A paved parking area sits on the edge a slope above a wide valley lined by volcanic peaks. A two-panel bulletin case rests at one of the parking area denoting a hiking trail that leaves the parking area and winds along an adjacent, steep hillside. On the other end of the parking area is a small ledge with waysides and a single large boulder known as the glacial erratic. A small building with two vault toilets is located to the right of the ledge and vista.

<p>This small parking area is perched above Little Hot Springs Valley in the shadow of Lassen Peak. Parking is limited and fills quickly in the summer due to the popularity of the Bumpass Hell Trail. The trailhead is located at the northeast end of the parking area, near the entrance/exit. A scenic vista and vault toilets are located at the southwest end of the parking area. Water is not available at this location. This is one of the few areas of the park with cell service. </p> <h2><b>Brokeoff Volcano Vista</b></h2> <p>Drive to the far side of the parking area to reach the scenic vista. It is usually possible to pull to the side and hop out for a quick look, even when the parking area is full. A handful of waysides provide information about the eroded Brokeoff Volcano and its remnants visible today. Just below the waysides, a small rock terrace holds a lone bolder known as the glacial erratic. Lassen Peak is also clearly visible behind you.</p> <h2><b>Stargazing</b></h2> <p>This high-elevation parking area is one of the best locations in the park for stargazing. It is cold and often windy year-round in this exposed spot, so be sure to bring warm clothes and even blankets to enjoy the stars. There is plenty to see with your naked eye or a pair of binoculars. The Milky Way glows brightly on clear nights and often passes above Lassen Peak. Telescopes are welcome as well and can be enjoyed by all during the annual <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/dark-sky.htm">Lassen Dark Sky Festival</a>. Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/stargazing.htm">stargazing in the park</a>. Overnight parking or camping is not permitted, so plan to drive back to your campsite or lodging after stargazing.</p>

Visitors standing reading waysides about geology in the Bumpass Hell parking area with the glacial e

Brokeoff Volcano Scenic Vista

Spot the rim of the eroded Brokeoff Volcano in the volcanic remnants that surround this scenic vista. Or, investigate the lone boulder perched high above Hot Springs Valley that tells the story of the massive volcano's slow disappearance.

Location

Significance

Brokeoff Volcano Vista

Butte Lake Day Use area consists of a dirt parking area edged by restrooms on the edge of a large lake. Picnic tables are spaced out below the parking area near the lakeshore. Three trailheads and a boat ramp are accessed via the parking area. Each trailhead is parked by a bulletin case containing trail information.

<p><strong>Season:</strong> May through November; road closed winter/spring<br /> <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/gettingaround.htm#bl">Access</a><strong>:</strong> Dirt road<br /> <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/fees.htm">Fees</a><strong>: </strong>An entrance fee receipt or pass is required<br /> <strong>Note:</strong> No services except restrooms and water; no cell service<br /> <br /> The Butte Lake boat launch, trailheads, and picnic area are located on the western tip of Butte Lake. Both flush and vault toilets are available. Flush toilets and drinking water are available when the adjacent <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/butte-lake-campground.htm">Butte Lake Campground</a> is open (and the area water system is on). A self-pay entrance station is located at the junction of the campground and day use area. </p> <h2>Get There</h2> <p>This remote area is located in the northeast corner of the park and is accessed via a six-mile dirt road off of Highway 44. View <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/gettingaround.htm#bl">directions to the Butte Lake Area</a>. The gravel road to Butte Lake is passable by passenger vehicles. Parking is available, but limited for RVs and trailers.</p> <h2>Scenic Views</h2> <p>Many spots on the northern shore of Butte Lake offer excellent views of the Fantastic Lava Beds (lava flow), Cinder Cone, and Prospect Peak.</p> <h2>Boat Launch</h2> <p>A short spur at the southwest end of the parking area drops down to a small loop for non-motorized boat launch. There is no dock or equipment here. The boat launch is a clear area with space for vehicles with trailers to drop off watercraft and turn around. Fishing is not permitted in the boat launch area. </p> <h2>Swimming</h2> <p>Butte Lake is often not as cold as other high-elevation lakes in the park. Sections of the shore consist of rough sand or small gravel and are popular for swimming. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/learn/nature/otter.htm">River otters</a> are rarely sighted in this lake. Keep your distance; females can act aggressively when protecting young.</p> <h2>Picnic Area</h2> <p>A small picnic area is located between the parking area and the shore of Butte Lake. A handful of picnic tables offer seating under conifer trees and some have charcoal grills.</p> <h2>Trailheads</h2> <p>Butte Lake Day Use Area includes trailheads for <a href="https://www.nps.gov/places/cinder_cone.htm">Cinder Cone</a>, Bathtub Lake, and Snag Lake Trails. Each trailhead is marked by a bulletin board that offers information about the trail. The Snag Lake Trailhead is a popular starting point for <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/wilderness-permit-information.htm">backpacking</a>. A free permit is required for backpacking and stock use; self-registration is available at the Butte Lake Ranger Station (not staffed).</p> <h2>Fishing</h2> <p>Butte Lake offers excellent fishing, with rainbow trout being the most common fish caught in the lake. Fishing from the shore is possible in places, but brush and conifers are present along much of the lakeshore that is not jagged lava. Fishing from a non-motorized boat is another good option. Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/fishbuttelake.htm">fishing Butte Lake</a>.</p>

A gravel boat launch area at the edge of a large lake lined by conifers and bushes.

