Why You Should Visit Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen is a nature lover’s paradise with miles and miles of hiking trails, and breathtaking scenery. The park has several campgrounds so if you’re not equipped for backcountry camping you can still explore this amazing park and experience the ancient wonders of its volcanic history while staying in the park. Hike, climb a volcano, take in the hydrothermal sights and enjoy the scenery.
A last minute decision to take a camping trip led my husband and I to the wonders of Lassen. Our first night in the park was spent by a small, crystal clear lake, Ridge Lake, nestled at the foot of ancient volcanic mountains and flanked on one side by a lovely meadow blooming with late season wildflowers. Aside from a few deer grazing in the meadow, we were alone in this most tranquil of places, watching the sun slip away and feeling the night air close in while a stark white moon ascended into the evening sky.
To get to Ridge Lake we hiked one-mile up a very steep hill, weighted down by a large pack and slowed by the altitude change – our bodies were adjusting from sea level to 8,000-feet. Beginning at “Sulfur Works” parking lot, we were initiated into the aromas and mysteries of sulfur vents – gaping holes in the earth, spewing out foul smelling sulfur gas. Part of the trail lay above a stream where there were many of these aromatic openings, but a short way into the hike the sulfur smell was replaced by the invigorating and refreshing scent of wild spearmint. Meadows of wildflowers spread out before us and made a good excuse to break from the strenuous walk so we could admire the colors and absorb the music of the mountains.
In bright sunshine the next morning, we sauntered down the hill (as well as you can with a backpack), and headed to Lassen Peak, the once-mighty volcano. May 22, 1915 saw an explosive eruption at Lassen Peak, which rained volcanic ash as far as 200 miles away. The top of the mountain was literally blown off and slid away, devastating nearby areas and incinerating everything in its wake. There’s not much on the mountain – it’s barren, rocky and very steep, and a place where survival is a struggle for only the hardiest of plants and animals. Windy and wild on top, you can see a few trees have fought hard to cling to the rocky outcrops and have been contorted into cartoon-like shapes by extreme weather.
If you’ve ever wanted to climb a volcano, this is a good one to start on. It’s two and a half miles to the top, but don’t be fooled into thinking it’s easy. Starting at 8,500 feet and climbing over 2,500 feet to the peak, this is not for the fainthearted, but with a slow and steady pace most people can do the return hike in three-five hours. Beware of altitude sickness, burning lungs, burning limbs, baking sun and icy windsâÂ?¦. but don’t give up. You will be rewarded with spectacular views of glistening lakes and snow-capped mountains amid a landscape shaped by pure volcanic power. For me, the most rewarding view was that of Mt. Shasta, a 14,000-foot mountain gleaming in the distance, almost totally draped in a shroud of permanent snow.
Leaving Lassen Peak behind we drove to a different trail where we could head into the wilderness in search of another perfect campsite. Despite the trail being mostly flat, aching muscles dictated our foray into this area would be a short distance only. Once again, the hike was spectacular. The trail meandered through a valley where we had to scramble across a swift-flowing stream on a makeshift bridge (large beam of wood actually)� almost a challenging balancing act with a backpack on after a full day of hiking. Our campsite was a fitting tribute to Lassen Peak and our earlier climbing effort. In a secluded clearing we had the perfect view of Lassen Peak in the distance with the sun glinting off the snowfields, which changed color as the sunset cast a pink glow over the park. Bliss. Serenity. Peace.
A visit to Bumpass Hell, the largest concentration of hydrothermal features in the park, is a must when you visit Lassen. A wide basin crammed with boiling mud pots, steaming water ponds and sulfurous gases, this place provides an interesting insight into the volatile center of the earth. Alongside the hydrothermal features are soils stained all shades of yellow, green and brown by sulfur and other minerals in this area. It is ugly but beautiful all at once, and I had the sense of being close to the center of the earth with the hissing and spluttering of steam and mud coming from deep within.
This park is a hidden Californian treasure and should be on every nature lover’s list of places to visit.
