Lassen Volcanic National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour

By Shaka Guide Apps

Free cancellation available

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Features

Free cancellation available
9h
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Overview

Discover the geothermal wonders of Lassen Volcanic National Park with our exciting audio tour! Explore bubbling mud pots, steaming fumaroles, and the park’s majestic volcanic landscapes while our guides share fascinating stories about its volcanic history, unique geology, and diverse wildlife.

Learn about the forces that shaped this dynamic terrain and the science behind its geothermal features. Perfect for families, adventurers, and nature enthusiasts, our tour provides an educational and fun experience. Simply download, plug in your headphones, and embark on an unforgettable journey through the extraordinary Lassen Volcanic National Park!

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Activity location

Diamond Peak Scenic Vista
- 96061, Mineral, California, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

Shingletown
- 96088, Shingletown, California, United States

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Lassen Volcanic National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour in English

9h
Opening hours: Sat 00:00-23:30
English

Travellers

Language options: English

Price details

€14.81 x 1 Traveller€14.81

Total

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View the translated text (Finnish)

What's included, what's not

Tours NEVER expire
Freedom to explore at your own pace
Offline map (no wifi or data needed)
Turn-by-turn directions using GPS
Hours of audio narration with stories, travel tips and music
Audio narration that plays automatically as you drive
Meals and refreshment
Private Transport
Park Entrance Fee
Parking Fees

Know before you book

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Starting Points: Park's Northwest Entrance and Southwest Entrance
Travellers must have a smartphone compatible with the Shaka Guide app.
The app must be downloaded and the tour redeemed before arrival.
Strong Wi-Fi or cellular data is required to download the tour in advance.
Location services (GPS) must be enabled on the device
Travellers are responsible for securing any required entrance passes, reservations, or permits before starting
Park open 24/7 — facilities and roads have seasonal hours
Main road typically opens in July — check current conditions before visiting as popular trails like Bumpass Hell may stay closed longer due to snow
In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, activities services are not subject to the right of withdrawal. Supplier cancellation policy will apply.

Activity itinerary

Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center

Located near the park's south entrance, the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Centre features exhibits, a gift shop and cafe and bathrooms. You can also grab a trail map and chat with a ranger. The name of the visitor centre comes from the Mountain Maidu word Kohm Yah-mah-nee which means "snow mountain." It's the original name for the volcano we know today as Lassen Peak.

Sulphur Works

Sulphur Works is one of the park's colourful hydrothermal features that you can see right from the road. Take the paved walkway to view steam vents, a boiling mudpot and a landscape tinged yellow, orange and red from mineral deposits. Remember to tap the map marker to listen to the bonus storey "The Aroma of a Volcano" to learn more about this fascinating place!

Diamond Peak Scenic Vista

From the small pullout beneath Diamond Peak, you can see Brokeoff Mountain to the west, Lassen Peak to the north and acres and acres of forest land burned in the 2021 Dixie Fire. The overlook is located at a bend in the road, so use caution when entering and exiting.

Emerald Lake

Emerald Lake gets its name from its striking green colour which comes from vegetation that grows in the shallow water. In the 1930s, park rangers stocked this lovely roadside gem with large rainbow trout. Today, the lake no longer has fish, but its stunning green colour still makes a great photo op!

Bumpass Hell

1h 30m

The three-mile return trek to Bumpass Hell leads to the park's largest hydrothermal area, boasting16 acres of boiling springs, mud pots and roaring fumaroles! The biggest steam vent, named Big Boiler, is one of the hottest fumaroles in the world--reaching over 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

Lake Helen

Lake Helen was named after Helen Brodt, the first white woman to summit Lassen Peak back in 1864. This deep blue lake is nestled at the foot of Lassen Peak and reflects the snowcapped mountain above. Feel free to dip your toes or even go for a swim. But be warned that the lake's crystal clear water is extremely cold!

Lassen Peak Trail

Pull into the large parking area for a view of the world's largest plug dome volcano and namesake of this park. You can even climb to the top of this sleeping 10,500-ft volcano! With an elevation gain of almost 2,000 feet, the trail is not for the faint of heart. If you’re interested in tackling this 5 mile-round trip hike, make sure to read the safety information at the trailhead. Pay close attention to what it says about altitude sickness.

