Lassen Archives - Active NorCal

Nov- 2019 -

9 November

Destinations

An Underground Adventure in Lassen’s Subway Cave

Sitting in the Lassen National Forest is the Subway Cave, a beautiful cave formed thousands of years ago by flowing…

5 November

History

The Legend of Old Shavehead – The Lassen Native American Known for Murdering Samuel Burney

As written in the book California’s Best Fly Fishing Old Shavehead. Photo: California State University, Chico While geologists estimate that…

Oct- 2019 -

14 October

Destinations

Hiking to Bumpass Hell in Lassen Volcanic National Park

Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of the best kept secrets in Northern California, as its a hotbed of volcanic…

Sep- 2019 -

30 September

Lassen

Lassen National Park Highway Closed Due to Snowy Conditions

Lassen Volcanic National Park received a rare snowstorm this past weekend, resulting in multiple inches of snow accumulation throughout the…

30 September

Lassen

Lassen Park is Looking Like a Winter Paradise Right Now

As the clouds clear on the rare September snowstorm that swept through Northern California this week, the mountains are already…

30 September

Lassen

Snowstorm Blankets Northern California Mountains with More on the Way

As the summer season winds down in Northern California, it seems like we may just skip the fall season entirely.…

27 September

Lassen

What Month is It?! Snow Forecast for Northern California Mountains this Weekend

Although summer just officially ended on September 23rd, it’s beginning to feel like winter in Northern California. We’ve already seen…

19 September

Destinations

Outside Magazine Lists the Best Hikes in Northern California National Parks

A list of the best hikes in every National Park in America was recently compiled by Outside Magazine, including the…

15 September

Destinations

Following 17-Month Closure, Lassen’s Bumpass Hell Trailhead Reopens to the Public

Bumpass Hell, Lassen Volcanic National Park. Flickr/J. Philipp Krone On Friday, September 13th, Lassen Volcanic National Park officials brought joy…

6 September

Destinations

Lassen’s Famed Bumpass Hell Trailhead Set to Reopen to the Public

Photo: Lassen Volcanic National Park In April of 2018, Lassen Volcanic National Park officials closed the trailhead for its famed…

4 September

History

Video Explores the Human History of Lassen Volcanic National Park

In an installment of Lassen NPS’s video newsletter, Lassen Peek, they give a brief introduction to the human history of the…

Aug- 2019 -

29 August

Lassen

Lassen National Forest Announces Seasonal Campground Closure Dates

Photo: Lassen National Forest The Lassen National Forest’s Almanor Ranger District announces seasonal campgrounds and day-use areas closures beginning September…

27 August

Destinations

The Stunning Hike to Kings Creek Falls in Lassen Volcanic National Park

We made the short trek from Redding, California to Lassen Volcanic National park to see one of the premiere destinations…

24 August

Lassen

Volunteers Needed to Preserve the Historic Harkness Peak Fire Lookout in Lassen Park

Although most historic fire lookouts aren’t in service anymore, Lassen Volcanic National Park still has a working and is looking…

23 August

Lassen

Officials Monitoring Lightning-Ignited Wildfire in Lassen Volcanic National Park

The Red Fire in Lassen Volcanic National Park. Photo by National Park Service. A lightning bolt has ignited a small…

23 August

Destinations

7 Exhilarating Summit Hikes Around Redding, California

Brought to you by Visit Redding Photo of Chip O’Brien on the Summit of Mt. Shasta “Doubly happy,” said John…

21 August

Lassen

Nostalgic Northern California National Park Posters to Hang in your Home

Rob Decker grew up in the Bay Area and found a love for National Parks at a young age. He…

20 August

Destinations

Lassen Volcanic National Park Named ‘Yosemite Without the Crowds’ by Reader’s Digest

You don’t hear about Lassen Volcanic National Park when the top national parks in the United States are discussed, and…

12 August

Lassen

Hailstorm Blankets Lassen Volcanic National Park During its Busy Birthday Weekend

