Photo by: Jacob Lips
Learn more about volcanoes and their geological implications at the Lassen Volcanic National Park in California. It is 106,452 acres of geological marvel where all kinds of volcanoes are found: cinder cone, plug dome—the largest volcano of this kind is in this park, shield, and stratovolcano.
Volcanoes are a majestic landform, hence it is no surprise that close to half a million people visited this park in 2018.
History
Lassen Peak was formed some 27,000 years ago. A lava dome tried to make its way through northeastern Tehama. The dome pushed its way up until it reached its maximum height, while the surrounding rocks formed a base of the talus.
Despite the fear of possible volcanic eruption, Native Americans inhabited Lassen, before the European immigration in the 19th century. The area got its name from Danish-American rancher Peter Lassen, who often traveled and created traveling trails.
The Lassen first became a protected area as the Lassen Peak Forest Preserve. Along with Cinder Cone, Lassen Peak also became a national monument in 1907. On Aug. 9, 1916, Lassen Volcanic National Park was established.
Places to go
Touring Lassen Volcanic National Park is like getting a practical geological lesson. There are boiling pools around, different rock and landforms, as well as other volcanic properties. However, there are also meadows peppered with colorful wildflowers, calm lakes, and other natural wonders. There are so many sites to see and things to do at this park.
Hydrothermal Areas
Mountains are everywhere and meadows are just shrubs and flowers, but fumaroles are things that people don’t get to see every day. So visitors should not fail to drop by the hydrothermal areas of the park, to see the boiling pools and steaming ground. The heat emanating underground is viewed through the fumaroles, and it means that the Lassen Peak is active and has the potential to erupt. These pools and steaming ground are found at Bumpass Hell and Sulphur Works.
There are boardwalks and trails to watch the fumaroles and steaming mud and bubbling water. Other sites to watch the hydrothermal areas from are Little Hot Springs Valley, Pilot Pinnacle, Devil’s Kitchen, Boiling Springs Lake, Terminal Geyser and Cold Boiling Lake.
Lassen Peak
There are over 150 miles of hiking trails in the park. Hikers can choose a trail that will best suit their ability. But since they are already at the Lassen Volcanic National Park, seasoned hikers should try to reach the peak from which the park was named. There is a trail that leads to the Devastated Area, which shows the devastation brought by the last major explosion on May 22, 1915. Brokeoff Mountain provides great opportunities for photos because of its stunning panoramic views.
Manzanita Lake
The view of this serene lake is just remarkable, with its dazzling blue waters sprinkled with green shrubs amid a backdrop of pine tree forest. This is the perfect view to relax in or have a picnic. While motorized boats are prohibited, visitors can still paddle their way around the lake.
Cinder Cone
This perfectly shaped volcano is a view in itself. But hiking up there also provides visitors a chance to see a beautiful vista of the Brokeoff Mountain, Lassen Peak, and Chaos Crags. Going to the peak of Cinder Cone means, passing through a pine forest while hearing the sound from Butte Lake, then traversing through lava fields believed to be centuries old.
Campgrounds
People might find it enjoyable telling others that they have camped amongst the volcanoes. That will become a fact when visitors camp at any of the seven campgrounds located in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Photo by: Jacob Lips
Flora and fauna
One of the rarest mammals in California is called the Sierra Nevada red fox (SNRF), and it calls the Lassen it's home. The population of this particular sub-species of the fox is declining rapidly. The SNRF has existed since the ice age, which is why park administration deems it important to protect this animal from extinction. Visitors who happen to chance upon them should report it to park management, as additional information will greatly help the survival of the SNRF.
As for animals regularly found at the Lassen, these are black bears, bobcats, brown creepers, chipmunks, cougars, coyotes, long-toed salamanders, martens, mountain chickadees, mule deer, raccoons, red foxes, squirrels, skunks, weasels, and white-headed woodpeckers, among others.
Some visitors are lucky enough to visit the park on the right day because every year, a team of experts would use nets to catch migratory birds to monitor their species and activities. Visitors can witness this public banding demonstration.
As for the park’s plant life, different species of plants thrive in different land elevations of the park. Generally, vegetation in the park has different types of pines, ceanothus, gooseberry, manzanita, and white fir.
Photo by: Jacob Lips