Butte Lake Day Use Area

Enjoy hiking, swimming, fishing, and boating in the remote Butte Lake Area dominated by the jagged Fantastic Lava Beds and barren Cinder Cone volcano.

Cinder Cone Trailhead is located next to a boat launch area adjacent to a day use parking area. Large conifer trees line the edge of a large lake and the jagged edges of a black lava field. The trailhead is marked by informational signs and a box with guides of a self-led interpretive tour along the trail. The trails heads directly south into the forest on a black trail made of cinders, or course sand-like rock.

<figure> </figure> <p><strong>Start:</strong> Butte Lake parking area<br /> <strong>Round-Trip Distance to Base: </strong>2.4 miles<br /> <strong>Round Trip Distance to Summit:</strong> 4 miles<br /> <strong>Round-Trip Time: </strong>3 hours<br /> <strong>Elevation Change:</strong> 846 ft<br /> <strong>Elevation:</strong> 6,061 - 6,907 feet<br /> <strong>Trail Surface: </strong>Cinders (similar to course sand)<br /> <strong>Season: </strong>Approximately June through November<br />  </p> <p>Hike to the base or summit of the dramatic Cinder Cone volcano via this popular trail in the Butte Lake Area. The sand-like cinders on this trail make the hike challenging, especially when climbing the steep 200-foot ascent to the summit. However, hikers are afforded with fantastic views of the dramatic cinder cone, its lava flow called the Fantastic Lava Beds, and the colorful Painted Dunes. A handout is available at the park visitor centers and the trailhead with stops that correspond to numbered posts highlighting various features along the trail.<br /> <br /> At 1.2 miles, the trail reaches a fork at the base of Cinder Cone. Look to your left (south) here for the first views of the colorful Painted Dunes. Please stay on the trail to avoid scarring the landscape with footprints. Be sure to take a break in the shade of the surrounding Jeffrey pines before beginning the heart-pumping climb to the top of the cone. Lassen Peak comes into view as the trail slowly circles around to the south side of the cone. The summit affords panoramic views in all directions. Prospect Peak, Lassen Peak, Snag Lake, the Fantastic Lava Beds and the Painted Dunes are all clearly visible. An additional trail continues down into the crater of Cinder Cone.</p> <p>Cinder Cone Trail follows a portion of the Nobles Emigrant Trail, which is part of the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/cali/index.htm">California National Historic Trail</a>. The Nobles Emigrant Trail was one two routes used by emigrants to travel across what is now Lassen Volcanic National Park.</p> <h2>Getting There</h2> <p>Cinder Cone Trailhead is located near the boat ramp in the Butte Lake Day Use Area in the northeast corner of the park. This remote area is accessed via a 6-mile dirt road off of Highway 44, approximately 24 miles east of the park's Northwest Entrance. View <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/gettingaround.htm">directions to Butte Lake</a>. Drinking water is available when the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/butte-lake-campground.htm">Butte Lake Campground</a> is open. There are no other services in this area.</p>

A panoramic view of a cinder cone volcano with sparse conifers at its edges. Two hikers walk on a su

Cinder Cone Trail

Enjoy a hike to the base or summit of this striking cinder cone volcano.

A rocky area with large boulders laying amid young trees. A walkway connects a paved parking area to a half-mile loop. A spur off the loop leads to two pit toilets.

<p>Discover the story behind Lassen Peak's 1915-1916 eruption. Waysides along the half-mile accessible loop describe how the eastern slope of Lassen Peak came to be known as the Devastated Area. More than a hundred years later, forests cover much of this once barren area. Historic photos and accounts take us back in time while the rocks at your feet tell the eruption story through stone. This short trail is great for families and curious minds alike. Vault toilets and picnic tables are located via a short walk from the parking area.</p>

A photo of a wayside sign titled "Devastated Area Trail" in a rocky area with conifer trees. A walkw

Devastated Area Picnic Area & Trailhead

Discover the "devastating" story behind the 1915-1916 Lassen Peak eruption.

Devastated Area

A guest ranch located in the center of a narrow valley, lined by volcanic peaks and opening to the south. A collection of 18 brown buildings with red roofs sit at the base of a tree-lined cliff and are fronted by a large meadow. A gated pool area, fed by hyrothermal springs rests a short distance to the west and is connected to the cluster of buildings by a gravel walkway.

