Lassen Volcanic National Park covers 106,589 acres in California. It became a national park on August 9, 1916, the 11th of today’s 64 parks to get that title. It recorded 504,777 recreation visits in 2025, the 40th most of the 63 parks with a 2025 count.
Today at Lassen Volcanic
LiveLoading the forecast…
Checking park alerts…
Alerts: National Park Service, checked hourly. Forecast: National Weather Service, for Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center. Always confirm on the official park site before you set out.
In the park service’s words
Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to steaming fumaroles, meadows freckled with wildflowers, clear mountain lakes, and numerous volcanoes. Jagged peaks tell the story of its eruptive past while hot water continues to shape the land.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Entrance fee and passes
The standard entrance pass is $30 per vehicle. Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle. Valid for up to 7 consecutive days from day of purchase at Lassen Volcanic National Park. When entrance station is not staffed, digital passes may be purchased online at recreation.gov.
The $80 America the Beautiful pass for U.S. residents covers this fee and everyone in your car. It pays for itself after 3 visits at this price, and it is accepted at every national park.
Entrance is free for U.S. residents on the 2026 fee-free days.
Best time to visit
- Best time to visit Lassen Volcanic: June and August to October. The weather is at its most comfortable then, and crowds are lighter than at the peak.
- Busiest month: July, with about 106,704 visits in a typical recent year. That is 3.7 times as many as May.
- Quietest month: March (6,301 visits), when weather or closures keep most people away.
Bar height: visitors that month, compared with the busiest month. Temperatures: average daily high and low (°F); rain and snow: monthly averages. Best marks the months we suggest.
More detail: the best time to visit Lassen Volcanic, month by month.
Plan your visit
- Best time to visit: crowds and weather month by month
- Itinerary: ready-made plans for 1 to 3 days
- Things to do: 5 hikes and 11 other activities
- Camping, RVs and lodging: 10 campgrounds, 1 lodges
- Getting there: Nearest gas to Loomis Museum: Gas station (unnamed), 0.4 miles away. Closest airport Redding Municipal Airport (47 mi)
- Know before you go: safety, what to pack and what to leave at home
Popular hikes
- Hike to Bumpass Hell (90 Minutes): Hike the three-mile, round-trip trail to the largest hydrothermal area in the park.
- Hike to Kings Creek Falls (90 Minutes): The Kings Creek Falls trail leads to a large roaring waterfall draped in ferns and other green plants which thrive off the mist generated by the falls.
- Hike Lassen Peak (4 to 5 Hours): Hiking Lassen Peak
- Hike Reflection Lake Loop (15 to 30 Minutes): A short and relatively flat walk offers views of Lassen Peak and Chaos Crags volcanoes, often seen reflecting in the water. The trailhead is across the road from the Loomis Museum.
- Walk Manzanita Lake Trail (30 to 90 Minutes): Manzanita Lake Trail is an easy, mostly flat walk suitable for families with young children. It is not stroller-friendly. The walk offers scenic views of Lassen Peak and Chaos Crags volcanoes and birding and wildlife watching opportunities. The trail is popular for sunset viewing.
Webcams
Weather, in the park service’s words
The park service says:
Weather at Lassen can vary dramatically throughout the year. Average January temperatures are a high of 40.4 °F (4.7 °C) and a low of 20.8 °F (-6.2 °C). Average July temperatures are a high of 88.4 °F and a low of 49.8 °F. Temperatures reach 90 °F or higher on an average of 36.9 days, and drop to 32 ° or lower on an average of 164 days days annually.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Nearby national parks by road
- Redwood (California): about 4 h 25 min by car (216 miles)
- Crater Lake (Oregon): about 4 h 55 min by car (231 miles)
- Yosemite (California): about 6 h 30 min by car (296 miles)
- Pinnacles (California): about 6 h 45 min by car (342 miles)
Drive times run between the closest visitor centers of each pair, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads. Link several parks with the road trip planner.
Sources
Last checked 1 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter Lassen Volcanic National Park?
The standard entrance pass is $30 per vehicle. Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle. Valid for up to 7 consecutive days from day of purchase at Lassen Volcanic National Park. When entrance station is not staffed, digital passes may be purchased online at recreation.gov.
What state is Lassen Volcanic National Park in?
California.
When did Lassen Volcanic become a national park?
August 9, 1916.
How many people visit Lassen Volcanic?
504,777 recreation visits were counted in 2025.
When is the best time to visit Lassen Volcanic?
June and August to October. July is the busiest month and May the quietest while the park is fully open.
