Hiking This Hidden California National Park Feels Like Walking On Mars

While towering peaks and vast, verdant forests capture nature’s grandeur, there are places where the planet’s raw and untamed power is on full display. And where else does nature’s beauty show off quite like it does in national parks?

While Yosemite and other national parks that require reservations in advance are incredibly beautiful, they often come with long lines at entrance stations, jam-packed trails, and parking lots filled before sunrise.

Although crowds have become the new reality of some of America’s most iconic outdoor destinations, there is a place where travelers can witness some of the planet’s most surreal features. The good thing? It’s not as crowded as Yosemite National Park, which has one popular thing tourists do that makes it packed.

Nestled in Northern California, this hidden national park sees way fewer visitors despite boasting Mars-like landscapes and scenic trails. For those seeking adventure beyond the ordinary, this often overlooked park is the answer.

Lassen Volcanic National Park Is A Martian Wonderland

The park has lots of geothermal activities, which create an alien-like environment similar to that of Mars

Few places on Earth blur the line between reality and the extraterrestrial, and Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of them. As one of the places on Earth that looks like Mars, the landscape here is a striking fusion of fire and ice, with ancient lava flows stretching like frozen rivers, craters marking the land, and steaming fumaroles hissing from the earth’s crust.

Lassen’s environment is so otherworldly that visiting feels like stepping onto Mars, except this planetary wonder is right in Northern California.

Unlike the lush forests and granite cliffs of Yosemite or the vast desert expanses of Death Valley, Lassen’s terrain is shaped by fire. Being among the U.S. national parks with active volcanoes, Lassen features all four types of volcanoes, including shield, plug dome, cinder cone, and composite.

Lassen is also home to Lassen Peak, the largest plug dome volcano on Earth, which dominates the skyline and its slopes, a reminder of past eruptions that reshaped the region.

Nearby, the Cinder Cone volcano offers a dramatic sight with its near-perfect cone of loose volcanic rock. Additionally, hiking to the top of Cinder Cone rewards adventurers with panoramic views of an alien-like expanse of jagged lava beds and stark, barren terrain.

While Lassen’s towering volcanoes make it worth a visit, the park’s geothermal activity unveils the Earth’s wondrous power beneath our feet. At Bumpass Hell, one of Lassen’s must-visit sites, travelers can witness bubbling mud pots, boiling pools, and sulfuric steam vents that make the ground look alive.

On the other hand, the Devastated Area showcases eerie rock formations left behind by Lassen Peak’s last major eruption in 1915. This area offers a firsthand glimpse into the raw aftermath of volcanic fury and transformation over 100 years later.

As one of the few places where visitors can safely witness geothermal activity, Lassen National Park serves as a living laboratory of planetary change. This underrated park takes visitors through a landscape that tells the story of Earth’s fiery past and ever-changing future.

Getting To Lassen Volcanic National Park

Lassen Volcanic National Park is located in Northern California, about 50 miles east of Redding.

• From San Francisco (3 hours 38 mins) via I-5 N
• From Sacramento (2 hours 45 mins) via CA-32 E
• From Reno (2 hours 40 mins) via US-395 N and CA-44 W

Why Skip Yosemite For Lassen Volcanic National Park?

While Yosemite dazzles with granite cliffs, its crowded nature can be a turn-off for adventurers seeking solitude

Yosemite National Park is a world-famous natural wonder, drawing over four million visitors annually, according to visitation data from the National Park Service. Its breathtaking granite monoliths, towering waterfalls, and lush valleys have captivated travelers for generations.

Like most popular destinations, Yosemite’s fame comes with an unavoidable downside of overcrowding. Anyone who has visited Yosemite during peak season knows the struggle of entrance lines stretching for hours, traffic congestion on winding roads, and parking lots filling up before 8 a.m.

Even the park’s most famous trails, such as the Mist Trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls, the Half Dome cables route, and the Yosemite Falls Trail, are packed with hikers. The overcrowding issues turn what should be a serene retreat into a battle for space, even when soaking in vistas from Yosemite’s famed scenic viewpoints.

Lassen, despite being among national parks that are better than Yosemite in various ways, receives approximately 500,000 visitors annually, with the numbers being significantly lower than the famous counterpart. That means no long wait times, no bumper-to-bumper traffic, and no struggling to find parking.

Instead of maneuvering through swarms of tourists, travelers find peaceful trails winding through active geothermal areas, alpine lakes, and volcanic craters. Adventurers can hike to Lassen Peak’s summit with only a handful of fellow visitors or explore Bumpass Hell’s steaming hot springs without feeling rushed.

In addition to solitude, Lassen delivers a different yet stunning kind of beauty. Instead of sheer granite cliffs and waterfalls, hikers walk through a world shaped by fire and time, with every turn revealing a new geological marvel. For those tired of Yosemite’s overwhelming crowds, Lassen offers a rare gift of an immersive, untamed wilderness where nature speaks louder.