<p>Drakesbad Guest Ranch is a secluded lodge nestled in Warner Valley, in the southeast corner of Lassen Volcanic National Park. The ranch includes a lodge, dining hall, and bungalow units. Initially homesteaded by Edward Drake in the 1880s, Drakesbad Guest Ranch continues to offer a rustic retreat experience. Visitors return year after year to celebrate their own long-standing traditions and enjoy the wonders of the valley.</p> <h4>Dixie Fire Effects</h4> <p>Drakesbad Guest Ranch was effected by the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/learn/nature/dixie-fire.htm">2021 Dixie Fire</a> and will remain closed for repairs for the 2023 season. Most structures remain intact, however two bungalow units, the annex, and the water plant were destroyed.</p> <h4>Overnight Accommodations</h4> <p>Guests enjoy overnight accommodations in the historic lodge or bungalows. All meals are included. View accommodation types and rates at <a href="https://lassenlodging.com/drakesbad/#">lassenlodging.com</a>.</p> <h4>Restaurant</h4> <p>Deliciously fresh and nutritious home-cooked meals are prepared by the Ranch Chef and are an integral part of the Drakesbad experience. All meals are open to the public by reservation only.</p> <h4>Activities</h4> <p>Guests can choose from a variety of activities including horseback riding, hiking, fishing, swimming in the hydrothermal spring-fed pool, enjoying a massage, or just relaxing. Evening is a perfect time for a good book, fun games, or a quiet conversation around the fireplace or campfire. Horseback riding and massage are open to all visitors by reservation only.</p> <h4>Accessibility</h4> <p>Bungalow 1 offers ADA features including ramp access and toilet and shower handrails. A transfer lift is available for the pool and the adjacent bathhouse includes one room with a bathtub and handrails and another with a zero-entry shower. The dining room is accessible from the parking lot and doors have zero-entry thresholds. The adjacent deck has a one inch rise. </p> <h4>Amenities</h4> <p>This rustic guest ranch offers a secluded getaway with no cell service or Internet access. The lodge has electricity, but there are no outlets in rooms. Some of the bungalows do not have electricity; kerosene lamps are provided for lighting.</p> <h4>Directions</h4> <p>The road to Warner Valley and Drakesbad Guest Ranch is partly gravel and is not recommended for trailers. The drive from the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center to Warner Valley takes approximately 1.5 hours. From CA-36 in Chester, turn onto Feather River Road (on the east side of the bridge). Continue a half mile and veer left onto CR-312. Continue 4 miles and veer right to stay on CR-312. Follow signs to Drakesbad. Continue 13.5 miles to Drakesbad Guest Ranch. View <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Chester,+California/Drakesbad+Guest+Ranch,+14423+Chester+Warner+Valley+Rd,+Chester,+CA+96020/@40.3752513,-121.3855339,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x809d6a17f23db90f:0xadff71a96c3b5c1c!2m2!1d-121.2319098!2d40.3062736!1m5!1m1!1s0x809d59ab37f2b4cd:0x849c5e1e8c8c954c!2m2!1d-121.4038353!2d40.4441893!3e0">directions on Google Maps</a>. Parking at the guest ranch is reserved for customers.</p> <h4>Reservations Required</h4> <p>Availability is limited and overnight stays usually booked a year in advance. For all reservations email reservations@lassenlodging.com or call (877) 622-0221. Lodging may also be <a href="https://us01.iqwebbook.com/DGRCA523/">reserved online</a> at through Snow Mountain, LLC. </p>

A two-story red and brown lodge and three cabins at the base of a hillside fronted by a meadow.

Drakesbad Guest Ranch

Drakesbad Guest Ranch is a secluded lodge at the southeast end of Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Designation

A creek wends through a grassy meadow flanked by green conifers. Volcanic peaks rise on two sides.

This picturesque meadow is one of the most colorful spots in the park for autumn foliage. In the heat of summer, water from a year-round spring keeps the area a lush green.<br /> <br /> This tranquil spot was shaped by Lassen Peak eruptions that dammed Hat Creek creating Hat Lake. Following its formation, American beavers maintained the lake for decades When the beavers departed for an unknown reason, the spring water flows through the meadow. <br /> <br /> As previously flooded land slowly dries, plant succession takes place. Quaking aspen and willow are prolific in the wet soil surrounding the lake. Multiple flower species and meadow grasses now grow in the nutrient-rich soil of the former lake bed.<br /> <br /> There is no trail through the meadow. Please enjoy it from its edges. Walking on the meadow compacts soil, which can kill roots or preventing new plants from growing.

Fall colors in a meadow beneath a snow-dusted volcanic peak. Orange leaves float in a pool of water

Fall Colors at Hat Creek

Hat Creek Viewpoint

Juniper Lake Day Use Area is set on the northern tip of a large mountain lake surrounded by volcanic peaks. A beach of course sand/small gravel edges much of the shoreline here. Patches of conifers connect the beach to a gravel road and parking area. Two trailheads lead northeast and northwest across and up forested slopes.

