Lassen Volcanic National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour

Located near the park's south entrance, the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center features exhibits, a gift shop and cafe and restrooms. You can also grab a trail map and chat with a ranger. The name of the visitor center comes from the Mountain Maidu word Kohm Yah-mah-nee which means "snow mountain." It's the original name for the volcano we know today as Lassen Peak.(15 min)

Sulphur Works is one of the park's colorful hydrothermal features that you can see right from the road. Take the paved walkway to view steam vents, a boiling mudpot and a landscape tinged yellow, orange and red from mineral deposits. Remember to tap the map marker to listen to the bonus story "The Aroma of a Volcano" to learn more about this fascinating place!(15 min)

From the small pullout beneath Diamond Peak, you can see Brokeoff Mountain to the west, Lassen Peak to the north and acres and acres of forest land burned in the 2021 Dixie Fire. The overlook is located at a bend in the road, so use caution when entering and exiting.(5 min)

Emerald Lake gets its name from its striking green color which comes from vegetation that grows in the shallow water. In the 1930s, park rangers stocked this lovely roadside gem with large rainbow trout. Today, the lake no longer has fish, but its stunning green color still makes a great photo op!(5 min)

The three-mile roundtrip trek to Bumpass Hell leads to the park's largest hydrothermal area, boasting16 acres of boiling springs, mud pots and roaring fumaroles! The biggest steam vent, named Big Boiler, is one of the hottest fumaroles in the world--reaching over 300 degrees Fahrenheit.(1 hr 30 min)

Lake Helen was named after Helen Brodt, the first white woman to summit Lassen Peak back in 1864. This deep blue lake is nestled at the foot of Lassen Peak and reflects the snowcapped mountain above. Feel free to dip your toes or even go for a swim. But be warned that the lake's crystal clear water is extremely cold!(5 min)

Pull into the large parking area for a view of the world's largest plug dome volcano and namesake of this park. You can even climb to the top of this sleeping 10,500-ft volcano! With an elevation gain of almost 2,000 feet, the trail is not for the faint of heart. If you’re interested in tackling this 5 mile-round trip hike, make sure to read the safety information at the trailhead. Pay close attention to what it says about altitude sickness.(10 min)

The Kings Creek Picnic Area is located in a wildflower meadow and is a nice place to take a break and have some lunch. You'll find picnic tables and pit toilets. The picnic area also features an easy 1.5-mile roundtrip trail to an unusual hydrothermal feature called Cold Boiling Lake. Unlike other hot spots in the park, here you can see gas bubbling up through cold water along the shoreline of this pretty lake.(30 min)

The moderate 3-mile hike to Kings Creek Falls features a spectacular 30-foot cascades. Much of the forest was burned during the Dixie Fire, but life is already beginning to return. Keep your eyes open for wildflowers in the meadows and other evidence of rebirth. There is limited roadside parking. If you cannot find a spot, we recommend you try again later or skip this hike and do the one to Paradise Meadows instead.(2 hr)

Paradise Meadows is a hidden gem tucked away on the northeast side of Lassen Peak. The moderate three-mile round trip hike follows Hat Creek up through a beautiful forest to a large basin surrounded by steep cliffs. Nestled in the basin is an enchanting wildflower meadow that looks straight out of a fairytale. Along the way, you’ll pass a few waterfalls and catch glimpses of Lassen Peak through the trees. With an elevation gain of 700 feet, be prepared to do a fair bit of climbing. But the heavenly views at the end are so worth it!(2 hr)

The blast zone from Lassen Peak's 1915 eruption is known as the Devastated Area. After the blast, this entire forest was leveled and turned into a gray desolate wasteland. But today, the name Devastated Area no longer matches what you'll see. Over the past century, nature has been hard at work, reclaiming the landscape and breathing new life into a once-desolate area. Plants have risen from the ashes, and wildlife has returned. It’s a testimony of Nature’s power to destroy–and to restore. Take the short, interpretive walk through the Devastated Area. You'll find picnic tables and restrooms here as well.(15 min)

Pull over to the side of the road and get a photo of the 30-ton boulder named Hot Rock. During one of Lassen's big eruptions, this giant lava boulder ejected out of the magma chamber and flew down the mountain in a rock avalanche to its final resting place here--five miles away! A few days later, local photographer B.F. Loomis snapped a picture of the rock. Because it was still steaming and hot to the touch, he named it Hot Rock. You can see Loomis' historic photograph of Hot Rock in the Loomis Museum.(5 min)

Turn into the pullout for a view of Chaos Crags and Chaos Jumbles--two more volcanic features that tell of the region's fiery past. Chaos Crags are plug dome volcanoes, just like Lassen Peak, except they’re very jagged. On the other hand, Chaos Jumbles are the acres of volcanic rocks strewn about between the crags and Manzanita Lake.(5 min)

The Manzanita Lake Area features the Loomis Museum, a gift shop, restrooms, a few lakeside trails and a campground. It's a great place to get your bearings if you enter the park from the north. And it's also a fun place to just kickback, relax and hang out for the afternoon. You can rent a kayak, swim or walk along Manzanita Lake on the easy 2-mile loop path. You'll find stunning views of Lassen Peak from the lake's north shore.(15 min)

Across the street from the visitor center are two short, easy trails. One circles Reflection Lake and the other loops around Lily Pond. Grab one of the interpretive brochures for the Lily Pond Trail to learn more about the unique plants that live here.(30 min)

The Loomis Museum is where you'll find displays of volcanic rocks, B.F. Loomis' historic photographs and Selena LaMar's Atsugewi basketry. This is also where the rangers hang out, so bring your junior rangers here to earn their badges. The Loomis Museum was donated to Lassen Volcanic National Park by B.F. and Estella Loomis, two of the park's earliest advocates and supporters.(30 min)