Lassen is California's most underrated backpacking park: active hydrothermal fields, cinder cones, pristine lakes, and almost no one around.
Lassen Volcanic is California's most underrated national park for backpacking. This traverse crosses active hydrothermal areas, cinder cone volcanos, and pristine lakes. Almost nobody around. The geology alone makes it worthwhile, but the solitude is the real selling point. While everyone fights for Sierra permits, Lassen sits wide open.
Start: Kings Creek Trailhead
End: Kings Creek Trailhead
Water: Kings Creek, Swan Lake, Twin Lakes, Rainbow Lake
Descend 4.5 miles past Kings Creek Falls to Summit Creek, then head northeast on the PCT past Swan and Twin Lakes to Rainbow Lake. Several nice campsites along the shore.
Water: Rainbow Lake, Snag Lake
Leave camp intact and day hike to the Cinder Cone and Snag Lake. Steep sandy ascent to the Cinder Cone rim, then traverse the Painted Dunes and Fantastic Lava Beds to Snag Lake and back.
Water: Twin Lakes, Echo Lake, Summit Lake, stream east of Cliff Lake
Return past Twin Lakes, Echo Lake, and Summit Lake. Cross Highway 89 and climb 2 miles to the meadow east of Cliff Lake. Note: no camping within 0.25 miles of Cliff Lake — use the nearby stream for water.
Water: Shadow Lake, Cliff Lake, streams
Climb west past Cliff Lake and Shadow Lake to Highway 89, then descend 2.5 miles along the road back to Kings Creek TH. Drop your pack and day hike the Bumpass Hell hydrothermal area (~6 miles RT) — boardwalks through active hot springs and fumaroles.
Lassen Peak summit (separate day hike), Brokeoff Mountain
Highway 89 must be open (typically late May - Jul); free self-registration permits; less crowded than Sierra; unique volcanic scenery
You must be signed in to download. GPX downloads are tracked to measure how often routes are used.