<p><strong>Season:</strong> June through October; road closed winter/spring<br /> <a href="www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/gettingaround.htm#jl">Access</a><strong>:</strong> Rough dirt road; high-clearance vehicles recommended<br /> <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/fees.htm">Fees</a><strong>: </strong>An entrance fee receipt or pass is required.<br /> <strong>Note:</strong> No services, drinking water, or cell service<br /> <br /> The Juniper Lake Day Use Area is located on the north shore of Juniper Lake. The area consists of a parking lot, vault toilet, two trailheads, and an undeveloped beach area suitable for swimming and launching small, non-motorized vessels. The dirt road continues a short distance beyond the day use area and provides access to a handful of private cabins (owned prior to the park's establishment). A self-pay entrance station is located near the Juniper Lake Ranger Station. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/juniper-lake-campground.htm">Juniper Lake Campground</a> is located on the southeast shore of the lake and offers first-come, first-served campsites plus two reservation-only group sites. </p> <h2>Get There</h2> <p>The remote Juniper Lake Area is located in the southeast corner of the park is accessed via a 13-mile road out of the town of Chester. View <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/gettingaround.htm#jl">directions to the Juniper Lake Area</a>. The last 6 miles is rough, dirt road with steep sections and is not suitable for cars with low clearance, buses, motorhomes, or trailers.</p> <h2>Beach</h2> <p>The day use area includes a long stretch of shoreline composed of fine gravel or course sand. Swimming is popular here, although this high-elevation lake remains cool year-round. The ground drops slowly from the shore in most areas and is appropriate for launching kayaks, paddle boards, and other small, non-motorized vessels. There are no sport fish in the lake.</p> <h2>Trailheads</h2> <p>Juniper Lake Day Use Area includes trailheads for Horseshoe Lake, Snag Lake, Inspiration Point, and Juniper Lake Loop. This trailhead is a popular starting point for <a href="The last 6 miles is rough dirt road with steep sections and is not suitable for buses, motorhomes, or trailers.">backpacking</a>. A free permit is required for backpacking and stock use; self-registration is available at the Juniper Lake Ranger Station.</p> <h2>Scenic Views</h2> <p>The beach offers a clear view of Mount Harkness and the fire lookout on the lake's far shore. Certain sections of the shore that face west offer a glimpse of Lassen Peak. Most of the beach here faces west or south and offers an excellent view for sunset.</p>

People on a gravel beach on the shore of a mountain lake lined by conifers and a large volcanic peak

Juniper Lake Beach

This remote, high-elevation landscape contains the largest lake in the park. The day use area offers hiking, backpacking, swimming, and non-motorized boating.

Juniper Lake Day Use Area

A creek wends through a large meadow lined by conifer trees on slopes that rise upward toward two large volcanic peaks to the center and the right.

<p>Outstanding views of Lassen Peak are visible from highway turnouts near Kings Creek Upper Meadow. This meadow is frequently photographed in its vibrant seasonal colors from the snowy white of spring to the golden hues of fall. Non-native trout species including brown and brook trout hide in the shadows of the winding creek and opportunistic eagles and hawks occasionally drop in for lunch. Black-tailed deer, golden-mantled ground squirrels, <a href="https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/clark-s-nutcracker.htm">Clark’s Nutcracker</a>, and black bear also frequent the meadow.</p> <h4>Wildflowers Grow by the Inch and Die by the Foot</h4> <p>You can both enjoy and protect the delicate vegetation that contributes to this picturesque meadow with simple choices like:</p> <ul> <li>Enjoying flowers in fragile wet areas from afar</li> <li>Resting or picnicking on hard surfaces</li> <li>Leaving wildflowers for others to enjoy</li> </ul> <h2>Year-Round Water</h2> <p>Snow on Lassen Peak melts and seeps into a ground spring that feeds Kings Creek year-round. In the spring season, the deep snowpack within the meadow also slowly melts into Kings Creek and the surrounding watershed. Lassen Volcanic is comprised of <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/learn/nature/watersheds.htm">four watersheds</a>. Kings Creek supplies the Upper Feather Watershed which alone supplies approximately 3.2 million acre-feet per year for downstream water users. The quantity and quality of water from park watersheds are is threatened by overcrowded forests, degraded meadows, and a <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/learn/nature/climate-change.htm">changing climate</a>. Partnerships like the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/learn/management/nfrh.htm"><b>North Fork Feather River Headwaters Forest Restoration Project</b></a> are crucial to addressing the landscape-level issue of watershed and forest health. </p> <h2>Nearby Areas</h2> <p><strong>Kings Creek Picnic Area and Trailhead</strong> is located <sup>1</sup>/<sub>2</sub> mile north on the park highway via a short turnoff. The area includes picnic sites with charcoal disposal, pit toilets, and the trailhead to <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/hiking_coldboiling_crumbaugh.htm">Cold Boiling Lake</a>. This area can also be reached by foot via a short connector trail southwest of Upper Meadow.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/hikekingscreekfalls.htm">King’s Creek Falls Hiking Trailhead</a> is located <sup>1</sup>/<sub>4</sub> mile south of here. Parking is limited at this popular trailhead and meadow turnouts often serve as overflow parking. The 3-mile round-trip loop includes a steep climb up cascades above Kings Creek Falls.</p>

A photo of a creek winding through a mountain meadow at the base of a volcanic peak.