Facebook/Lassen Volcanic National Park It was supposed to be a busy weekend in Lassen Volcanic National Park. On Lassen’s 103rd…

7 August

Lassen

Trail Cam Footage Shows Lassen Pack Pups Howling in NorCal Wilderness

It was recently announced that the Lassen Pack, California’s only known wolfpack, welcomed a litter of three new pups. While…

6 August

Destinations

Celebrate Lassen’s Birthday with 2-Day Event in the Park – Discover Lassen

Lassen Volcanic National Park turns 103-years-old this week and the only way to celebrate this milestone is to head up…

Jul- 2019 -

30 July

Lassen

Millions of Butterflies Have Arrived on Lassen Peak for Yearly Migration

Every year in the fall, Lassen Peak is bombarded by millions of California Tortoiseshell Butterflies during their yearly migration. This…

30 July

Lassen

Harmful Algae Blooms Have Turned Lassen’s Willow Lake ‘Pea Soup’ Green

Willow Lake has turned green due to the toxic algae blooms. Photo by Craig Hemping, Lassen National Forest. Located between…

30 July

Events

Explore the Cosmos at Lassen’s Dark Sky Festival this Weekend

Flickr/LassenNPS Friday through Saturday, August 2-3, 2019Join park rangers, astronomers, and astrobiologists in celebrating all that is out of this…

29 July

Destinations

Discover a Wildlife Utopia at Lassen’s Manzanita Lake

Sitting right outside Redding, California is one of the most underrated National Parks in the United States – Lassen Volcanic National Park.…

27 July

Destinations

The 8 Best Adventures in Lassen Volcanic National Park

Brought to you by Visit Redding Photo: Joe Parks Sitting right outside Redding, California is one of the most underrated…

26 July

Events

REI Offering a Women’s Campout in Lassen Volcanic National Park

Photo: REI REI has been expanding its services for women. With their recent release of Sierra Women’s Campouts, they will…

14 July

Lassen

Lassen’s Famed Wolfpack Grows with a New Litter of Pups

Trail Camera of the Lassen Pack The Lassen Pack, California’s only known wolfpack, has grown recently with the announcement of…

Jun- 2019 -

6 June

Lassen

Lassen’s Manzanita Creek Trail Temporarily Closed Due to Bear Activity

Lassen Volcanic National Park announced Thursday that it has temporarily closed Manzanita Creek Trail due to bear activity. The bear…

3 June

Lassen

Stunning Footage Captured of Lightning Exploding Tree in Lassen Park

Thunderstorms have been prevalent throughout Northern California the past week and a stunning video captured in the Lassen Park’s Kohm…

May- 2019 -

14 May

Lassen

Lassen Park Officials Measure 28-Foot Snow Walls During Road Clearing Efforts

The road clearing in Lassen Volcanic National Park continues as officials are beginning to realize just how big the snow…

2 May

Lassen

New Book Highlights the Compelling Geologic Story of Lassen

Named for Kendall Vanhook Bumpass, a Lassen Country settler and prospector from the mid-1800s, Bumpass Hell encompasses 16 acres and…

2 May

Lassen

Fisherman Cited for 10 Times the Legal Limit of Trout in Plumas County

On Sunday, April 28, a concerned angler called in a tip to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife after…

Apr- 2019 -

26 April

Lassen

Lassen Park Road Opened to Devastated Area, Crews Reach Sulphur Works

Road crew begins removing snow from the park highway outside the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center When the springtime hits Lassen Volcanic…

23 April

Destinations

Hiking Lassen’s Cinder Cone is Hard but the Views are Incredible

My first attempt to hike Cinder Cone this summer did not go as planned, as I ended up getting stuck…

16 April

Lassen

Bumpass Hell will Remain Closed when Lassen Park Opens for Summer Season

Photo: National Park Service In April of 2018, Lassen Volcanic National Park officials closed the trailhead for its famed hydrothermal…

16 April

Lassen

Lassen Man Convicted in California’s Largest Ever Poaching Case

A Northern California man has plead guilty of poaching more than 150 protected birds in Lassen County and has been…

