Lassen Volcanic National Park

Click Here For Full Screen Photo Slideshow

Here is another trip with some of my best photos from the Pre-Blog days:

In late June of 2005, my father and I camped for 4 days in Lassen Volcanic National Park. It is a remarkably beautiful park and rich with history of one of only two volcanoes to have erupted in recent geologic times in the continental US. It also has all the facilities of a well-funded National Park (good trails, rangers, visitors centers, campgrounds, etc) without the usual throngs of visitors you contend with at most National Parks, like Yosemite.

Late June is probably one of the best times to go, since the park has been snowbound for the entire winter and it's not very crowded. Again, crowded is a relative term. By then, the snow has cleared out of the campground area, but you can still experience it at the upper elevations. You can climb to the peak of Lassen, though it's an all-day affair. It's do-able by non-mountaineers (no ice axes required).

Fishing was fairly good at Manzanita Lake and various small streams throughout the park. My dad and I did some bushwhacking to get back to some of the streams and were rewarded with a few small, but beautiful fish.

Sorry for the abbreviated trip report, but this was almost three years ago and my memory isn't as good as it used to be. I definitely recommend Lassen for anyone who has never been. It's truly one of the forgotten jewels of our National Park system.

Mike's Recommendations (if you decide to visit):

• Best Time To Visit: I recommend late June, as that's when we went. Crowds are relatively light and it's a good mix of snow at the higher levels and no snow in the campground. However, in a really good snow year, all parts of the park may not be open by then (so there is some risk).
  


• Camping: We stayed in the Manzanita Lake campgrounds, which were some of the nicest we've ever stayed in. Highly recommend that as a good launch point for all park activities.
  


• Bears: There are bears in the parks, though not as many as in Yosemite and other parks. Precautions are still recommended (and bear lockers are provided).
  


• Fishing: Special regulations apply to Manzanita Lake: within 150 of the Manzanita Creek inlet is closed to fishing, the rest of the lake is catch and release only; artificial lures and single, barbless hooks must be used. Manzanita Creek is closed above Manzanita Lake year-round.
  

Enjoy the photos and let me know if you have any questions!

------------------------------------------

Click Here For Full Screen Slideshow (recommended)

Individual Photos (33 photos)

Driving Directions (courtesy of Google Maps)

Lassen Volcanic National Park Web Site

Note: To use any photo as a screen background: 1) Go to Individual Photos link above 2) Go to that individual photo , 3) Click on the magnifying glass in upper right corner, then 4) Right-click and set as your background.