Kings Creek Meadow

Kings Creek wends its way through this photogenic mountain meadow that reflects the colors of the season.

Kings Creek Meadow Viewpoint

A parking area at the base of a large dome-shaped volcano.

<p>Lassen Peak is a monument to the area’s natural history and humankind’s adventurous spirit. At 10,457 feet high, it’s one of the world’s largest plug dome volcanoes. Its 1914-1917 eruptions were a driving force behind the establishment of Lassen Volcanic National Park.<br /> <br /> The parking area offers a perfect spot to capture a photo with Lassen Peak. The <a href="https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/hikelassenpeak.htm">Lassen Peak Trail </a>also begins here.<br /> <br /> Patches of snow can linger here well into the summer months. Or, all year long in years with above average winter snowpack. Sleds and other snow equipment are welcome on the snow, however long it lasts.</p>

People play on a field of snow below a hiking trail at the base of large volcanic dome.

Lassen Peak Scenic Vista

Experience the majesty of Lassen Peak from the highest point on the park road at 8,512 feet. The Lassen Peak Trail begins here.

The northwest corner of a square park centered around a large lake flanked by volcanic peaks. A large campground sits on the southeast shore of the lake and a highway passes along the northeast shore.

<p>Located in the northwest corner of the park, Manzanita Lake Area offers the most amenities and is popular with campers and families. The area is accessible year-round from <a href="https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/driveparkhwy.htm">Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway</a> although there are no services and minimal facilities in the winter and early spring.</p> <h4>Manzanita Lake Area Includes:</h4> <ul> <li>Northwest Entrance Station (<a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/fees.htm">pay entrance fees and buy passes</a>)</li> <li>Loomis Plaza and Reflection Lake (read more below)</li> <li><a href="https://www.nps.gov/places/ml-day-use-area.htm">Manzanita Lake Day Use Area</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/manzanita-lake-campground.htm">Manzanita Lake Campground</a></li> <li>Oversnow routes for winter/early spring snow season (read more below)</li> </ul> <h2>Loomis Plaza</h2> <p>Stop by the Loomis Plaza to learn from outdoor signage or visit the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm#lm">Loomis Museum</a> (open summer only). The plaza also offers restrooms, a drinking fountain, one of two trailheads for the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/walkmanzanitalake.htm">Manzanita Lake Trail</a>, and Loomis Ranger Station (not open to the public). <strong>Loomis Plaza parking is limited and is often full in summer months. </strong>RV/trailer parking is available but limited. The plaza can also be accessed via a section of the Manzanita Lake Trail from the day use parking area. </p> <h2>Reflection Lake</h2> <p>Reflection Lake, Lily Pond Interpretive Trail, and the Discovery Center are located across the highway from Loomis Plaza.</p> <ul> <li>A short, half-mile loop around <b>Reflection Lake</b> offers fantastic views of Lassen Peak and Chaos Crags and is a shorter alternative to the 1.8-mile Manzanita Lake loop. This is a route that is not a defined trail in all sections.</li> <li>The trailhead for the<b> </b><a href="https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/walklilypond.htm">Lily Pond Interpretive Trail</a> is located directly across the park highway from the Loomis Museum. This easy, half-mile loop skirts Reflection Lake and a lily pond. A trail brochure is available at the trailhead and corresponding posts highlight the plants and trees in the area.</li> <li>The former park naturalist’s residence now serves as the <strong>Discovery Center </strong>(science education facility). <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/learn/education/planafieldtrip.htm">Ranger-led educational programs</a> are offered here. All visitors are welcome to visit during open house hours, which are listed on the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/ranger_led_programs.htm">ranger-led program schedule.</a></li> </ul> <h2>Manzanita Lake Campground Road</h2> <p>At the east end of the Loomis parking area, the Manzanita Lake Campground Road travels south and provides access to the dump station, <a href="https://www.nps.gov/places/ml-day-use-area.htm">Day Use Area</a>, amphitheater, camper store, and campground. The road also provides access to the Chaos Crags and Manzanita Lake Creek Trailheads.</p> <h2><a href="https://www.nps.gov/places/ml-day-use-area.htm">Day Use Area</a></h2> <p>Visitors to the Manzanita Lake Area are most likely to find parking at the day use area on the southwest shore, which includes a boat launch, picnic area, and trailhead for the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/walkmanzanitalake.htm">Manzanita Lake Trail</a>. </p> <h2>Winter and Early Spring Use</h2> <p>The park is usually snow-covered between November and April. Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway is plowed between the intersection of Highways 89 and 44 and the Loomis Plaza. At 5,700 feet elevation, Manzanita Lake Area is lower in elevation than the center and southwest area of the park and trails here are often some of the first to be snow-free. Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/winter.htm">visiting in winter</a>, <a href="https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/snowplayml.htm">snowplay in the Manzanita Lake Area</a>, or <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/winter-road-closures-and-spring-clearing-update.htm">spring snow clearing</a>. </p>

Two volcanic peaks reflected in a partially frozen lake lined by golden grass and evergreen trees.