5 April

Lassen

The Massive Snow Removal Operation at Lassen Park is Underway

When the springtime hits Lassen Volcanic National Park, park officials begin the massive undertaking of trying to clear the snow off…

Mar- 2019 -

23 March

Hikes

13 Snowshoe Hikes in Lassen Volcanic National Park

A snowshoer waves on a ranger-led snowshoe walk through the red fir forest. Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of…

21 March

Lassen

Winter Returns: Up to Four Feet of Snow Expected in NorCal this Week

With NorCal’s record snowfall of February in the rearview mirror, March has recently seen a long span of spring weather…

15 March

Lassen

Lassen Volcano Adventure Camp Open to Youth Group Applications

Photo: National Park Service Lassen Volcanic National Park and its partner Lassen Park Foundation invite youth groups to plan their…

9 March

Lassen

NorCal’s Shingletown Tops CalFire’s List of Wildfire Vulnerable Communities

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection submitted a 45-Day Report to Governor Gavin Newsom that outlines 35 fuel-reduction…

Feb- 2019 -

28 February

Lassen

Researchers Recapture Rare Red Foxes in Lassen Volcanic National Park

Photo: Lassen Volcanic National Park State wildlife biologists in Lassen Volcanic National Park have been trying to learn about the…

Jan- 2019 -

16 January

Lassen

Piles of Broken Sleds, Trash Found at Lassen’s Eskimo Pass

The government shutdown continues to cary a negative effect on the public lands of Northern California. The stories have circulated…

14 January

Lassen

Blizzard Watch: Nearly 10 Feet of Snow Forecast for NorCal Mountains this Week

After the New Year, Department of Water Resources officials measured a low snowpack in the Sierra Nevada, showing the snowpack…

13 January

Lassen

Lassen Park Announces Limited Reopening Amidst Government Shutdown

The record-breaking government shutdown, which began on December 22nd, has taken its toll on National Parks. Most Northern California National…

6 January

Lassen

See the Snow-Covered Road Conditions From All Over Northern California

The first winter storm of 2019 has arrived in Northern California, and boy is it a doozy! Some summits have…

5 January

Lassen

UPDATE: Lassen Could Receive Nearly 6-Feet of Snow this Weekend

On Friday, we wrote about how the storm coming into Northern California could produce up to four feet of snow…

4 January

Lassen

Winter Storm Watch: Up to 4-Feet of Snow Forecast for NorCal this Weekend

Lassen’s Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center Christmas brought Northern California a hefty gift in 2018, delivering over a foot of snow over…

2 January

Destinations

Chaos, Lava and Snow – A Winter Trip to Lassen’s Crags Lake

By Ryan Loughrey For an area replete with unattractive names, the trail to Crags Lake is filled with beauty. Last…

Dec- 2018 -

28 December

Hikes

Meeting a Distant Giant: A Ranger-Guided Snowshoe Tour of Lassen

By Ross Lawrence Photo: National Park Service Cruising east down State Highway 36 from Redding, I got the sense that…

9 December

Lassen

Lassen Park has A LOT of Snow Right Now

It’s official. Since the storms moved in on Thanksgiving and have continued to dump on the Northern California ever since,…

8 December

Lassen

Rare Photos Of Snow-Covered Cinder Cone & Lava Beds Captured in Lassen Park

Ever wanted to know what Lassen Volcanic National Park’s Cinder Cone and Lava Beds look like underneath several feet of…

7 December

Destinations

A Snowshoeing Adventure Around Lassen’s Manzanita Lake

Photo by Darlene M. Koontz By Ryan Loughrey Despite the current sunny weather, this most recent storm imbued Northern California with…

Nov- 2018 -

27 November

Lassen

A Winter Exploration of Lassen’s Subway Cave

By Ryan Loughrey It is one of the locations that is close enough to make a day trip, and one…

Sep- 2018 -

28 September

Lassen

Lassen Man Arrested in California’s Largest Ever Poaching Case

After following an anonymous tip, Game Warden Todd Kinnard visited an 80-acre property in the Lassen County town of Standon,…

14 September

Hikes

The Full-Moon Hike to the Top of Lassen Peak

By Frances Griffey In Northern California, we’re surrounded by nature. Trees, mountains and wildlife flourish under the NorCal sun. But…

12 September

Lassen

After a Decade, Researchers Finally Caught a Red Fox in Lassen. Then They Caught Another One Three Weeks Later.

