One of my top two hikes in Lassen National Park, and probably their most popular and well-known hike. If you have the chance to hike down to Bumpass Hell, I'd highly recommend you do it. If you visited Sulphur Works, that's just a small bit of what Bumpass Hell has to offer. It's about a 3 mile round-trip hike with only about 200 elevation gain. All in all, it was a pretty easy hike. The views of these hot springs are absolutely gorgeous - a good variety of hydrothermal areas with such strikingly beautiful colors. If you've been to Yellowstone National Park, it might be a bit of a let down because the ones there are next level. So just keep that in mind when visiting! Make sure to stay on the boardwalk. The ground off trail is completely unpredictable and can lead to severe injuries. This trail is only open about 4 months of the year. So check the website in advance. It also gets so busy as this is their park gem. And there is not as much parking as you would like. So plan accordingly to ensure you'll be able to do the hike - the ranger did advise to go earlier in the morning. Amazing hike in Lassen. Highly recommend! read more

Bumpass Hell Trail - Hiking Near Me

A Must-See Hike in Lassen Volcanic National Park! Bumpass Hell is a fantastic hike and one of the highlights of Lassen Volcanic National Park. The trail offers incredible geothermal features--bubbling mud pots, steaming vents, and vibrant colors that make it feel like you're walking through another world. Keep in mind, the hike is at high elevation, so the trail is typically only open from July through late October, depending on snow conditions. Please inform yourself before traveling here. In some years, it might not open until August - based on the information provided by rangers. Be sure to check trail conditions before you go, especially if Bumpass Hell is a must-do on your list. National Park fee applies. Even if the trail happens to be closed, don't worry--there are plenty of other great hikes throughout the park to explore. But if it's open, this one is absolutely worth the trip! If you happened to be fluffy like me, take it slow and drink water. read more

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This hike was beautiful, It was really fun. I enjoyed it! If I had to give someone a idea to go on a hike I would recommend it.

Bumpass Hell is the largest hydrothermal area in the park and marks the principal area of upflow of steam & discharge from the Lassen hydrothermal system. The temperature of high-velocity steam jetting from Big Boiler, the largest fumarole in the park, has been measured as high as 322°F, making it one of the hottest fumaroles in the world. You need to stay on the boardwalk, as the hydrothermal may give way underfoot, which may cause severe injuries. This place is named after Kendall Vanhook Bumpass, whom broke through a thin crust above a scalding hot mudpot. His leg was badly scalded & eventually had to be amputated. If you're looking for a good hike while visiting Lassen National Park, Bumpass Hell is a good one. It is long, and has some steep areas, but the views are gorgeous along the way. read more

Bumpass Hell Trail - Bumpass Hell sign at the parking lot. - Hiking Near Me

Not a hard trail, some rocky areas but not difficult at all. Go at your own pace, enjoy the trees/ forest area at the start and then it's like you are in a completely different world with white rocks, and sulfur (stinky) smell, and even some fog. It's interesting to to see the bubbling water, the different colors the sulfur creates, and mineral deposits. Also interesting is to read all the placards with information on the park and it's history including how it got it's name, and why you should stay on the path at all times. In under 2 hours you will have seen so many parts of nature, this hike will not disappoint anyone. read more

Lassen National Park is other worldly! California has a very diverse geography, but when you think of California, you could not picture this in your wildest dreams. Bumpass Hell Trail will quite literally make you feel like you've gone through the forest and came out the other side on Mars. Stark white rock scapes accented by colorful mineral deposits greet you as you emerge from the trees. Muddy creeks filled with water warmed by the earth trickle along the surface, while ominous looking pools bubble in the background filling the air with a steamy foggy haze. The trail allows you to walk along a well maintained boardwalk that gets you close to this natural geothermal phenomenon. There are signs all over warning hikers to stay on the pathways, as the ground could give way, plunging you into potentially inescapable lava hot mud. That very thing happened to Mr. Bumpass, who guided early explorers through the area to see this for themselves. His accident is why the trail bears the name. All in all this is a relatively easy hike. About 2-3miles out and back with no serious inclines or declines and a very cool payoff. I'd say it's great for families and can be done in a very short time. The parking lot is decent, but if the park is busy, I could see it filling fast. read more

