Volcanic Views and Hiking Trails: Service at Lassen Volcanic National Park, California

The Trip

Chaos Jumbles, Bumpass Hell, Painted Dunes, Cinder Cone, Emerald Lake, Cold Boiling Lake -- Lassen Volcanic National Park’s place names are enough to convince anyone that this is no ordinary place. Located in northern California, it is a remote and pristine park that contains a variety of habitats and all the major types of volcanoes in one compact setting. The park encompasses 150 miles of trails that lead to mud pots, fumaroles, peaks, lakes, boiling springs, and steaming vents. Lassen Volcanic National Park’s hydrothermal features are some of the most remarkable in the entire Cascade Range, reminding visitors that this volcanic area is still quite active.

The park’s dynamic hydrothermal areas within this volcanic landscape present a striking contrast to quiet, mature forests and gentle meadows, offering something for everyone to enjoy. Due to Lassen’s remote location, traffic and camping are light compared with other national parks, and the park is known as a hiker’s paradise. Lassen has a rich history that includes several Native American tribes, gold rush settlers, fur trappers, Civilian Conservation Corps workers, and the geologic study of active eruptions, the most recent of which occurred at Lassen Peak from 1914 to 1917. Additionally, the park has more than 700 flowering plant species and a wide variety of wildlife, offering an incredible range of sights, sounds, and recreation.

The Project

We will work alongside National Park Service personnel, assisting with whatever project or projects present the highest priority for resource conservation as determined by an early-season assessment after the snow melts. Typical projects include invasive plant species removal and trail maintenance. Recent past trips have focused on the removal of invasive bull thistle and common mullein. Trail maintenance could involve pruning and thinning brush, removing fallen trees, and grading trails to improve hiker safety and forestall or correct erosion. In coordination with National Park Service (NPS) staff, the trip leader will strive to provide options throughout the week to match participant capabilities, but participants should be aware that any work outdoors at altitudes of 5,000-8,000 feet may be more strenuous than working at lower elevations at home. General safety and appropriate use of hand tools will be emphasized and monitored throughout our trip. All participants will be encouraged to work at their own pace and within their capabilities to allow for everyone to have an enjoyable experience while accomplishing something of value to improve the natural environment. 

We will assemble at the Manzanita Lake Campground mid-afternoon on the first day of the trip. After introductions and orientation, we’ll set up our base camp for the week. The first trip meal will be dinner that evening.

We will have four work days, taking one day off to explore and/or relax. A typical workday begins with a group breakfast, after which we will make sack lunches and caravan to our worksite. We will generally end our work days in the mid to late afternoon. Everyone will take a turn helping in the kitchen, but those not on duty will have more time to relax before dinner. After dinner, we’ll gather for informal talks, presentations, or just plain camaraderie.

We’ll have one day during the week, scheduled depending on NPS personnel and needs. There are many options in the area, ranging from short nature trails to strenuous hikes to the summits of Lassen Peak or Brokeoff Mountain. Several world-famous hydrothermal features are located south of our campground, approximately 40 minutes by car. Ranger-led programs, the Loomis Museum, and the Discovery Center are also possible destinations within the park. Regardless of what fabulous choices participants take for their after-work and off-day enjoyment, please keep in mind that Sierra Club policy requires everyone not in camp to hike in groups of three individuals or more.

After breakfast on Saturday, there will be a group clean-up of our site. Then we’ll bid our fond farewells and head for home.

Getting There

Manzanita Lake campground is in the northwest section of Lassen Volcanic National Park. The nearest town is Shingletown, approximately 19 miles away on California State Highway 44. Since there is no public transportation to the park, driving is the only way to reach the campground. For those flying to California, the nearest major airports are in Sacramento and Reno with a smaller regional airport in Redding, CA, about 50 miles from our campground. Amtrak also stops in Redding, and past participants have successfully used that option. If you’re coming by air or by train your two options would be renting a car or carpooling with other participants for the drive to the park. Participants coming from sea level, or anyone wishing to relax after a long journey may wish to come a day or two early before our adventure starts. If you do plan to arrive early, please note that you’ll need to reserve any pre-outing camping arrangements on your own.