On March 6th, a 10-pound female red fox walked into a box trap near Manzanita Lake in Lassen Volcanic National…

9 September

Destinations

A Harrowing Journey into the Haunted Caribou Wilderness

“AAAAAAUUUUAAAACK… AAAAAAUUUUAAAACK…” My eyes opened the size of softballs and the sleeping bag I’d been dozing in nearly lifted off…

Aug- 2018 -

11 August

Destinations

9 Family-Friendly Camping Spots in Northern California

The insistent bzzzzzzzz of a mosquito roused me from sleep, but my eyes refused to open in hopes it would…

3 August

Hikes

Weekend in Lassen – Exploring Cold Boiling Lake and Kings Creek Falls

By Ryan Loughrey Lassen Park offer a bounty of opportunities of exploration. Although I feel I’ve explored a good amount,…

2 August

Events

Lassen’s 2018 Dark Sky Festival This Weekend

Friday through Saturday, August 3-4, 2018 Join park rangers, astronomers, and astrobiologists in celebrating all that is out of this…

Jul- 2018 -

10 July

Destinations

5 Tips for Hiking Lassen’s Brokeoff Mountain

By Ryan Loughrey Brokeoff Mountain in Lassen National Park is notorious for being one of the most difficult hikes in…

2 July

Destinations

The Desolate Hike to Lassen’s Mill Creek Falls

By Ryan Loughrey Now that the road through Lassen National Park is open, Kiva and I decided to hike a…

Jun- 2018 -

29 June

Outdoors

My Northern California Summer Bucket List

By Ryan Loughrey The sun has inspired me to start thinking more about summer. One of the activities I am…

28 June

Lassen

Lassen Peak is Sinking and Scientists Don’t Know Why

A paper written by Amy Parker in the Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research shows that Lassen Peak has been sinking since…

14 June

History

Capturing History: 10 Mind-Blowing Photos from the Lassen Peak Eruption

When Lassen Peak Erupted in 1914, there were no advanced photographical instruments. There were no DSLR’s or drones or GoPro’s,…

13 June

Lassen

Discover the Hydrothermal Areas of Lassen Volcanic National Park

It’s been a hundred years since Lassen Peak’s last eruption, but evidence of its violent volcanic potential still pervades Lassen Volcanic National…

11 June

Lassen

Lassen’s Jot Dean Ice Cave – A Cool Summer Getaway

By Ryan Loughrey The Jot Dean Cave is easy to get to, although it doesn’t have a set trail or…

11 June

History

What’s in a Name? The Story Behind Hat Creek

Names almost always make for a good story, and Hat Creek is no exception. Of course, not everyone may agree that…

7 June

History

“Boys, I Have Been in Hell” The History of Lassen’s Bumpass Hell

Bumpass Hell is a popular destination for people traveling through Lassen Volcanic National Park. Lassen is chock-full of hydrothermal activity,…

6 June

Lassen

Fishing Hat Creek – Tip Your Hat to Great Fishing

By Chip O’Brien Talking about fishing Hat Creek as if it were one, homogeneous fishery is like saying all California…

6 June

History

A History of Lassen Park in Photos

Lassen Volcanic National Park’s history is fascinating, from the eruption of Lassen Peak to the naming of Hat Creek to…

5 June

History

The Story of Lassen’s Ishi – The Last “Wild” Native American

It was August 19, 1911, when an unknown, “wild’ man emerged from the wilderness near Lassen Peak and into the…

