Lassen National Park Hydrothermal Areas
Here’s another great video by National Park Service
Whenever people think of California they associate it with cliché images of beaches, palms, warmth and the coast. Coastal access comprises a tiny fraction, only a sliver of all the land mass. Popularized by surfers, cinema industry and tourism the Pacific Ocean draws all the attention of the visitors.
The vastness of the state is mesmerizing once you become aware of what else California has to offer. Deserts and mountains are two other natural features strike a vivid images in minds whenever people fantasizing about the west coast.
California Volcanic country
California Volcanic country is something a few people even heard off. Today’s California Perspective if going to zoom in on one of the most famous Volcanoes in the northern part of states – Description Lassen Volcanic National Park is in northern California.
Don’t forget to bring the sled, even if it’s not winter. You’ll have a good chance of encountering enough snow for sledding even during spring or early falll
Btw, check out Mt. Shasta while in the area – this mini trip will totally worth your time! Don’t forget to swing by the Subway tunnel cave while exploring the National Forest.
California is not only earthquake country but also a Volcanic country. One of eight California Volcanoes – Lassen Volcanic park. The Volcano last erupted in 1917 and it’s been over a century since the devastating events of the last upsurge. Lassen Peak is at the top of volcano watch list, some even say it’s way overdue.
When to go visit Lassen National Park ?
We were fortunate enough to visit the Volcano during spring. One of my coworkers religiously travels to lake Manzanita to spend a week with his family every summer and wouldn’t recommend other seasons.
Speaking from experience, there’s a serious chance of road closures during the winter. So I would avoid colder month and obvious inquire about weather conditions.
Even though we went in the spring, most of the hiking trails were blocked by the snow and unfortunately we didn’t get to hike much, accept for the nearby Mt. Shasta. I wouldn’t recommend walking around on the snow, since it might cover dangerous sulfur fumaroles and other boiling cauldrons in the park, like “Bumpass hell” or “Emerald Lake”.
What’s so special about Lassen Park?
Lassen Park has some of the coolest geothermal features, which include three of the four geothermal features that exist: fumaroles (steam vents), boiling springs, and boiling mudpots.
Major attraction is located conveniently on the side of the main road (Hwy 89). The notorious Sulphur Works – a boiling mudpot five feet across that bubbles right next to sidewalk, you can literally touch it.
Here’s an intriguing history reference about ownership of the Lassen Pak land
In 1865, Mathias Supan, an entrepreneur from Austria, started a sulfur mining operation for a variety of products, including medicinal ones such as “Supan’s baby colic.” As sulfur mining became less profitable, the Supan family appealed to the tourist crowd with mineral baths, a restaurant, and a souvenir shop. The National Park Service acquired Sulphur Works in 1952 – 33 years after Lassen was designated as a national park – through a condemnation suit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice that allowed the government to pay the Supan family a court-determined price for the area.
Lassen National Park with kids
Well, it was one of our favorite and exhilarating experiences, knowing that the volcanoes can start erupting any second was pretty nerve tickling. Nevertheless, we’re glad that we made this far up north with our little dude.
Btw, it seemed like every family that came to visit had at least half a dozen kids with them. I guess it’s a pretty fascinating place to take your kids to. Enjoying some of the most surreal hiking grounds in all of the United States.
Good resources to explore before heading to Lassen Country
Josh McNair has some of the best write ups for the hikes located in Lassen Volcanic park. Check out this California Through My Lens posts.
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