Journeys›Photograph

A Smoky August Trip to Lassen Volcanic National Park

·Shasta County, California·#hiking#summer#wildfire#northern california#lassen volcanic national park#geothermal
A large wildfire sends a towering plume of smoke into a blue sky above a dense evergreen forest and dry field.

We drove into Lassen Volcanic National Park in early August of 2020. The first thing we noticed, even before reaching the park boundary, was the smoke. A massive plume was rising from a wildfire burning in the nearby forests, a stark and dramatic sight against the otherwise clear blue sky.

After stopping for the obligatory photos at the park entrance sign, we headed in. The smoke was a constant presence on the horizon from the higher elevations, but down where we were, the sun was bright. The park itself felt rugged and ancient under the summer sun.

We spent the day hiking. One trail took us through a wide-open, rocky meadow that was completely covered in purple wildflowers. A dirt path cut right through the middle of it. Later, we explored the geothermal areas, which felt like a different planet. We walked on boardwalks built over the fragile, steaming ground.

The landscape there is barren and colorful, with steaming vents and milky, vibrant blue pools of water set against the surrounding pine forests. It's a strange and quiet place, a reminder of the volcanic forces just below the surface. A memorable trip, framed by the smoke in the distance.

Two people stand by a Lassen Volcanic National Park sign with a stone base, evergreen trees and blue sky behind them.Two people pose in front of a Lassen Volcanic National Park sign, with trees and a blue sky in the background.Two people stand in front of the Lassen Volcanic National Park sign, with pine trees and bushes in the background.A wide mountainous landscape with rocky foreground, scattered pine trees, and a distant wildfire producing a plume of white smoke.A dirt path winds through a field of purple wildflowers, leading to a rocky, tree-covered hillside under a blue sky.A geothermal landscape with a pale mud pot and stream, white ground, dark green trees, and a rocky hill under a blue sky.Steam rises from a barren, rocky valley, with a winding boardwalk, a stream, and pine forests under a blue sky.A geothermal landscape features a bright blue pond, colorful mineral deposits, and a forested mountain under a clear blue sky.

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