Lassen Volcanic National Park

Pros: lots to do- hiking, boating, camping. Beautiful scenery
Cons: high altitude

When my boyfriend asked if I wanted to go to his grandparent's cabin over Memorial Day weekend, I was excited. A whole weekend away from my crazy family. No school, no work. We had big plans for heading up to Lassen Volcanic National Park and...

Pros: The Peak, bubbling mud, alpine lakes, trees, family recreation activities
Cons: High altitude, crowded in summer, big park means long distances

I've taken many vacations in California, but I'd never made it to Lassen National Park until late July 1999. Finally making it to the park was a revelation!

We didn't actually camp in the park itself. Rather, we stayed at a campground in...

Pros: Beautiful, less crowded
Cons: Noisy campers!

There's only one lodge in Lassen, the Drakesbad Guest Ranch. So, if you want to spend more than a day, you're probably going to camp. The campgrounds are only open in the summer, and don't take reservations. They typically open sometime in May, and stay...

Pros: Wild and scenic, unique hot thermal areas, NO crowds
Cons: Closed part of the year.

What's so great about Lassen Volcanic Park? For one, it's NOT crowded. Are
you used to traffic jams in Yosemite, and the sweet smell of motor home exhaust instead of the scent of fresh pine? Well, try Mt. Lassen for your next getaway...it's quiet,...

Pros: Stunning natural beauty, fascinating volcanic activity, well-maintained park grounds.
Cons: Could be very crowded in the summer.

I went on a 4-day trip to Lassen Volcanic Park over the Memorial Day weekend in 1999, and I had such an amazing time that I felt like I had discovered the place in the wilderness myself.

Nestled in 1,000,000 acres of untouched and lightly...

Pros: Wonderful place to camp, fish, hike , photograph or just to drive through!!
Cons: Some campgrounds are mosquito infested:((

Can a violent volcanic eruption which denudes the land of all forms of living beings, eventually end up as a beautiful national park full of lakes, waterfalls and huge meadows filled with brilliant colored flowers? Are the forces of nature so creative...

Pros: Beyond Beautiful, Pretty Much Empty
Cons: None that I can think of!

Lassen is quite likely THE undiscovered gem of California's national parks, and is in the running for the undiscovered gems of the entire country's parks. It's right off of a major interstate and exits to it are well marked, but NO ONE EVER GOES THERE....

Pros: beautiful alpine environment, pristine landscape, and breathtaking geothermal features
Cons: large, somewhat remote

Lassen is a true embodiment of Western adventure. Boiling geysers, jagged peaks, sheared rock faces looming in the wide expanse of mountain air--it really brings out the cowboy (or girl) in you. What makes this park so spectacular? It is the crossroads...

Pros: Spectacular scenery, interesting geological features, no crowds
Cons: Short season

If you want to experience all the wonders of a large National Park but could do without those large crowds, head for Lassen Volcanic National Park in Northeast California. It doesn't have the towering granite cliffs or thundering waterfalls of Yosemite...

Pros: Just beautiful and lots to do
Cons: None

I have visited Lassen Volcanic National Park several times when I was younger. I think my father preferred Lassen to Yosemite because it was less crowded and also near Burney Falls State Park, just a beautiful park in its own right.

Lassen is...

Pros: Few crowds, spectacular volcanic setting, variety of activities and scenery
Cons: None.

The hills in Lassen Park are indeed alive...they bubble, spit, hiss, and smell of sulfur, but that's only part of their allure.

Since Lassen, Yosemite, and Lake Tahoe are roughly 4-5 hours away from the San Francisco Bay Area, most choose to...

Pros: Beautiful Scenery, Small Crowds
Cons: none

For our July 4th holiday, my friend Cindi and I went to Lassen National Park in northeastern California, a place full of breathtaking vistas, tall mountains, inspiring hiking trails, and noxious sulfuric gasses that nearly made me puke.

It’s...

Pros: Fascinating scenery, clean air, geothermal action
Cons: High altitude, snow closes most of the park most of the year.

Summary: A National Park set up to preserve the results of a volcanic eruption in 1914 and 1915. The park also contains the geothermal area associated with the volcano. Cost: $10 for 7 days (A National Park Pass [$50] will admit you to ...

Pros: Quiet, peaceful, not crowded, scenic, interesting for kids
Cons: Kind of in the middle of nowhere

What's so great about Lassen Volcanic Park? For one, it's NOT crowded. Are you used to traffic jams in Yosemite? Well, try Mt. Lassen for your next getaway....it's quiet, peaceful, and boasts beautiful scenery. The campgrounds all have large spaces, many...

Pros: Mountains, mud pots, steam vents, general scenery, not crowded
Cons: None

I first visited Lassen in 1994 in late October and thought the place simply amazing. From the top of Mt Lassen you can see Mt Shasta to the North and miles after miles of amazing scenery in every direction.

In 2000 I had the chance to visit...