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we ran out of time to hike this trail, but the view from the trailhead/vista point is absolutely gorgeous! i found a semi-secret rock to sit on and just relax and admire the view for a few moments...be careful though, b/c the rock could be a bit slippery and on a windy day, you could be blown into the valley! the trail is about 2 1/2 miles long (roundtrip) and rated as easy, so suitable for families with young children. the story goes, kendall bumpass, an early settler, was guiding some folks through this area and accidentally broke thru the surface of a geothermal area, and one of his legs was scalded from the steaming hot mudpot. ouch! now, there are guardrails and signs around these mudpots so that you can only look but not touch (and fall thru!) another gem in lassen nat'l park that is not to be missed! read more

Bumpass Hell Trail - Hiking Near Me

Great wonder of the world. The home is moderate not to hard or easy. We walked a trail for about 500 feet which goes up and around the mountain. The trail is uphill 500 feet and then about 250 feet downhill and then you end up at the Bumpass Hell site. It's not as big of an area as I had thought we saw a few spurts coming out of the holes The trail was not to crowded we arrived at about 3pm it took us about an 2 Hours Total we are not advent hikers and do not walk period or exercise so the hike was a journey for us. You go up and around the mountain for a long time before you get to the bottom we almost gave up but kept on going. When we finally arrived it was a nice feeling to be in flat ground the pathway at the Bumpass path is a sturdy bridge platform that you can walk on and see a few of the earths wonders. Now the hike back was the hard part for us the 250 feet that was downhill in the way there is now an uphill thar you have to go back on that hill was much worst than the entire hike it was very HOT and my body wanted to die right there once we finally made it up that bottom hill the long uphill to get there is now a nice down around the mountain which was much easier than going. So all in all the trail back is worst than the walk there. Just do it and it's worth it read more

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Very cool hike at Lassen National Park. Not to be missed since it's a one-of-a-kind trail that showcases the interesting geology of the area. The parking area is a few miles from the southwest entrance. It does fill up, however. Even on a Tuesday morning, I had to circle the lot to find a spot (I noticed, driving past it again around 4 pm, it had many more open spaces.) There are scenic views right from the lot, but you'll want to head up the trail for even more overlooks and the quintessential Lassen views. It's a well graded trail that inclines gently up through forested area, interspersed with rocky overlooks and a few small meadows. You'll reach the boardwalk area and head downhill to view the steam and boiling mud. It's an amazing landscape full of striking contrast and colors. It's an other worldly landscape for sure. On the way back up. I'd recommend taking the "Frying Pan" spur. It cuts a bit off the uphill and has some of the most spectacular views of the boardwalk area. There's a short uphill back out, before the trail levels out and then descends back to the lot. It's not super challenging but it's warm and open in that section. You can overheat on a summer day. It's a must do hike in Lassen and is about 3 miles round trip (with longer hikes that also can embark from here.) Lots of informational plaques and truly a wondrous hike. read more

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Super best trail and a must. It's all exposed so timing will be important. Ask the visitors office what they suggest. This was my favorite trail. The 2-mile walk around manzanita lake is cool too! read more

The trail was closed during my visit in late May. However, the view from the parking lot was still lovely with all the snow. Looking forward to visiting Bumpass Hell again during the warmer season! read more