2 June

Wildlife

Watch as Millions of Butterflies Fly over Lassen Peak During Yearly Migration

If you hiked to the summit of Lassen Peak in the Fall, you were probably one of the lucky visitors to…

1 June

History

The Heartwarming Story of President JFK Feeding Deer in Lassen Volcanic National Park in his Pajamas

When President John F. Kennedy visited Northern California in 1963, just months before his assassination, he made the rounds to…

May- 2018 -

30 May

Outdoors

The 6 Best Places to Camp in Northern California

It’s that time of the year again. It’s time to pop-up your tents, put on your mosquito repellent and sleep…

30 May

Lassen

Did You Know There is More Than One Volcano in Lassen Volcanic National Park?

Did you know that Lassen Peak is not the only volcano in Lassen Volcanic National Park? While it is certainly…

29 May

Lassen

Lassen Peak Ranked As Top 10 Summit Hike In U.S.

Sitting on the eastern side of Northern California lies our beloved Lassen Peak, an active volcano sitting in the middle…

28 May

Destinations

Climbing a Volcano: Hiking to the Summit of Lassen Peak

It’s hard to beat the experience you get when you’re standing at the summit of a significant mountain, especially when…

22 May

Destinations

The Short Hike To Lassen’s Kings Creek Falls

The trail to Kings Creek Falls in Lassen Volcanic National Park probably sees more hikers than any other route in the…

17 May

Lassen

Lassen Park Highway Opening Date Announced!

Great news from Lassen Volcanic National Park! They have announced that they’ve finished clearing the park highway of snow and…

16 May

Lassen

Rolling Through the Remote Ishi Wilderness – A Photo Essay

By Ryan Loughrey After visiting the Ishi Wilderness, it is easy to see how little effort it would take…

14 May

Lassen

The Tricky Trek to the Summit of Lassen’s Cinder Cone

Lassen Volcanic National Park can be accurately described as both a geologist’s wonderland and an adventurer’s paradise. The hike to…

9 May

Destinations

Breathtaking Views Await at the Top of Lassen’s Brokeoff Mountain

Several hundred thousand years ago, ancient stratovolcano Mt. Tehama blew forming Brokeoff Mountain. Experts suggest Tehama’s explosion matched the destructive…

8 May

Lassen

Lassen Park Road Plowing is Well Ahead of Schedule

The massive task of plowing the roads for summer at Lassen Volcanic National Park began early this year (March…

Apr- 2018 -

27 April

News

National Park Tourism Contributes $2.7B to California Economy, Tops in Nation

A new National Park Service report shows that about 40.5 million visitors to national parks in California spent nearly $2…

27 April

Sports

Merry Fishmas! The 7 Best Places in NorCal to Fish on Opening Day

Saturday, April 28th is truly a magnificent holiday. It’s the time of year when you get together with your friends…

24 April

Lassen

The Massive Snow Removal Operation at Lassen Park is Underway

When the springtime hits Lassen Volcanic National Park, park officials begin the massive undertaking of trying to clear the snow off…

19 April

Destinations

Celebrate National Park Week at Lassen Volcanic National Park

Celebrate the “Park Stars” that brighten Lassen Volcanic National Park during this year’s National Park Week. Enjoy fee free entrance…

17 April

Hikes

The 6 Toughest Hikes in Northern California

The vast wilderness of Northern California is a dream for any outdoor adventurer. Packed full of diverse wilderness areas, NorCal…

13 April

Weather

Where’s Spring? Snowstorm Smacks NorCal Mountains, More on the Way

In the final week of March, after some Northern California mountains had the snowiest March in 27 years, everyone seemed…

Mar- 2018 -

21 March

Lassen

No Experience Required: Plumas National Forest Looking for Part-Time Firefighters

Plumas National Forest, sitting just east of Chico, is looking for some men and women to join their seasonal on-call…

Oct- 2017 -

12 October

History

Watch this Incredible Video of the Lassen Peak Eruption in 1914

My interest with our surrounding volcanic activity has turned from curiosity to obsession. The last eruption of Mount Shasta occurred in 1786,…