Trip · 3-day camping trip
For · Friends and new campers
Vibe · Relaxing and chill
Reservations · Yes, reserve a spot at Manzanita Lake Campground
Drive · 4 hours from SF
Ideal dates · June to October
Pets · Welcome at camp, but not on trails
Lassen Volcanic National Park (LVNP) is an under-rated geological gem. It's never as crowded as Yosemite, and every rock in the park is made from volcanoes. You can find all four types -- shield, composite, cinder cone, and plug dome volcanoes -- within the park, as well as "fumaroles," which are cracks in the Earth’s surface that emit steam and volcanic gases. Pretty rad, right?
Official National Park Website
Latest Park Road and Trail Conditions
Main image credit: Patrick Bosiger
Each campsite comes with a:
Manzanita Lake Campground is decked with restrooms, hot showers, drinking water, a dump station, camp store (that sells ice and firewood), and a laundromat on site. You can reserve a campsite for tents, trailers, and RVs, along with group campsites and rustic camping cabins. Make a reservation ASAP! Campsites do get swooped up between June and September.
Manzanita Lake Campground Map
Nightly Fee: $26
The park is named after Peter Lassen, a Danish-American pioneer, who guided settlers to nearby towns in the 1800's.
The Lassen area used to be a meeting point for four American Indian groups: Atsugewi, Yana, Yahi and Maidu.
Cute, hamster-sized Pikas live in the highest parts of the park, like Lassen Peak. Keep an ear out for their high-pitched squeaks!
A spacious sleeping bag that will help you stay warm for spring, summer, and fall camping.
Essential Items
Whether it's coffee or cocoa, bring a silicone mug like this one into the wild. Your tummy will thank you.
Kitchen
Leave your backpacking pack at camp, and use this sleek, compressible pack for day hikes.
Shared Gear
An affordable day pack for bringing snacks, sunglasses, and water on your next day hike.
Shared Gear
Handmade in Seattle, Washington, this sleeping bag is pricey, but you can count on it lasting for years.
Essential Items
A fun, affordable tent for beginner car campers that can be used in the spring, summer, and fall.
Shared Gear
An absorbent, antimicrobial fabric that will keep you clean and dry down under.
Personal Stuff
This cook station has plenty of storage and counter space, and is easy to set up and carry out.
Kitchen
If you like to toss and turn at night, this sleeping pad is known for being a quiet, quality option for car campers.
Essential Items
A solid, lightweight, and relatively affordable tent for people are new to backpacking.
Shared Gear
Camp underneath the stars and watch glorious sunrises in Joshua Tree National Park, the second largest national park in California.