Please do not make any travel arrangements until you have been notified by the leader that you have been approved as a trip participant. 

Accommodations and Food

We will be staying at Manzanita Lake Campground at an elevation of 5,890 feet, a developed campground with all the luxuries of picnic tables, potable water, flush toilets, and pay showers. You’ll need to bring your tent and should expect that our group will occupy several adjacent campsites, with 2 or 3 tents occupying a single site. Due to campground restrictions, pop-up camper vans, RVs, or trailers cannot be accommodated on this outing. Please note that pets are not permitted on service trips.

All meals and plenty of snacks will be provided from dinner the first night to breakfast the last day. Come with the attitude that food is part of the adventure. Trip menu planning considers that there will be no refrigeration other than coolers with ice and that food must be protected from animals. All cooking is done on 2 double-burner propane stoves. We provide healthy, nutritious, vegetarian-friendly meals. We have a group commissary with everyone taking turns in food preparation and clean-up afterward. 

Before final acceptance as a trip participant, persons with food allergies or special dietary requirements will be required to check with the trip’s cook to determine whether accommodations are possible.

Trip Difficulty

Service trip activities are expected to be fun, but they are also likely to be moderately strenuous for most folks, so you must be in good physical condition for this trip. Your willingness to follow leader and agency staff instructions and to work as a team member is essential for this project. Come prepared to learn, work, have fun, and challenge yourself while gaining the satisfaction of offering greatly needed support to this national park. Our work on ecosystem restoration helps the Park Service achieve an important conservation goal.

Equipment and Clothing

A detailed equipment list will be provided by the leader after registration is complete but will include a large day pack, tent with a rain fly, sleeping bag, sturdy boots that have been broken in, layered clothing to accommodate weather conditions, and tested rain gear. Long sleeves and long pants are required at the work site. Tools and equipment will be provided, but participants will be responsible for their work gloves. We will provide a group first-aid kit, but everyone is expected to bring a small personal first-aid kit.

References

Map:

• Earthwalk Press: “Lassen Volcanic National Park Hiking Map and Guide,” has hiking information and a topo map.

Books:

• Richard, Ellis, Lassen Volcanic: The Story behind the Scenery. Available from www.kcpublications.com or call 800-626-9673.
• Schaffer, Jeffery P., Lassen National Park and Vicinity. This book is informative and has many references for each section.

Website:

• Lassen Volcanic National Park: www.nps.gov/lavo/index.htm

Native Lands Acknowledgement

(Borrowed from the NPS Lassen Volcanic National Park website:)

The Lassen area was a meeting point for at least four Native American Indian groups: Atsugewi, Yana, Yahi, and Maidu. Because of its weather and snow conditions, generally high elevation, and seasonally mobile deer populations, the Lassen area was not conducive to year-round living. These tribes camped here in warmer months for hunting and gathering: 

• Atsugewi wintered along Hat Creek and Hat Creek Valley and moved into the north and northwest areas of the present-day park along the Hat Creek and Lost Creek drainages in spring and summer.
• Yana and related Yahi spent the majority of the year in the foothills along Mill Creek and west-flowing waters and followed the deer herds to higher elevations of the park in the summer months.
• Mountain Maidu made the southern and eastern portions of the Lassen region their home, including Warner Valley and Juniper Lake.

Conservation

Since its founding in 1892, The Sierra Club has worked to preserve and restore the natural environment we all share on this planet. Thousands of grassroots-level volunteers spearhead our efforts to conserve and sustain resources, both in our backyards and on a global scale. Through direct experience in the outdoors, Sierra Club outings enable participants to better understand, advocate, and participate in the environmental conservation goals of the Club.

Service outings, in particular, stand out as one of the Sierra Club’s most important “boots on the ground” conservation efforts. The work done by service trip participants in our nation’s public lands is a way of practicing conservation in the most direct way possible, whether it’s improving access while preserving wilderness values, restoring wildlife habitat, or repairing human-caused damage to a natural area. Service trips are a great way to pitch in and do something tangible to make the world a better place; they’re a way to go beyond just talking about conservation; a way to get out there and experience conservation with your whole being.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.