Lassen Volcanic National Park

Lassen Peak is a volcano, and it is one of the largest plug dome volcanoes in the world. It rises 10,457 feet above the sea.

Lassen Peak erupted more than 180 times from 1914 to 1917. On May 22, 1915, it sent a cloud of ash and steam far into the sky.

Bumpass Hell is the largest hot area in the park. Boardwalks keep you safe above the boiling ground.

Sulphur Works is a hot spot you can see right from the road. Steam vents called fumaroles hiss, and the ground smells like rotten eggs.

Black bears live in the park's forests. They eat berries, nuts, and insects, and a full-grown bear can weigh more than 200 pounds.

The pika is a small furry animal that lives in high rocky places. It gathers grass and flowers all summer to eat during the long snowy winter.

Lassen gets some of the deepest snow of any place in California. So much snow falls that the road through the park stays closed most of the winter.

Cinder Cone is a volcano in the park's northeast corner. It stands about 700 feet tall and was built from small bits of rock that piled up around 350 years ago.

Manzanita Lake sits near the park's northwest entrance. On a calm day the water is so still that it shows a mirror picture of Lassen Peak.

Manzanita is a low shrub with smooth, reddish bark and small round leaves. The lake at the park's northwest entrance is named after it.