LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK

Currently in Red Bluff CA (Low 55 Sunny Currently 62)
Heading Today to Ashland OR (Partly Sunny High 84) 

Lassen Volcanic National Park is an amazing National Park. We like to find the unique and Lassen is unique from the standpoint that it is one of the few spots in the entire world where you can see all 4 different kinds of volcanoes. Lassen is also incredibly scenic as you will see.

The road in gets real scenic.

At the visitor center you can see exhibits and a great film about the 4 types; shield, composite, cinder cone, and plug dome. We think that is Mount Diller in the distance, a remnant of an ancient composite volcano (aka stratovolcanco).

Lassen Peak erupted last in 1915, it was the first volcanic eruption caught on film, so you are in an active volcanic area that includes hydrothermal areas like Sulphur Works. There are numerous other areas like this in the park.

Here is the view from the Sulphur Works towards the valley and if you look closely at the rock on the side you will see steam rising from the hydrothermal area there. This is also our best shot of the painted dunes that are present in the area.

Here is Lassen Peak as we drive further into the park. Lassen Peak is one of the world's largest plug dome volcanoes.

The higher elevations of the park, the summit we drove over was 8511 feet, have snow year round. Here is the road showing snow on both sides.

Unfortunately due to the snow we could not get a good picture of the emerald blue lakes, Emerald Lake and Helen Lake.

Here is Emerald Lake and you can barely see the blue at the shore.

Here is Lassen Peak from the Helen Lake area.

If you zoom in on the mountain here is a rock formation that is called Vulcan's Eye on Lassen Peak, the Roman god watching his handiwork.

Here is Lassen Peak in the distance with Helen Lake below and the blue at the shoreline.

Here are a couple of shots showing the landscape and the various peaks in this volcanic field.

Lassen Volcanic National Park has it all, great scenery, bubbling mud, snow covered peaks, painted dunes, waterfalls, etc. and is well worth the trip.

We head off today to the Emigrant Lake Recreation Area campground near Ashland Oregon for a week. We are looking forward to the cooler temperatures in Oregon.

Till next time,

Bob and Jo