Day One

Depart SF by 11 AM and swing by The Hive Kitchen and Bar for lunch

• Located at 730 6th Street in Orland, CA
• Locals love their live bee hive, fresh honey, and breakfast menu
• Open Tuesdays to Sundays, 11 AM to 9 PM
• Last pit stop: Antelope Valero - 615 Antelope Blvd, Red Bluff, CA

Arrive at Lassen Volcanic National Park

• Enter LVNP's Southwest Entrance via Hwy 89
• Pay $30 for a 7-day vehicle entrance fee      
• Drive to Bumpass Hell Trail (it's typically open from June to October, but check LVNP's website.) It's a 3-mile round-trip hike to the largest hydrothermal area in the park.

Cruise along LVNP's Scenic Highway

• It's a 30-mile, hour-long drive (without stops) to Manzanita Lake, but check out some roadside highlights, like Lassen Peak Viewpoint, along the way.  

Check-in at Manzanita Lake Campground

• Settle in and set up camp!

Enjoy dinner, roast s'mores, and stargaze

The park is named after Peter Lassen, a Danish-American pioneer, who guided settlers to nearby towns in the 1800's.

Day Two

Sleep-in!

• Make brunch and pack an afternoon picnic
• Bring a daypack, blanket, food, and drinks

Or if you're an early bird, hike Manzanita Lake Loop

• An easy 1.9 mile loop around the entire lake

Later, trek Chaos Crags Trail

• A moderate 4-mile, out and back trail packed with beautiful views of the park
• Enjoy your picnic lunch at the top

Return to camp

• Unwind, clean-up, and hang out around camp

Sunset dinner

• Prep a hot meal and bring your camp chairs for a lakeside meal

Campfire and s'mores

• Stay up stargazing and cap the evening off with another round of s'mores

The Lassen area used to be a meeting point for four American Indian groups: Atsugewi, Yana, Yahi and Maidu.

Day Three

Make brunch and clean up around camp

Pack up and pack out

• Load up the car and drive back towards Kohn Yah-Mah-Nee Visitor Center

Stop by Sulphur Works

• Before you reach the visitor center, drop by Sulphur Works, a .6 mile out and back trail to boiling mudpots and hissing steam vents. It's LVNP's most easily accessible hydrothermal area.

Head home!

Cute, hamster-sized Pikas live in the highest parts of the park, like Lassen Peak. Keep an ear out for their high-pitched squeaks!