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!
This was GCI's first rocker and it remains their most popular. It's easy to open and close, and comes with a handle to carry around.
Shared Gear
A dreamy, colorful sweater to sport around camp and on chillier day hikes.
Clothes
Light as a feather and versatile enough to use for running, camping, and other nighttime activities.
Essential Items
Imagine a sleeping pad, bag, and blanket all in one. It takes some getting used to, but people love it.
Essential Items
It's not the lightest cot available, but it's comfortable, easy to set up, and break down.
Essential Items
Sturdy, reliable, well-designed, and more expensive than most camp chairs, but it'll last for awhile.
Shared Gear
They're expensive, but you can lean on these bad boys for river crossings and navigating all kinds of terrain.
Essential Items
This mineral-based sunscreen is good for the envrionment and your skin. It's water resistant too.
Personal Stuff
When a campground is short of sinks, bring your own. Clean your dirty dishes in this expandable bin.
Kitchen
This backpacking stove weighs a couple of ounces and has a built-in igniter. It stands out in windy weather.
Kitchen
Camp underneath the stars and watch glorious sunrises in Joshua Tree National Park, the second largest national park in California.