Lassen Volcanic National Park

12 May 2019 - Michelle Ho

Everyone thought Lassen Peak was an extinct volcano until it suddenly exploded on Memorial Day in 1914. Shortly thereafter, the region was established as a national park.

When we visited, most of the park roads were closed and the campgrounds covered in snow. We camped in the parking lot. We drove to the Sulphur Works, a series of fumaroles (volcanic openings) that are essentially steaming hot bubbling slurries of mud that stink of rotten eggs. Charming. There was another geothermal area wonderfully called “Bumpass Hell”. We didn’t get to see it due to road closures, but we’ll have to come back!

Sulphur Works. Much of the rest of Lassen National Park is a beautiful snowscape. We saw a few cross-country skiers and snowshoers in the parking lot. And families with kids sledding. Much of the year this park is just covered in pristine snow with very few visitors.
Sulphur Works. Much of the rest of Lassen National Park is a beautiful snowscape. We saw a few cross-country skiers and snowshoers in the parking lot. And families with kids sledding. Much of the year this park is just covered in pristine snow with very few visitors.
Sulphur Works. Geoff and I threw snowballs into the ''mud pots'' hoping something exciting would happen. Nothing happened.
Sulphur Works. Geoff and I threw snowballs into the ''mud pots'' hoping something exciting would happen. Nothing happened.
Our campsite.
Our campsite.

There wasn’t much else to do… but there was free WiFi at the Visitors Center! Geoff and I actually watched the penultimate episode of Game of Thrones in the Visitors Center lobby after dinner. 5 stars for the National Park Service.

Lassen Volcanic National Park is part of the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, a 500 mile road that connects multiple volcanoes. We drove most of this byway to get to Crater Lake, our next stop.