Basics
- Location:
- Around Lake Almanor and through Lassen Volcanic National Park in northeastern California
- Surface:
- Paved
- Length:
- 185 miles (297 km)
- Time:
- 5 hours
- Season:
- Highway 89 through Lassen Volcanic National Park is closed during the winter
Description
The Lassen Scenic Byway traverses a range of ecosystems similar to what visitors might see in Yellowstone National Park whether it's thermal vents or vast alpine meadows full of flowers that takes one's fancy.
The Lassen Scenic Byway begins by taking HWY 44 southeast to the junction with HWY 36. Follow 36 to the right and past the town of Westwood to the junction with HWY 147. At this point, either continue straight on HWY 36 or follow 147 as it loops around Lake Almanor and meets up with 36 again just past Chester. At the junction with HWY 89 turn right and journey through Lassen Volcanic National Park past the junction with Highway 44 to conclude the drive at Old Station.
The area along the drive makes anyone want to become a photographer with its abundance of colors and rocky peaks in the background. The Spatter Cone Trail is one of the best trails for hiking and photography in the area, a short self-guided trail that crosses the Pacific Crest Trail.
Helpful Links
Points of Interest
Points of Interest Along The Way
Hat Creek and Surrounding Area (CA)
Hat Creek and the surrounding area offers a wide variety of activities including world-class hang gliding, hiking, camping, and even spelunking in the Subway Cave.
Lake Almanor (CA)
Lake Almanor is popular for fishing, swimming, and other water sports. It also features resorts, boat launches, picnic areas, and camping sites.
Lassen National Forest (CA)
Lassen National Forest is home to Lassen National Volcanic Park and hundreds of miles of trails, hiking, wildlife, and camping. The Forest also offers volcanic and glacial formations, rocky ravines, mountain slopes, open meadows, and stands of lodgepole pine and red fir.
Lassen Volcanic National Park (CA)
Lassen Peak is the largest plug dome volcano in the world. The Park offers a wide variety of geothermal features, meadows, forests, hiking, camping,lakes, and waterfalls.
Old Station Visitor Center (CA)
The Old Station Visitor Center offers information about recreational and scenic opportunities in the Old Station, Hat Creek, and Lassen areas.
Pacific Crest Trail (CA)
The nationally renowned Pacific Crest Trail provides access to an exceptionally scenic network of trails amid impressive granite outcroppings, volcanic ridges, open meadows, alpine lakes, crystal clear tributaries, and Sierra wildlife. The PCT is a national scenic trail and runs 2,650 miles from Canada to Mexico, providing a gamut of scenic hiking and backpacking experiences in the Western States.
Plumas National Forest (CA)
Situated in the Sierra Nevada, the Plumas is versatile in its land features, uncrowded, and enhanced by a pleasant climate.