Manzanita Lake

Manzanita Lake Area is a popular destination located at the north end of Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway.

Manzanita Lake Area

Manzanita Lake is surrounded by conifers and bordered on its northwestern shore by the park highway. At the southeast corner of the lake is a picnic area, boat launch, trailhead, and parking area. A loop trail closely follows the shore of the lake and provides access to the Loomis Plaza, located a short distance from the northeast corner of the lake.

<p>The Manzanita Lake boat launch, trailhead, and picnic area are located on the southeast shore of Manzanita Lake. Get here by following the Manzanita Lake Campground Road off of Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway in the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/places/manzanita-lake-area.htm">Manzanita Lake Area</a>. </p> <h2>Boat Launch</h2> <p>At the south end of the parking area, a small turnaround loop provides access to the <strong>boat launch</strong>. Only non-power watercraft may be used on park lakes; engines of any type are not permitted. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/fishmanzanitalake.htm">Fishing</a> is permitted from watercraft and the shore. Pre-paid boat rentals are picked up here; purchase rentals at the Manzanita Camper Store (accessible by a short trail). Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/boating.htm">boating and watercraft rental</a>.</p> <h2>Trailhead</h2> <p>To the left of the boat launch is one of two trailheads for the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/walkmanzanitalake.htm">Manzanita Lake Trail</a>. Most hikers travel clockwise when starting from this trailhead. Hikers can also follow the Manzanita Lake loop counterclockwise from the far (north) side of the parking area. A 0.2-mile section connects the boat launch parking area and the Loomis Plaza.    </p> <h2>Picnic Area</h2> <p>A <strong>picnic area </strong>is located to the right of the boat launch and tables are often occupied in summer months. Additional picnic spots (without tables) can be found on the Manzanita Lake Trail, to the left of the boat launch. Restrooms and drinking water are available at the north end of the parking area. The picnic area offers a clear view across the lake to the west is a popular spot to enjoy sunset.</p>

A couple sits at one of two picnic tables on the shore of a lake lined by conifers with the setting

Sunset at Manzanita Lake Picnic Area

Manzanita Lake day use area includes a boat launch, trailhead, and picnic area, and is a popular destination for first-time visitors, families, and campers.

Manzanita Lake Day Use Area

<p>Perched atop Mt. Harkness in the southeast corner of Lassen Volcanic National Park, Mount Harkness Fire Lookout has served as an active fire lookout and visitor destination since its construction in 1930. The rustic style two-story wood and stone structure sits at 8,046 feet elevation on the summit of an ancient shield volcano topped by a cinder cone. Visitors are able to access the summit and lookout by trail from either Juniper Lake or Warner Valley. The shortest and <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/hiking_mount_harkness.htm">most popular trail</a> climbs 1.9 miles and 1,250 feet from Juniper Lake Campground to the summit. The sweeping vistas from the lookout span from the Three Sisters peaks in Oregon to the north, the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the south, and the Coast Range to the west. Fire staff reside in the lookout in the summer months and share information on the lookout and operations with visitors.<br /> <br /> <strong><span style="color:#c0392b;">Mt. Harkness Fire Lookout was destroyed in the Dixie Fire in August 2021.</span></strong></p> <h2>A Model of NPS Rustic Architecture</h2> <p>Mount Harkness Fire Lookout and accompanying pit toilet were constructed primarily of local stone and wood in a style typical for National Park structures built in the 1920s and 1930s. The design philosophy centered on the use of local materials to make structures compatible with their environment and to achieve visual unity among different facilities. The lookout is unusual in comparison to the vast majority of fire lookouts and associated pit toilets in the United States, which are either of wood frame or steel construction. The top level is comprised of a single-room cabin, surrounded on four sides by a wooden catwalk and topped by a pitched wood shingle roof. A wooden staircase climbs the 12 feet to the catwalk and masonry of battered native stone extends from the ground to the windows on the upper floor.  </p> <h2>A Classic Fire Lookout</h2> <p>Mount Harkness Fire Lookout continues to use many of the station's original technology and systems. A report to the Director of the National Park Service described the newly constructed facility the year following its construction: </p> <p style="margin-left: 40px;">"A fire-lookout station constructed during the season on top of Mount Harkness in Lassen Volcanic National Park is among the finest and best equipped in northern California. In addition to the usual maps and compasses, it contains an <a href="3a1b676c-13df-43af-b4b1-d8b9e17f5695">Osborne fire finder</a> and a panoramic photograph mounted so that the location of the fire will be shown simultaneously on the photograph and the map when detected by the fire finder. This station serves a triple purpose. In addition to its importance in the fire prevention program of Lassen, it affords visitors, who may easily reach it by trail, an opportunity to view the country through powerful glasses, and it also contains a seismograph, which, in connection with two others, hourly records the slightest quivers of the earth."</p> <p>While some systems like the seismograph have since been replaced by <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/learn/nature/seismic-activity.htm">digital seismic monitoring</a>, the fire observation tools have remained the same. Adopted in the 1850s, classic fire monitoring systems using maps and a compass function without electricity or Internet access (the lookout has neither). The building itself has seen a few upgrades over its many decades of service, including the addition of a weather monitoring station and radio repeater (powered by solar panels) and conversion from a wood to propane stove.</p> <h2>Maintaining a Historic Lookout</h2> <p>Extreme winters, rugged terrain, and regular use leave the Mount Harkness Fire Lookout in regular need of maintenance. In recent years, park staff and partners have replaced the roof and rehabilitated the original wooden doors and windows. In 2019, the park began a new rehabilitation project in partnership with <a href="https://historicorps.org/harkness-lookout-ca-2019/">HistoriCorps</a>, a nonprofit dedicated to engaging volunteers on the rehabilitation of historic structures on publicly accessible lands. Between September 15 and 27 a group of HistoriCorps volunteers will work with park staff to remove and repoint failing mortar, replace deteriorated boards on the catwalk, and repair deteriorated window trim and door frames.<span style="font-size:11.0pt"><span style="background:white"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="color:black"> </span></span></span></span>The HistoriCorps crew will camp at Juniper Lake Campground and then hike up to the project site daily.<br />  </p> <p> </p> <p> </p>

