Most Californians Don’t Know They’re Living Near a Park with 4 Types of Volcanoes

Hike past some ancient volcanic remnants.

California’s Lassen Volcanic National Park can give Yosemite and Yellowstone a run for their money.

We’re talking bubbling mud pots, hissing steam vents, and killer alpine views across an ancient volcanic landscape. If you’re not already intrigued, here are 11 things you need to know about this hidden California gem.

Bumpass Hell Smells Like Rotten Eggs

Bumpass Hell is Lassen’s biggest geothermal hotspot, created by molten rock chilling five miles underground.

It’s named after Kendall Bumpass, who discovered it in the 1860s and, unfortunately, lost a leg falling into a boiling pool. The place reeks of sulfur, and the fumaroles shoot hot steam straight from below.

It’s Got a Mini Version of Oregon’s Painted Hills

Cinder Cone is home to the stunning Painted Dunes, a lava bed explosion of reds, yellows, and browns, thanks to years of oxidized volcanic ash and minerals. The cone, which geologists say erupted in the 1650s, towers 700 feet.

There’s a Giant Dome Volcano Made of Solidified Lava

Lassen Peak isn’t just another giant mountain. It’s the biggest plug dome volcano around, with steep sides built from solidified lava.

It’s been quiet for a while, but it has a wild history. Formed about 27,000 years ago after Mount Tehama’s eruptions, it’s the only Cascade volcano (before Mount St. Helens) to erupt in the 20th century. Check out the Devastated Area, where the 1915 eruption buried forests in volcanic debris.

There’s a Souvenir from a Catastrophic Volcano Explosion

Mount Tehama used to be a massive volcano, but it blew itself apart around 350,000 years ago, leaving a huge caldera behind. Today, you can spot its remnants at Brokeoff Mountain in Lassen Volcanic National Park.

This area also played a key role in history, sitting along the Nobles Emigrant Trail used by settlers in the 1800s. For a challenge, tackle the 6.9-mile Brokeoff Mountain trail, which climbs 2,550 feet.

Some of the Snowfields Never Melt

Lassen is one of California’s snowiest spots, with 14 snowfields that stick around year-round thanks to its high elevation. These snowfields do double duty as natural water reservoirs, releasing meltwater in the warmer months.

Lassen Has Its Own Geothermal Hot Springs

Sulphur Works is Lassen Volcanic National Park’s geothermal hotspot, and it’s right off the main road. You can walk right up to the steaming hot springs and feel the heat radiating from the ground.

Along with the hot springs, you’ll find bubbling mud pots and hissing steam vents. Back in the 1800s, miners dug sulfur here for industry, adding a bit of history to this steamy spot.

The Lassen Volcanic Museum Tells the Whole Story

The Lassen Volcanic Museum, or Loomis Museum, has been around since 1927, thanks to Benjamin and Estella Loomis. This unique building was crafted with native stone and features a dome-shaped roof with 20 skylights.

Inside, you’ll find exhibits that chronicle Lassen’s volcanic history. It’s also home to the Loomis Seismograph Station, where scientists keep an eye on volcanic activity.

Manzanita Lake is the Best Spot for a Sunset

Manzanita Lake, sitting at the base of Lassen Peak, offers some of the most beautiful sunsets this side of California.

The 1.7-mile loop trail around it is an easy walk with stunning views of Lassen Peak and Chaos Crags. It’s also a Wild Trout Waters Fishery, great for catch-and-release fishing with barbless hooks.

See the Aftereffects of the 1915 Eruption

The 1915 Lassen Peak eruption made global headlines. It started with steam explosions in May 1914, leading up to the big blast on May 19–22, 1915.

The eruption created the Devastated Area, a three-square-mile zone littered with massive boulders. Mudflows, or lahars, traveled up to 12 miles, destroying trees and homes near Hat Creek, with ash reported as far as 280 miles away.

Local legend credits rancher Mrs. Hall’s quick phone calls with saving lives.

Hat Creek is Full of Geothermal History

Thanks to past volcanic eruptions, Lassen also features dramatic landscapes like the Hat Creek Fault’s steep western drop. It’s part of the Southern Cascades and home to wild rainbow and brown trout in its lower section.