Lassen Volcanic National Park

Mount Lassen is one of the few active volcanoes in North America. For thousands of years, the 11,500-foot Lassen Peak remained quiet – that is until 1914, when small eruptions provided the first warning signs of a major eruption. Just one year later, the pressure which had accumulated within the mountain caused a tremendous cloud of molten rock and burning ashes to be flung as high as 6 miles into the air. For half a decade, the volcano repeatedly ejected lava, and even today there is no guarantee that another eruption might not occur at any time.

The volcano is contained in a 105,00-acre protected area with many lakes, where camping, fishing and canoeing are permitted in some places. Fascinating trails of varying lengths traverse the park, and a number of vantage points along Lassen Park Road provide scenic views across a bizarre landscape of lava fields stretching all the way to the summit. Because of heavy snow, large sections of the road are closed from October to July.