Lassen Volcanic National Park

A comfy campout with 2 to 5 mile hikes

Driving to and sleeping at a campground

Ideal for first-timers

Places we've visited and fallen in love with

Funky fumaroles and bubbling lakes at Lassen Volcanic National Park

Yvonne Leow

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Last updated

August 3, 2024

Trip · 3-day camping trip

For · Friends and new campers

Vibe · Relaxing and chill

Reservations · Yes, reserve a spot at Manzanita Lake Campground

Drive · 4 hours from SF

Ideal dates · June to October

Pets · Welcome at camp, but not on trails

Lassen Volcanic National Park (LVNP) is an under-rated geological gem. It's never as crowded as Yosemite, and every rock in the park is made from volcanoes. You can find all four types -- shield, composite, cinder cone, and plug dome volcanoes -- within the park, as well as "fumaroles," which are cracks in the Earth’s surface that emit steam and volcanic gases. Pretty rad, right? ‍

Official National Park Website

Latest Park Road and Trail Conditions

LVNP Trail Map

Directions To Park

Main image credit: Patrick Bosiger

Prep Itinerary Gear Food

Stuff to know

LVNP has a 7-day vehicle entrance fee for $30
Always buy firewood locally!
Print or bring a screenshot of your campsite reservation
Bring some cash just in case
Be bear aware! LVNP is a year-round home to black bears. Pack food, trash, drinks and scented items in your campsite's storage locker when you're away and/or catching some zzz's.
Face masks and social distancing are required. Recreate responsibly!

Resources

How to build and clean up a campfire

Check the weather

Where to camp

Manzanita Lake Campground

Each campsite comes with a:

Picnic table
Food storage locker (for bearz)
Fire ring and grate
Two parking spots
Enough space for about three tents

Manzanita Lake Campground is decked with restrooms, hot showers, drinking water, a dump station, camp store (that sells ice and firewood), and a laundromat on site. You can reserve a campsite for tents, trailers, and RVs, along with group campsites and rustic camping cabins. Make a reservation ASAP! Campsites do get swooped up between June and September.

Manzanita Lake Campground Map

Nightly Fee: $26

Reserve your campsite

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Itinerary

Day One

Depart SF by 11 AM and swing by The Hive Kitchen and Bar for lunch

Located at 730 6th Street in Orland, CA
Locals love their live bee hive, fresh honey, and breakfast menu
Open Tuesdays to Sundays, 11 AM to 9 PM
Last pit stop: Antelope Valero - 615 Antelope Blvd, Red Bluff, CA

Arrive at Lassen Volcanic National Park

Enter LVNP's Southwest Entrance via Hwy 89
Pay $30 for a 7-day vehicle entrance fee
Drive to Bumpass Hell Trail (it's typically open from June to October, but check LVNP's website.) It's a 3-mile round-trip hike to the largest hydrothermal area in the park.

Cruise along LVNP's Scenic Highway

It's a 30-mile, hour-long drive (without stops) to Manzanita Lake, but check out some roadside highlights, like Lassen Peak Viewpoint, along the way.

Check-in at Manzanita Lake Campground

Settle in and set up camp!

Enjoy dinner, roast s'mores, and stargaze

The park is named after Peter Lassen, a Danish-American pioneer, who guided settlers to nearby towns in the 1800's.

Day Two

Wide view of Manzanita Lake — Manzanita Lake. Credit: Pam Riches

Sleep-in!

Make brunch and pack an afternoon picnic
Bring a daypack, blanket, food, and drinks

Or if you're an early bird, hike Manzanita Lake Loop

An easy 1.9 mile loop around the entire lake

Later, trek Chaos Crags Trail

A moderate 4-mile, out and back trail packed with beautiful views of the park
Enjoy your picnic lunch at the top

Return to camp

Unwind, clean-up, and hang out around camp

Sunset dinner

Prep a hot meal and bring your camp chairs for a lakeside meal

Campfire and s'mores

Stay up stargazing and cap the evening off with another round of s'mores

The Lassen area used to be a meeting point for four American Indian groups: Atsugewi, Yana, Yahi and Maidu.

Day Three

Sulphur Works in Lassen Volcanic National Park — Sulphur Works. Credit: Priya Karkare

Make brunch and clean up around camp

Pack up and pack out

Load up the car and drive back towards Kohn Yah-Mah-Nee Visitor Center

Stop by Sulphur Works

Before you reach the visitor center, drop by Sulphur Works, a .6 mile out and back trail to boiling mudpots and hissing steam vents. It's LVNP's most easily accessible hydrothermal area.