2023 Summer season in Lassen volcanic National Park Updates:
Lassen Volcanic National Park – May 31, 2023 – Summer season at Lassen Volcanic National Park will once again be a season of varied openings and recovery from the Dixie fire. Today the park opened the Butte Lake day use are and the trails to Cinder Cone monument for summer and updated the status on road openings.
Seasonal plowing of the main highway is also still ongoing, Crews have cleared the 2.5 mile stretch from the Kolm Yah-Mah-Nee Visitors center and Dixie Point a 1.5 mile past Sulphur works. this are is not open yet for vehicles. Vehicles are open on the northside from Manzanita Lake to Devastation Area.
The status of park roads is listed on the current conditions page and includes closures for snow and post-fire repair. The opening of Warner Valley and Juniper Lake roads will be delayed beyond the normal spring/summer opening to allow for post-fire repair.
Butte Lake Area
- Butte Lake road, day use area is open. The campground opens on 6/2.
- Cinder Cone Trail was affected by the Dixie Fire, but is passable.
Warner Valley Area
- Drakesbad Guest Ranch is closed for the season for repairs to damaged infrastructure.
- Warner Valley Campground may open once post-fire hazards have been addressed.
Juniper Lake Area
- Juniper Lake Road is closed to all traffic for the 2023 summer season.
- Juniper Lake Campground is closed due to post-fire recovery activities for the 2023 summer season.
- Trails connecting Juniper Lake, Butte Lake, and Summit Lake were impacted by the Dixie Fire.
Which Campgrounds will be open in 2023
Most park campgrounds are anticipated to open for the 2023 summer/fall season. View campground operating dates and status.
- Scheduled opening dates may be delayed for post-fire repair at Summit, Juniper, and Warner Valley Campgrounds. Once open, selected sites may remain closed for ongoing repair and rehabilitation work.
- Southwest Walk-in Campground is anticipated to remain closed due to tree hazards. Camping in self-contained vehicles will likely remain permitted within the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center parking area.
Cinder Cone Trail
Start: Butte Lake parking area
Round-Trip Distance to Base: 2.4 miles
Round Trip Distance to Summit: 4 miles
Round-Trip Time: 3 hours
Elevation Change: 846 ft
Elevation: 6,061 – 6,907 feet
Trail Surface: Cinders (similar to course sand)
Season: Approximately June through November
Hike to the base or summit of the dramatic Cinder Cone volcano via this popular trail in the Butte Lake Area. The sand-like cinders on this trail make the hike challenging, especially when climbing the steep 200-foot ascent to the summit. However, hikers are afforded with fantastic views of the dramatic cinder cone, its lava flow called the Fantastic Lava Beds, and the colorful Painted Dunes. A handout is available at the park visitor centers and the trailhead with stops that correspond to numbered posts highlighting various features along the trail.
At 1.2 miles, the trail reaches a fork at the base of Cinder Cone. Look to your left (south) here for the first views of the colorful Painted Dunes. Please stay on the trail to avoid scarring the landscape with footprints. Be sure to take a break in the shade of the surrounding Jeffrey pines before beginning the heart-pumping climb to the top of the cone. Lassen Peak comes into view as the trail slowly circles around to the south side of the cone. The summit affords panoramic views in all directions. Prospect Peak, Lassen Peak, Snag Lake, the Fantastic Lava Beds and the Painted Dunes are all clearly visible. An additional trail continues down into the crater of Cinder Cone.
Cinder Cone Trail follows a portion of the Nobles Emigrant Trail, which is part of the California National Historic Trail. The Nobles Emigrant Trail was one two routes used by emigrants to travel across what is now Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Getting There
Cinder Cone Trailhead is located near the boat ramp in the Butte Lake Day Use Area in the northeast corner of the park. This remote area is accessed via a 6-mile dirt road off of Highway 44, approximately 24 miles east of the park’s Northwest Entrance. View directions to Butte Lake. Drinking water is available when the Butte Lake Campground is open. There are no other services in this area.