Kings Creek Picnic Area

The Kings Creek Picnic Area is located in a wildflower meadow and is a nice place to take a break and have some lunch. You'll find picnic tables and pit toilets. The picnic area also features an easy 1.5-mile return trail to an unusual hydrothermal feature called Cold Boiling Lake. Unlike other hot spots in the park, here you can see gas bubbling up through cold water along the shoreline of this pretty lake.

Kings Creek Falls

The moderate 3-mile hike to Kings Creek Falls features a spectacular 30-foot cascades. Much of the forest was burned during the Dixie Fire, but life is already beginning to return. Keep your eyes open for wildflowers in the meadows and other evidence of rebirth. There is limited roadside parking. If you cannot find a spot, we recommend you try again later or skip this hike and do the one to Paradise Meadows instead.

Paradise Meadow Trailhead

Paradise Meadows is a hidden gem tucked away on the northeast side of Lassen Peak. The moderate three-mile return hike follows Hat Creek up through a beautiful forest to a large basin surrounded by steep cliffs. Nestled in the basin is an enchanting wildflower meadow that looks straight out of a fairytale. Along the way, you’ll pass a few waterfalls and catch glimpses of Lassen Peak through the trees. With an elevation gain of 700 feet, be prepared to do a fair bit of climbing. But the heavenly views at the end are so worth it!

Devastated Area Loop Trail

The blast zone from Lassen Peak's 1915 eruption is known as the Devastated Area. After the blast, this entire forest was levelled and turned into a grey desolate wasteland. But today, the name Devastated Area no longer matches what you'll see. Over the past century, nature has been hard at work, reclaiming the landscape and breathing new life into a once-desolate area. Plants have risen from the ashes, and wildlife has returned. It’s a testimony of Nature’s power to destroy–and to restore. Take the short, interpretive walk through the Devastated Area. You'll find picnic tables and bathrooms here as well.

Hot Rock

Pull over to the side of the road and get a photo of the 30-ton boulder named Hot Rock. During one of Lassen's big eruptions, this giant lava boulder ejected out of the magma chamber and flew down the mountain in a rock avalanche to its final resting place here--five miles away! A few days later, local photographer B.F. Loomis snapped a picture of the rock. Because it was still steaming and hot to the touch, he named it Hot Rock. You can see Loomis' historic photograph of Hot Rock in the Loomis Museum.

Chaos Crags Trail

Turn into the pullout for a view of Chaos Crags and Chaos Jumbles--two more volcanic features that tell of the region's fiery past. Chaos Crags are plug dome volcanoes, just like Lassen Peak, except they’re very jagged. On the other hand, Chaos Jumbles are the acres of volcanic rocks strewn about between the crags and Manzanita Lake.

Manzanita Lake

The Manzanita Lake Area features the Loomis Museum, a gift shop, bathrooms, a few lakeside trails and a campground. It's a great place to get your bearings if you enter the park from the north. And it's also a fun place to just kickback, relax and hang out for the afternoon. You can rent a kayak, swim or walk along Manzanita Lake on the easy 2-mile loop path. You'll find stunning views of Lassen Peak from the lake's north shore.

Reflection Lake

Across the street from the visitor centre are two short, easy trails. One circles Reflection Lake and the other loops around Lily Pond. Grab one of the interpretive brochures for the Lily Pond Trail to learn more about the unique plants that live here.

Loomis Museum

The Loomis Museum is where you'll find displays of volcanic rocks, B.F. Loomis' historic photographs and Selena LaMar's Atsugewi basketry. This is also where the rangers hang out, so bring your junior rangers here to earn their badges. The Loomis Museum was donated to Lassen Volcanic National Park by B.F. and Estella Loomis, two of the park's earliest advocates and supporters.

Location

Activity location

Diamond Peak Scenic Vista
- 96061, Mineral, California, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

Shingletown
- 96088, Shingletown, California, United States

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