B&W; American flag flies above stone and wood fire tower

High atop Mt. Harkness, this rustic fire lookout is still accessible to hikers.

Mount Harkness Fire Lookout Contemporary Photos

Mount Harkness Fire Lookout Archives

Mount Harkness Fire Lookout

<p>Reflection Lake wasn't always named such. In the late 1800s, the lake was lower in level and more indicative of a pond and was aptly named, Mud Lake. To attract more people to the area, a channel was dug to divert water from Manzanita Creek into Mud Lake. Trout were planted in the lake with an increased water level. For a few years, people paid the landowner to fish in the lake. Eventually, trout planting ceased.<br /> <br /> In 1926, park benefactor <a href="https://www.nps.gov/people/benjamin-franklin-loomis.htm">Benjamin Franklin Loomis</a> purchased 40 acres, which included the lake. Reflection Lake was one location that Loomis captured photographs of the 1914-1945 Lassen Peak eruptions. Loomis and his wife Estella donated their 40 acres, the Loomis Museum, and the adjacent seismograph building to the park in 1929.<br /> <br /> A healthy population of native tui chub fish thrive in the warmer water. Fish stocking ended completely in the park in the early 1990s to preserve natural riparian ecosystems. As a result, the lake attracts water birds such as Canada geese, great blue heron, snowy egret, and kingfisher.</p> <h4>Reflection Lake Route</h4> <p>A half-mile route (not a defined trail) circles the lake and is a shorter alternative to the 1.8-mile <a href="https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/walkmanzanitalake.htm">Manzanita Lake Loop</a>. The western shore offers unobstructed views of Chaos Crags and Lassen Peak, which are often reflected in the still lake. The route overlaps with the half-mile <a href="https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/walklilypond.htm">Lily Pond Interpretive Trail</a> on the eastern shore of Reflection Lake.</p>

Two snow-covered volcanoes reflected in a small patch of unfrozen water backed by a frozen lake line

Reflection Lake

Hydrothermal features including bubbling mudpot and steaming vents are visible from either side of a mountain highway. Sidewalks on either side of the highway are lined by wooden railings to keep visitors a safe distance from the features. The sidewalk on the uphill side of the road extends down to a parking area. Additional hydrothermal features are found on a creek above the highway on a steep hillside that continues up to jagged volcanic peaks. Features along the deeply-carved creek on the downhill side of the highway.

