Lassen Volcanic National Park

I had never heard of Lassen Volcanic Park, but it is quite beautiful. Located in Northern California in the most southern part of the Cascade Mountains, it consists of many dormant and at least one active volcano and thermal features such as fumuroles, mud pots, and hot spring. Although little known, it is like a small Yellowstone.

The Lassen volcano last erupted in 1915. Photos of the explosion were taken by a man standing 6 miles away using a camera that took plates of film. After the eruption, local citizens petitioned to make it a national park and so it became the 4th of its kind in the US.

I took a 3 mile hike along a mountain ridge and into the thermal areas.

pond in thermal area

hot spring

extinct volcano

Mud pot

hot spring

Lake Helen

Thermal creek

Creek in park