Lassen is one of my favorite parks, and I’ve written about it before. The main park road over Lassen Peak is always closed in winter, but plowing on the road has begun, and it may be open for travel by mid-May.

Lassen is a great park because it’s not as crowded as a lot of other California parks, it has wonderful camping areas, and it’s got great hiking and climbing opportunities, as well. It also has active hydrothermal areas that are pretty easy to access, making it a bit unique in the California area.

Fishing, boating, and horseback riding are all available in the park, and if you hike, try the Bumpass Hell hike to the mud pots, it’s mostly all flat (mostly) and the mud pot area will keep you fascinated for hours. Remember nights can still be cool, even in the summertime, so bring a jacket or sweater and go explore Lassen!

To find out when the main road will open, check here.