Lassen National Park & Mt. Shasta Waterfalls, california
Attractions Guide

This area of Northern California is home to several amazing waterfalls as well as a beautiful volcano landscape, known as Lassen Volcanic National Park. While driving along this route you'll be able to take in excellent views of stunning Mt. Shasta, which towers high above the surrounding landscape.

The following attractions are listed in order along a recommended route around this area. Be sure to get an extremely early start on the day or even spread this itinerary out over two days if you wish to see all of these attractions.

Just south of the town of Mt. Shasta is the gorgeous yet elusive Mossbrae Falls, which many claim is among the most beautiful waterfalls in California. Unfortunately there is no established trail to reach the waterfalls yet, however there is still an easy route.

Park along the road on Dunsmuir Avenue just south of Scarlett Way near the Cave Springs Resort (but definitely don't park at the resort). From the road you'll walk north, and then turn left onto Scarlett Way, which merges with Cave Avenue. Cave Avenue becomes a small bridge crossing the Sacramento River. Just after crossing the bridge you'll see the railroad tracks to your right (on the northern side), which you'll walk on the side of heading until you reach the falls.

After Mt. Shasta and Mossbrae Falls you can head east along the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway (Highway 39) towards more waterfalls.

Along the McCloud River you can admire three waterfalls nearby each other, the Lower, Middle, and Upper McCloud Falls. All three of these beautiful waterfalls are quite different looking and can be admired with short walks from their parking lots.

Continue along to another stunning waterfall, Burney Falls. This massive picturesque waterfall can be reached with a short but steep walk and is a must-see. There's also the possibility of hiking further beyond the falls, however the scenery beyond the waterfall is not nearly as impressive.

After enjoying the many beautiful waterfalls around Mt. Shasta you can begin your extremely scenic drive through Lassen Volcanic National Park, which is only open during the warmer months due to its very high elevation.

Subway Cave Lava Tube

Before reaching the national park you might like to stop along the highway for a short but exciting underground walk via the Subway Cave Trail, which travels through a remarkable lava tube. Be sure to bring a flashlight and jacket for this 0.6 miles (1 km) round-trip walk.

Bumpass Hell Trail

The best trail the park has to offer is the 2.7 mile (4.3 km) round-trip Bumpass Hell Trail, which takes you on a journey amongst a stunning volcanically active landscape of geothermal pools, steaming holes in the ground, and colored hills. The sights among this amazing trail are reminiscent of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.

Sulphur Works

Continue your drive through the park, stopping at the various viewpoints along the road, before reaching the Sulphur Works volcanic area which you can take admire with a short walk. In this area you can also explore amongst the scenic meadows if you like, before leaving the park.

Another remarkable trail within this national park is the 4.6 mile (7.4 km) round-trip Cinder Cone Nature Trail, which ventures amongst a breathtaking vivid landscape known as the Painted Dunes before scaling up the Cinder Cone volcanic butte. From atop the Cinder Cone you can enjoy stunning panoramic views over the area.

This trail is located in the remote northeastern section of the park, which you can access to the east of the Subway Cave Lava Tubes. Note that this trail is quite a drive away from Highway 89 and the main part of the park. The trailhead is located adjacent to the Butte Lake Ranger Station.

Much further south of Lassen Volcanic National Park you might consider visiting the famous Sierra Nevada Brewery located in Chico, California. This brewery features many rare and unreleased beers as well as brewery tours and merchandise, as well as a restaurants serving all of their beers. The restaurant and taproom are open quite late.