Lassen Volcanic National Park was established in 1916 yet seems to be relatively unfamiliar to many and not at the same level of destination as some of the other popular parks. I was unsure of what to expect but like all of the national parks we have visited, it has something truly unique to offer its visitors. It is home to 4 different types of volcanos; plug dome, shield, cinder cone and stratovolcano. Lassen Peak is the largest plug dome volcano in the world. Lassen Peak erupted several times between 1914 and 1921 and is still considered and active volcano today. Those eruptions were captured by a photographer, Benjamin Loomis, and led the way for the national park formation.
Lassen is a rugged wilderness formed by these volcanos and evidence of ongoing activity is seen in areas like the Sulphur Works and Bumpass Hell. We hiked around gurgling mudpots, hissing steam vents, and boiling cauldrons of water with the smell of sulphur as a reminder of the hydrothermal activity below the surface. Exploring these areas as well as the park drive was fun and enlightening. There was a spectacular view of the Emerald Lake and Lake Helen. The deep blue of Lake Helen was the backdrop for our picnic lunch and it would have been difficult to find a prettier spot.
Unfortunately, the Dixie fire of 2021 has left its mark on much of the park. A good portion of the roads and trails were closed and not accessible. It was the largest single fire in California history with its footprint impacting 69% of the park. Views from the park drive showed the striking results of high-intensity fire. Even though it has been a year, crews remain at work within the park to clear hazards such as fallen trees and restore the hiking trails and park buildings.
