Great Outdoors
Orange County-Long Beach
Lassen Volcanic
National Park!
Thursday Aug 21 - Monday Aug 25, 2025
An hour from Redding, CA (about 9 1/2- 10 hours from OC)
Ready for an adventure?
Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to steaming fumaroles, meadows freckled with wildflowers, clear mountain lakes, and numerous volcanoes. Jagged peaks tell the story of its eruptive past while hot water continues to shape the land.
The national park is known for its volcanic history, as well as its diversity of plants and animals. It contains 300 active volcanic domes and many hydrothermal features, such as mud pots and steam vents.
Lassen Peak is the southernmost active volcano in the Cascades, and the second most recent volcano to erupt in the lower 48 of the United States before Mount Saint Helens.
Lassen National Park boasts over 700 species of flowering plants and 250 native species including birds, mammals, reptiles and fish.
The park is at the junction of the Cascade Mountains, the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Great Basin, providing many unique habitats.
This will be our first OCLB campout adventure to Lassen Volcanic National Park so join us as we explore this far distant (10 hour drive from Orange County) intriguing park.
Details
We have reserved 4 sites at Summit Lake North Campground.
Tent sites: There are 3 tent sites we have reserved with a maximum of 2 cars per site. We can get a maximum of 6 people per site, but the total count will depend on the number of carpoolers since vehicle space is limited. Looking for two tents per site (there is a maximum of 3 tents per site).
RV site: We will have one RV site available but there is no hookups for the site. The RV site is a max of 28 ft long.
If the RV site goes untaken by July 1, we will convert it to a tent site.
5 days/4 nights Campout.
Tent Camping Cost is $65 per person for tent camping.
RV Site is $125 for Driver; RV Passenger is $25 (if applicable)
Check in as early as 1 PM on Thursday. Check out at noon on Monday.
Registration is by credit card only.
Summit Lake North Campground (elevation 6,700 ft.) is conveniently located on the main road of Lassen Volcanic National Park. The campground is within walking distance of the small but scenic Summit Lake and eight miles from the 10,457-ft. Lassen Peak, the largest volcano in the park..
Hikers will find one of the park's major trails only 1/4-mile away from the campground and many more within a close proximity. Summit Lake North is on the opposite side of the lake from Summit Lake South Campground.
There is also a $30 per vehicle National Park Service Entry Fee, good for 7 days, and payable at the kiosk.
And as you know the Annual National Parks 'America the Beautiful' Pass or Lifetime Senior Pass will also work for entrance into the Park. Be smart and get an Annual or Lifetime Pass if you don't have one or the other!
Campground amenities include flush toilets, fire rings, picnic tables, and potable water. We chose Summit Lake North since it does have flush toilets!
The campground is a hub for hiking and backpacking enthusiasts. Campers can access many of the park's 150 miles of hiking trails from the Summit Lake area.
The Cluster Lakes loop trail--a major trailhead into the park's interior that bypasses several alpine lakes and is popular among birders--is located a short walk from the Summit Lake Ranger Station.
This is the closest campground to the Lassen Peak Trail and within 10 miles of the hydrothermal area Bumpass Hell. Educational programs are presented at an amphitheater within the facility.
Registration:
This campout is limited by the number of vehicles allowed for sites. If the registration looks sold out when you register, please add yourself to the wait list. Based on the number of vehicles from other registrants and their number of passengers, you may still be added to the trip in the order added to the wait list if we can fit you in.
We are hoping that members will consider carpooling so that more members will be able to attend this campout since the attendance is limited by the number of vehicles for the camp site. Preferably we would like each driver to take at least one passenger so that more people can attend.
If you are interested in providing riding space for other registrants or looking for a ride, please contact the Trip Leader.
Registration Fee is $65 per person for the tent site.
RV site is $125 for driver; $25 for each RV Passengers.
This event is limited to GO members. When you register, you'll need to have your credit card ready and pay your registration fee within 15 minutes. If you are not a member, you can first join as a member online and then return to register for the event.
Things to do
Activities will be based on weather, so there will be no set schedule. Some ideas are:
- Trip Leader will be exploring and hiking various trails.
- Explore this unique place on your own
- Chill by the lake - LOL! The below photo is not the lake.
Food:
- Eating establishments are FEW as in almost non-existent! So be prepared to bring enough food to feed yourself.
Located inside the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center, Lassen Cafe & Gift features a variety of delicious and healthy items including soups, salads, fresh fruits, hot or cold sandwiches, as well as a variety of beverages (including espresso drinks) and soft-serve ice cream.
A menu is available on the concessioner website, accessibly by the link above. Offerings and hours are limited in the winter season, approximately mid-October through mid-May.
Dine outside on the patio with views of the surrounding peaks or cozy up in the indoor dining area in front of the fireplace.
Visitors are also welcome to bring their own meals to enjoy in the dining area or patio. A self-service microwave is available.
Located at the entrance to the Manzanita Lake Campground, the Camper Store offers ready-to-go meals and picnic supplies such as hot and cold sandwiches, snacks, basic grocery items, hot and cold beverages, and ice-cream. A menu is available on the concessioner website. The Camper Store is open approximately mid-May through mid-October; view dates and hours.
Where the hell is Lassen Volcanic National Park?
Far Far Far Away!
Getting there:
Carpooling is highly recommended to help reduce gas consumption, parking costs, and the entrance fee. As mentioned before, attendance is limited to the number of vehicles registered.
Additional emails will be sent to registrants with more details as the trip nears.
Cancellation:
Full refunds will be issued minus a $20 processing fee if cancelled by July 22nd. Sorry but no refunds will be issued if cancelled after that date.
Contact the trip leader if you need to cancel.
Ten Essentials:
Bring your 10 essentials, your camping & cooking gear, food, and a bundle or two of firewood.
Need to Know
Be bear aware; food and scented products must be stored in the bear lockers provided at each campsite
Pets are not allowed on park trails and must be on a 6-ft. leash
There are no electricity, water or sewer hook-ups
An entrance fee of $30 per vehicle is required. We highly recommend visitors purchase the park's digital 1-7 day entrance fee or the parks annual pass through recreation.gov prior to visiting park. Or use that nifty Annual or Lifetime Pass that you have somewhere!
Campers must have a valid entrance permit or pass before camping; ensure you bring your National Parks Annual/Lifetime Pass! Or pay the entrance fee.
Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. Moving firewood is illegal in some states.
Visit dontmovefirewood.org to learn more.
Additional emails will be sent to registrants with more details as the trip nears.
Trip Leader: Lance Whitmier
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at:
[email protected]
Come Join Us! You'll have a great time!
