Lassen: Nature, Trails and History

In Lassen County, the Sierra Nevada, the Cascade Range, the Modoc Plateau and the Great Basin Desert meet. Lakes, volcanic landscapes, hiking trails and historic sites offer a wide range of options for your trip. Eagle Lake sits at an elevation of 5,100 feet and is the second-largest natural freshwater lake located entirely in California.

Lakes, Volcanoes and Wildlife Watching

The immediate watershed of Eagle Lake lies on a high-elevation, semiarid plateau. Basaltic lava flows, volcanoes and cinder cones shape this landscape. The birdlife also makes the lake remarkable: its shores are home to one of the last osprey nesting colonies, as well as the largest breeding colony of eared grebes and western grebes in the western United States. Eagle Lake trout are native exclusively to this lake. Water sports, fishing and swimming are among the activities available at Eagle Lake.

A different volcanic landscape awaits you in Lassen Volcanic National Park, with steaming fumaroles, wildflower-covered meadows, clear mountain lakes and numerous volcanoes. More than 150 miles of hiking trails run through the park. A three-mile loop trail leads to Bumpass Hell, the park’s largest hydrothermal area. Access may vary seasonally, so take this into account when planning your visit.

Hiking and Getting Around

The Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail is in Lassen County along the Susan River. It runs for 25.4 miles from Susanville to Mason Station along the former Fernley and Lassen Branch Line of the Southern Pacific Railroad. The Historic Susanville Railroad Depot and its grounds are the trail’s starting point. Activities along the route include hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, swimming, cross-country skiing, wildlife and bird watching, and walking dogs.

The Lassen Scenic Byway also offers a different scale for planning your trip: the 185-mile loop runs through Lassen National Forest and Lassen Volcanic National Park. Along the route, there are opportunities for hiking, photography, fishing and camping. Unlike a single hiking trail, the route can be considered a longer loop drive, while the Bizz Johnson Trail, with its stated length and endpoints, describes a specific route between Susanville and Mason Station.

For other outdoor activities, two of the access points described lead to different destinations. The Fort Sage OHV Area is accessible via Lassen County Road Fort Sage; road conditions may vary. The Devil’s Corral Trailhead is seven miles west of Susanville and accessible via California Highway 36. From there, you can access swimming and fishing on the Susan River. Conditions may vary here as well.

History and Events

The Lassen Historical Museum houses artifacts from 160 years of Honey Lake Valley history. Roop’s Fort adds another perspective on the region’s past: it was built in 1854 as a trading post and ranch on the Emigrant Trail. Because of its distinctive role in the Sagebrush War of 1863, it is also known as Fort Defiance. Together with the railroad depot at the Bizz Johnson Trail’s starting point, these sites offer different insights into the region’s history.

If you’d like your trip to coincide with an event, the Lassen County Fair is one option to consider: it takes place in the third week of July, and fair week includes an annual parade on Saturday. The Rails to Trails Festival is held each year in October at 601 Richmond Road in Susanville. Check the specific event dates before your trip.

When choosing where to stay, you can start by deciding which of these interests will shape your itinerary: the landscape around Eagle Lake, hiking and activities on the trails, a route through the forest and national park, or the history around Susanville and the Honey Lake Valley. The places and trails described here differ in length, subject matter and the activities mentioned. This can help you focus your hotel search on what you want to prioritize during your stay in Lassen.

Discover more destinations: Susanville, Westwood, Doyle, Mono, Imperial, Orange, Modoc, Napa

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