Lassen Peak is the southernmost volcano in the Cascade Range.
Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to hot springs, pristine mountain lakes and mile after mile of forests and meadows. In the Cascade Mountains of Northern California, the park spans over 100,000 acres in the shadow of 2,000-foot Lassen Peak, the world's largest plug dome volcano, which last erupted in 1915. You can explore Lassen Volcanic National Park by day and spend your nights at one of nine campgrounds.
Manzanita Lake Campground
Manzanita Lake Campground, near Manzanita Lake in the northwest corner of Lassen Volcanic National Park (nps.gov), is the largest campground in the park with more than 150 campsites. The campsites are shaded by old-growth forest, and each one includes a picnic table, campfire ring and bear-proof food storage box. Some sites are for tents only, but others accommodate campers and RVs. The Manzanita Lake Campground has flush toilets, showers and drinking water, but the sites do not have hookups. An on-site camp store sells groceries, gasoline and various camping supplies. Reserve your campsite by phone or online at the National Parks Service website, but sites may also be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Other Campgrounds
Several other campgrounds are scattered throughout Lassen Volcanic National Park. Options include RV or tent camping at the Crags, Warner Valley, Summit Lake North and Summit Lake South campgrounds. Primitive tent campsites are accessible only on foot at the Southwest Walk-In Campground and cannot be reserved. The Butte Lake, Lost Creek, Manzanita Lake and Juniper Creek campgrounds have group campsites. Hookups are not available at any of the campgrounds, and only Manzanita Lake has showers, but all campgrounds have drinking water and either vault or flush toilets.
Wilderness Camping
Lassen Volcanic National Park offers many opportunities for wilderness camping. You can use the park's extensive trail system to hike far from roads and developed campgrounds, pitching your tent along the way. You must carry all necessary supplies with you, remove all trash when you leave and generally keep your impact on the landscape minimal. Wilderness camping is allowed throughout most of the park, except within one-quarter mile of developed campgrounds, roads, and hydrothermic and volcanic features. Trail maps, bear safety information and a complete list of restricted areas are available on the Lassen Volcanic National Park website.
Recreation
You can explore nearly endless possibilities for outdoor recreation in Lassen Volcanic National Park. Over 150 miles of hiking and backpacking trails wind through the park, covering terrain that ranges from easy to strenuous. Trails provide access to many of the park's unusual geological and hydrothermic features, including Sulphur Works and Bumpass Hell. For your own safety, stay on designated boardwalks when hiking through or near hydrothermic areas. Fishing and boating are available at Manzanita Lake as well as several other lakes and streams. With a current California sport fishing license you can catch trout, bass, panfish and more. Other activities in the park include bird-watching, horseback riding and, in winter, skiing and snowshoeing.
Tags: Lassen Volcanic, Lassen Volcanic National, National Park, Volcanic National, Volcanic National Park
