Lassen Volcanic National Park, California: Snow, Fire, and Lakes

The day we drove to Redding, California to visit Lassen Volcanic National Park was very hot. It was over 105°F and more than once I asked myself, "Why are we heading to a place called "Volcano" in the middle of summer?" Just thinking about the name made me sweat.

Our plan was to follow the 30-mile Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway, a scenic auto tour connecting the southwest and northwest entrances. We entered from the southwest, stopping first at the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center to catch the park film and grab a map. Inside, we learned the park sits at the intersection of four types of volcanoes — and how drastically the landscape was reshaped by the 2021 Dixie Fire, which burned about 70% of the park.

Our first stop: Sulphur Works, where we walked a short boardwalk and saw boiling mud pots releasing steam and pungent smells. A reminder that the earth here is very much alive.

At a pullout near Diamond Peak, we got a clear view of Lassen Peak, surrounded by scorched trees still recovering from the fire. But among the blackened trunks, green shoots of resilience were already making a comeback.

We were surprised to see that Emerald Lake was still partly frozen — even in late June. Snow draped over the lake’s edge like frosting, but the center had melted just enough to reveal its namesake color. The snow continued along the first half of the auto tour, and we were stunned to learn that Bumpass Hell Trail was still closed due to deep snow accumulation — even on June 28, 2025.

Just below Lassen Peak, Lake Helen stopped us in our tracks. It shimmered like a giant color chart from a paint store — every shade of icy blue you could imagine. The water was over 100 feet deep, cold, and clear as glass.

By mid-afternoon, we reached Manzanita Lake, where we gratefully claimed a shaded picnic table near the boat launch and enjoyed a sandwich lunch. Manzanita is a hub for campers, canoers, and kayakers — and judging by the rustling behind the trees, maybe even a few curious animals.

We wrapped up our visit with a leisurely walk around the 1.7-mile Manzanita Lake Loop, a peaceful trail with beautiful views of Lassen Peak reflected in the water.

As we drove out of the park, I kept thinking about the contrast: snow in summer, fire scars beside new life, volcanoes both dangerous and beautiful. Lassen isn’t a gaudy park — it’s quiet, raw, and honest. A little like the kind of travel we’re learning to love.