<p>Located along the park highway and accessed by a short walk along a paved sidewalk, Sulphur Works is the easiest of the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/exploring-the-hydrothermal-areas.htm">park's hydrothermal areas</a> to access. This hydrothermal area is an otherworldly place of vibrant colors, pungent scents, and shifting ground that is both ancient and new. Learn more about Visting Sulphur Works in <a href="https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/visitsulphurworks.htm">summer/fall</a> or in <a href="https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/visitsulphurworkswinter.htm">early spring/winter</a>, or <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/learn/photosmultimedia/swh-360.htm">view 360-photos of Sulphur Works</a>.<br /> <br /> Sulphur Works is a vent for the last rumblings of a long-dead volcano and yet it is also reborn each day as forces of erosion and hydrothermal activity continuously alter the landscape. Although named after the chemical element of sulfur—which is a byproduct of the hydrothermal system—the area bears the British English spelling of the word assigned by a pioneer that once laid claim to what was then known as Supan's Sulphur Works.</p> <h2 paraeid="{83be7307-75cc-4348-b288-986ea486fc90}{28}" paraid="1840149560">Supan's Sulphur Works</h2> <p paraeid="{83be7307-75cc-4348-b288-986ea486fc90}{34}" paraid="1487762954">An Austrian immigrant and pioneer of the American West named Mathias B. Supan, extracted minerals from the ground here in the middle part of the nineteenth century. He refined sulfur and other elements into a variety of different products. Later, Supan's descendants filed a land claim for the area around the time Lassen Volcanic National Park was being created, and went on to develop Sulphur Works into a roadside attraction. Lassen Volcanic National Park acquired the Sulphur Works parcel from the Supan family in 1952.</p> <h2 paraeid="{83be7307-75cc-4348-b288-986ea486fc90}{34}" paraid="1487762954">Inside a Volcano </h2> <p paraeid="{83be7307-75cc-4348-b288-986ea486fc90}{18}" paraid="410351864">Sulphur Works hydrothermal area sits at the center of a wide basin surrounded by towering volcanic peaks. Geologists have determined that the encircling peaks (Brokeoff Mountain, Mount Diller, Pilot Pinnacle, and Mount Conard) are all remnants of a large, eroded volcano called Brokeoff Volcano, or Mount Tehama. <br /> <br /> Similar to the nearby cone-shaped Mt. Shasta, the 11-mile-wide, 11,500-foot-tall volcano would have dominated the landscape. This composite volcano's eruptive period ended about 360,000 years ago. Ever since, the forces of erosion by wind, rain, ice, and hydrothermal activity have slowly broken apart and carried away Mount Tehama bit by bit, leaving the large erosional basin we see today. Sulphur Works hydrothermal system sits in the same general location as Mount Tehama's extinct central vent. Sulphur Works is part of the larger hydrothermal system in the park. Recent volcanic activity and the hydrothermal system are evidence that magma still lies beneath Lassen today.</p>

An image of a hydrothermal area with an overlay of a black and white image of a roadside attraction.

Sulphur Works Then and Now

Sulphur Works is the most accessible hydrothermal area in the park. A parking area provides access to a short, paved walk to bubbling mudpots and steaming ground.

Sulphur Works

<p><strong>Season:</strong> June through October; road closed winter/spring<br /> <a href="https://www.nps.gov/places/www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/gettingaround.htm#jl">Access</a><strong>:</strong> Dirt road not recommended for trailers<br /> <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/fees.htm">Fees</a><strong>: </strong>An entrance fee receipt or pass is required<br /> <strong>Note:</strong> No cell service<br /> <br /> Warner Valley Day Use Area is located at the east end of Warner Valley, above Hot Springs Creek. The area includes a trailhead and a small picnic area. The Warner Valley Campground is located across Warner Valley road, which continues one mile to <a href="https://www.nps.gov/places/drakesbad-guest-ranch.htm">Drakesbad Guest Ranch</a>. Vehicle access and parking at Drakesbad is limited to guests only due to limited space. All visitors are welcome to visit Drakesbad, which can be accessed via a short hike from the trailhead. The guest ranch offers a small gift shop as well as bagged lunches, dining, and lodging by reservation only.</p> <h2>Get There</h2> <p>The Warner Valley Day Use Area is located in the southeast corner of the park and is accessed via a 17-mile road out of Chester. The last 3 miles is dirt road with steep sections and is not recommended for trailers. View <a href="https://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/gettingaround.htm#wv">directions to the Warner Valley Area</a>.</p> <h2>Trailheads </h2> <p>The trailhead here provides access to <a href="www.nps.gov/places/drakesbad-guest-ranch.htm">Drakesbad Guest Ranch</a>, Boiling Springs Lake, Devils Kitchen, Drake Lake, and the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). This area is a popular stop for PCT through hikers. Aside from the PCT, the narrow valley does not offer many opportunities for backpacking. A free permit is required for backpacking and stock use; self-registration is available at the Butte Lake Ranger Station.</p> <h2>Picnic Area</h2> <p>A handful of picnic tables are located adjacent to the parking area, above Hot Springs Creek.</p>

A child runs on a boardwalk through a green meadow lined by conifers.

Warner Valley

This narrow valley features a number of hydrothermal areas and the historic Drakesbad Guest Ranch. Enjoy easy to moderate hikes to remote hydrothermal areas including Devils Kitchen, Boiling Springs Lake, and Terminal Geyser.

Warner Valley Day Use Area

Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to steaming fumaroles, meadows freckled with wildflowers, clear mountain lakes, and numerous volcanoes. Jagged peaks tell the story of its eruptive past while hot water continues to shape the land.