Lassen Volcanic loop: Burney Falls to the mud pots
A loop from Redding past a spring-fed waterfall and a lava tube to the boiling pools, lakes and volcanic peaks of Lassen Volcanic National Park.
- Distance
- 218 km (136 mi)
- Driving
- 2 h 25 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 7
- States
- CA
- Updated
- July 16, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 218 km (136 mi) with 7 stops, from Redding to Chester. About 2 h 25 min of driving in total.
More road trips in California · More road trips from Redding
Route description
From Redding, drive east on SR-299 for about an hour and a quarter to Burney, then take SR-89 north to McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park. The falls pour out of the rock in hundreds of springs and are only a few steps from the car park; the loop trail to the base and back takes about an hour. On summer weekends, book a day-use reservation ahead; the park campground is large and takes motorhomes.
Head south on SR-89 through Hat Creek valley. Near Old Station, Subway Cave is a short lava tube you can walk through with a flashlight, cool even on hot days. Continue to Manzanita Lake at the northwest entrance of Lassen Volcanic National Park, where the Loomis Museum explains the 1915 eruptions and a flat trail circles the lake with views of Lassen Peak.
The park highway, about 30 miles long, climbs past the Devastated Area and over a summit of about 8,500 feet. It is usually closed by snow from November until late May or June, and the high trails stay snowy into July. Bumpass Hell is the park’s biggest hydrothermal basin, about 1.5 miles each way on a trail with boardwalks. Stay on them, as the ground is thin and scalding.
Near the southwest entrance, Sulphur Works has mud pots and steam vents right beside the road, an easy stop even when the upper trails are closed. Leave the park south on SR-89 and east on SR-36 to Chester, on Lake Almanor, for fuel and supplies. The park has an entrance fee; there are no services inside apart from the visitor centres and a camp store at Manzanita Lake.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Redding
CA - 294 km
McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park
NatureBurney, CAA 129-foot waterfall fed by springs, so it flows strongly even in late summer. The overlook is steps from the parking lot and a loop trail of about a mile leads down to the pool; day-use fee, and reservations are needed on summer weekends.
- 350 km
Subway Cave
NatureOld Station, CAA lava tube about a third of a mile long near Old Station on SR-89. The cave is unlit and cool all year, so bring a flashlight and a jacket; it is usually open from late spring to autumn.
- 425 km
Manzanita Lake
NatureLassen Volcanic National Park, CAA lake at the northwest entrance of Lassen Volcanic National Park with a level loop trail and reflections of Lassen Peak. The Loomis Museum and the park’s largest campground are next to it.
- 510 km
Bumpass Hell
NatureLassen Volcanic National Park, CAThe largest hydrothermal area in Lassen Volcanic National Park, with boiling pools and steaming vents along boardwalks. The trail is about 1.5 miles each way from the road and is usually snow-free only from July.
- 63 km
Sulphur Works
NatureLassen Volcanic National Park, CABubbling mud pots and steam vents right beside the park highway near the southwest entrance. It is the easiest hydrothermal stop in Lassen and stays accessible longer in the season than the higher trails.
- 736 km
Chester
CA
Suggested stages and overnight stops
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Redding → McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park · 58 mi · 1 h 03 minOvernight nearby, for example: Rim Camp (< 1 km); Pioneer Camp (< 1 km).
- Day 2: McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park → Subway Cave · 31 mi · 0 h 33 minOvernight nearby, for example: Hat Creek Resort & RV Park (3 mi); Cave Campground (< 1 km).
- Day 3: Subway Cave → Chester · 46 mi · 0 h 50 minOn the way: Manzanita Lake, Bumpass Hell, Sulphur Works.Overnight nearby, for example: Domingo Springs Campground (7 mi); Gurnsey Creek Campground (10 mi).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July–August and November. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is Lassen Volcanic loop: Burney Falls to the mud pots?
3-day road trip of about 218 km (136 mi) with 7 stops, from Redding to Chester. About 2 h 25 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Lassen Volcanic loop: Burney Falls to the mud pots?
We suggest 3 days: about 2 h 25 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Lassen Volcanic loop: Burney Falls to the mud pots start and end?
It starts in Redding and ends in Chester.
Which states does Lassen Volcanic loop: Burney Falls to the mud pots pass through?
California.
Where can you camp along Lassen Volcanic loop: Burney Falls to the mud pots?
OpenStreetMap lists 84 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Domingo Springs Campground, Gurnsey Creek Campground and Peltier Bridge Campground.
When is the best time for Lassen Volcanic loop: Burney Falls to the mud pots?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July–August and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
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