The trail can be steep and rocky, so hiking boots are recommended. The view of the Devastated Area from the Peak can help you imagine the force of the 1914 – 1917 eruptions. At the summit, you’ll be rewarded with awesome views of the park and the rotten-egg smell of hydrogen sulfide that reminds you that you’re standing on an active volcano. You’ll climb 1,957 feet to the summit with an elevation of 10,457 feet. That may sound intimidating, but the trail up to Lassen Peak is now one of the most popular in the park! The 5-mile round trip hike begins at a parking area off of the Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway.
It’s not a question of if it will erupt again, but when. That’s right, Lassen is still an active volcano. What we now know as Lassen Volcanic National Park was established a year later to preserve the affected surrounding areas for observation and study, and to keep people from settling too close to the area’s active volcanic activity.
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From 1914 to 1917, there was a series of eruptions at Lassen Peak, including a powerful eruption in 1915 which spread volcanic ash as far as 280 miles east. Lassen Peak, or Mount Lassen, is the largest lava dome volcano on Earth. LASSEN PEAK Views of Lassen Peak from the parking lot near the trailhead. This hike won’t be for everyone, but for us, it made for a pretty awesome and memorable day at Lassen with the kids. The kids and I thought about joining him, but saw him struggle back up the trail and decided we were good for the day! John did this and created a little cairn to commemorate our big adventure day. If the climb up wasn’t enough for you, you can actually hike down into the crater of Cinder Cone via a steep trail on the north side of the volcano. As you reach the top, you are rewarded with payoff views in every direction, from Lassen to the Painted Dunes and even down into the crater of the volcano itself. You’ll wind around the exposed south side of the volcano with an 800-foot elevation change. These rocks are visible remnants of the lava flows that erupted from Cinder Cone and dammed creeks resulting in the creation of Snag Lake and Butte Lake.Īs Cinder Cone comes into view, the challenging portion of the trail becomes clear. A highlight of this portion of the trail is the Fantastic Lava Beds. Pick up an interpretive leaflet at the trailhead for some insight about what you’re seeing along the way.
The trail is four miles round trip, and most of that is actually pretty flat. And how many kids get to stare into the crater of the volcano? It was challenging, exciting, and rewarding all in one. We were especially proud of 5-year-old JJ who got plenty of encouragement from his fellow hikers. Reaching the top of the volcano after inching up the steep and sandy trail felt like a major accomplishment. We aren’t the type of family who has been out trekking together since the boys were born, so this was a big hike for us. Our whole family found the area well worth visiting. Don’t write off the Butte Lake area just because it’s about an hour east of the northwestern park entrance. Our big adventure of the trip was hiking the Cinder Cone Volcano near Butte Lake. IN THIS POST:ĬINDER CONE Looking into the crater of Cinder Cone If you purchase through a link on our page, we might receive a small commission at no cost to you.
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And be sure to follow all local guidelines to keep yourself and others safe!Īlso, we use affiliate links to keep our blog free for you to read and to pay for the occasional pizza night. Things are changing fast – make sure to double-check what’s open before your trip. If you’re looking for a less-crowded family-friendly National Park filled with natural wonders, consider a visit to Lassen. And I honestly have no idea why. In a short time, we boys witnessed spectacular waterfalls, hiked a volcano, were immersed in a lava tube cave, splashed in gorgeous lakes, earned Junior Ranger badges, played in July snow, and gaped at boiling mud pots in hydrothermal areas. With just over 500,000 visitors in 2019, Lassen is one of California’s least visited National Parks. Lassen offers fun, adventure, and even educational experiences for visitors of all ages. We weren’t sure what to expect, but visiting Lassen with our kids left a lasting impression and countless wonderful memories. Just a few hours later, I’d be snoozing on its beach while the boys splashed on the shore. In the distance, we could make out Butte Lake. Last June, we found ourselves standing on the rim of an extinct Cinder Cone volcano, staring into its crater.
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