore.

 

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

 

Popular Trails

• 

  Manzanita Lake Loop

  Enjoy scenic views and wildlife watching on this 1.7-mile loop.

• 

  Devastated Area Interpretive Trail

  Discover the history of the Devastated Area on this short walk with trailside signs.

• 

  Bumpass Hell Trail

  Visit Bumpass Hell via a 3-mile, round-trip trail.

• 

  Kings Creek Falls Trail

  Take a short hike to a 30-foot-high waterfall.