Exploring Lassen’s Volcanic Landscapes: The Best Hikes And Spots Worth Discovering

Uncover hikes that lead to Mars-like landscapes and other awe-inspiring views

Lassen Volcanic National Park is a land of extremes, shaped by the fiery forces beneath the Earth’s surface. While here, hikers can traverse jagged lava fields, stand atop an active volcano, and witness bubbling mud pots and steaming fumaroles up close, all in one park.

Few places in the world offer such a dramatic collision of fire and ice, with alpine lakes and wildflower meadows contrasting against barren volcanic wastelands.

Lassen is a hiker’s paradise, boasting trails that lead through some of the most surreal and otherworldly landscapes in California. If planning a visit, these are the top-rated hikes in Lassen National Park that showcase its diverse and untamed terrain, taking hikers deep into its geothermal wonders and volcanic formations.

Lassen Peak Trail

In addition to being the highest point in the park at 10,457 feet, Lassen Peak is also one of the largest plug dome volcanoes in the world. This challenging hike offers a rare chance to stand atop an active volcano and take in unparalleled panoramic views of Northern California.

The Lassen Peak Trail begins at Lassen Peak Trailhead and climbs steadily through a barren, rocky landscape. As hikers ascend, the tree line disappears, leaving them surrounded by loose volcanic rock and expansive views stretching to Mount Shasta.

At the summit, hikers can peer into the crater, a reminder of the mountain’s last major eruption in 1915. On clear days, the view extends for miles, with the Sierra Nevada to the south and the Cascade Range to the north.

• Distance: 4.9 miles
• Elevation Gain: 1,972 feet
• Difficulty: Hard

Bumpass Hell

Bumpass Hell is Lassen’s most famous hydrothermal area, boasting the largest collection of hot springs, steam vents, and boiling mud pots in the park. It is named after Kendall Bumpass, a settler who discovered the area in the 1860s and severely burned his leg after stepping through a thin crust.

This family-friendly trail offers a front-row seat to the Earth’s geothermal activity but without the danger. The well-maintained boardwalk leads visitors safely over a surreal landscape of hissing fumaroles, bubbling pools, and colorful mineral deposits.

Temperatures in some of these hydrothermal features can reach over 300°F, making it one of the best places in the world to witness the planet’s raw power up close.

• Distance: 2.9 miles
• Elevation Gain: 440 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate

Cinder Cone Trail

For outdoor lovers looking for hikes with the best views in Lassen National Park, or ever wanted to hike on Mars-like landscape, Cinder Cone is the next best thing. This striking, red and black volcanic cone rises dramatically from the surrounding lava beds, creating one of the unique hiking experiences in the park.

The trail begins at Butte Lake, winding through a sandy, ashy path before reaching the steep, switchbacking climb up the cone itself. The final push to the summit is tough, like walking up a dune made of loose volcanic gravel, but the reward is worth the struggle.

Once at the top, hikers can peer into the massive crater and gaze out over the eerie, rippling landscape of the Fantastic Lava Beds and the Painted Dunes. Hikers can rest as they marvel at the oxidized volcanic ash creating a surreal, multicolored terrain.

• Distance: 4.7 miles
• Elevation Gain: 1,053 feet
• Difficulty: Hard

Kings Creek Falls

Though Lassen is best known for its volcanic landscapes, it also hides lush meadows and breathtaking waterfalls. Kings Creek Falls is one of the park’s most scenic hikes, leading to a stunning cascade that tumbles down a rugged basalt cliff.

The trail starts in a peaceful alpine meadow, winding through forests of red fir and wildflower-covered slopes before descending along a cascading creek.

The final approach follows a series of stone staircases built into the rock, offering spectacular views of the falls. In summer, this is one of the best places to see Lassen’s wildflowers in full bloom, adding a splash of color to the volcanic terrain.

• Distance: 2.8 miles
• Elevation Gain: 492 feet
• Difficulty: Moderate

Camping In Lassen

• Manzanita Lake Campground: The most popular and accessible campground, ideal for families, with lakefront views and stunning Lassen Peak reflections.
• Summit Lake Campground: A peaceful, high-altitude escape, great for stargazing and hiking access to Lassen Peak and Bumpass Hell.
• Southwest Walk-In Campground: Open year-round, this is the best option for winter adventurers wanting easy access to the park’s snow-covered trails.

Reservations are highly recommended for summer camping, while first-come, first-served spots are available in spring and fall.

Lassen Volcanic National Park offers some of the most unique and varied hiking experiences in the country.

Whether summiting an active volcano, walking through a Mars-like lava field, or exploring steaming geothermal basins, every trail in Lassen tells a story of fire, ice, and the ever-changing power of nature. If seeking an outdoor adventure without the crowds, this is California’s best-kept secret.