Bumpass Hell, Lassen National Park CA

• 5-star hike
• 2 mile out-and-back
• Easy | Gain 410 ft | Peak 8,400 ft
• Mineral, CA | Lassen Region
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The image shows a group of people walking on a wooden boardwalk through a geothermal area. There is steam rising from the ground, indicating the presence of hot springs or geysers. In the background, there is a forested hillside with a rocky outcrop at the top.

The image shows a group of people walking on a wooden boardwalk through a geothermal area. There is steam rising from the ground, indicating the presence of hot springs or geysers. In the background, there is a forested hillside with a rocky outcrop at the top.

Visitors on the boardwalk at Bumpass Hell.

Sticking to the trail is always recommended, but if you're visiting Bumpass Hell we really must insist. To illustrate the point you have to look no further than the man who discovered these volcanic hotsprings, Kendal Bumpass, who managed to fall in and injure his leg not once but twice, the second time requiring his leg to be amputated!

No such fate is likely to befall you these days, thanks to a network of sturdy boardwalks guiding you over and around the boiling pools of water, bubbling mud pots and fuming sulfuric vents. In fact, the trail to the hotsprings is ideally accessible for almost everyone - it's mostly level and well maintained, with great opportunities for southerly mountain views as it winds around the side of a hill before descending no more than a couple of hundred feet to the hotsprings.

Trail Options Expand KML · Google Earth ·

⬤ 4★ Bumpass Hell Trail 2.3 mi out & back, easy, gain 410 ft
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions GPX?

This also makes it the most popular hike in the park, so you might want to get there early if you want to avoid the crowds. Also, this trail begins just across the road from the trailhead to Lassen Peak, so you could easily bag both trails in a single day if you chose to do so.

Snow covers the Lassen landscape for much of the year and some roads and trails may not be open - even in summer. Check the links below to find updated information on road closures, trail closures and campground status.

The image shows a person standing on a rocky outcrop, overlooking a vast, forested mountainous landscape. The scene includes dense pine trees, a winding stream, and distant mountain peaks under a clear blue sky. The person is wearing outdoor gear, including a backpack, suggesting they are hiking or exploring the area.

The image shows a person standing on a rocky outcrop, overlooking a vast, forested mountainous landscape. The scene includes dense pine trees, a winding stream, and distant mountain peaks under a clear blue sky. The person is wearing outdoor gear, including a backpack, suggesting they are hiking or exploring the area.

Admiring a distant Brokeoff Mountain from the Bumpass trail.

The image shows a scenic view of a geothermal area surrounded by a dense forest. The landscape features a mix of green trees and barren, rocky terrain with visible steam vents and hot springs. A wooden boardwalk winds through the geothermal area, allowing visitors to safely explore the hot springs and other geothermal features. The background includes a range of forested hills and distant mountains under a clear blue sky.

Surveying Bumpass Hell from above.

Tangents:
• Official: Lassen Volcanic National Park
• Public Map at AllTrails: Bumpass Hell Trail
• Facebook Group: Comment, Follow Us

Trailspotting Nearby
5★ Lassen Peak (4 mi) · 5★ Brokeoff Mountain (7 mi) · 4★ Cluster Lakes (11 mi) · Show Map

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