Bumpass Hell Trail - Bumpass Hell. - Hiking Near Me

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The trail to Bumpass Hell is a little lengthy, but is fairly easy for almost all skill levels. The entirety of the trail is beautifully scenic, with panoramic mountain views, including a perfect view of Mt Lassen across a lake at one point. Bumpass Hell is an interesting place with bubbling mud pots and plenty of educational material about the geothermal action going on in the area... It is a little stinky though. The story behind how Bumpass Hell got its name is interesting too... A cowboy named Kendall Van Hook Bumpass went stumbled on the area while looking for lost cattle. I think if my name was "Bumpass," I'd consider changing my name... But maybe that wasn't such a funny name back in the 1800s. Anyway, the "stumbled" part is quite literally--poor guy fell in one of the steaming mud pots and ended up losing his leg. That's where the "Hell" part of the name comes from. Anyway, it's a fun and interesting place now! One of the best parts of Lassen Volcanic National Park. read more

Bumpass Hell Trail - Mt Lassen - Hiking Near Me

If you're looking for a quick, educational hike in Lassen that will surely freak out the kids, Bumpass Hell is that hike! A 3-mile out-and-back with only 300 ft. of elevation gain makes this a great one for anyone in reasonable hiking shape. Lassen's description of the hike: "Moderate hike over rocky terrain with grand vistas. The trail drops into an active hydrothermal basin where you can view mudpots and fumaroles. For your safety, please stay on the boardwalk. This trail often has snow hazards through July and into August." If you want to cut the boring part of the hike off, park at Lake Helen and hop on the trail right before the vistas get good. Despite the generally rocky road, we actually had a great time trail running; it doesn't get especially crowded and people are polite enough to step aside. At a decent clip, we got it done in 1.5 hours with enough time to slowly browse through Hell. Prepare for a horrendous sulphur smell once you hit the crest of the hydrothermal area - a handkerchief or other face covering isn't a bad idea (no one will judge you). There are lots of educational placards that will help you understand this "hellish" landscape and the history behind its discovery - I recommend grabbing some quick pics of them if you don't want to stand around reading them (it's pretty smelly). :-P Above all, Lassen is a living volcano! Check out this hike for an easy way to sample all the views (and smells) the park has to offer. :-) read more

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Trail is a moderate hike, not too steep with some rockiness. Tree cover is pretty abundant, but you should still bring a hat. The smell of sulfur is very clear at the vista point of the springs, but it's not nearly as pungent as that of Yellowstone and in fact, was almost mild when you arrived at "hell" below. Definitely pay attention to the colors of the sulfur, it's like live chemistry in action. Especially cool was the pyrite pool at the very end where iron mixed with the sulfur created a black pond with eerie black bubbles rising to the top. read more

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Low effort, high reward! This is a short trail but the payoff at the end is the spectacular, colorful geothermal area of Bumpass Hell! Great for kids too, not too much change in elevation. read more

The Bumpass Hell Trail at Lassen National Park leads from a parking lot on Hwy 89 to the Bumpass Hell pits. There are amazing views of Lassen Peak, Lake Helen and the park along the way. The trail is moderately difficult and runs between 8200 - 8400 feet altitude. Bumpass Hell features boiling sulfur lakes, mud pots and steam vents. This is a must see when visiting Lassen. Plan for 2 hours round trip and bring plenty of water. There are no facilities along the trail. read more

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Mr. Bumpass fell into some boiling mud right after explaining how dangerous it was in these parts. He was so severely burned that he lost that leg. The place is named "Hell" because that's what he thought of it. Now it's safe for you to go. They built nice walkways through the hot mud springs, or whatever you call them. It's really something, sort of colorful and desolate at the same time. It's stinky, too, like rotten eggs. Sulphur does that, I suppose. read more

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A school report has been written on this Journey into hell, so cool that Kaleb decided to write about our fun day!

Bumpass Hell is accessible at the end of a 3 mile hike (round trip). The hike in itself is moderate but the steep elevation and the summer heat can get to you during the walk. Summer thru fall is the best time to come here (despite the heat) because snow closes most of the trails pretty much throughout the rest of the year. Bring plenty of water with you on the hike, 'cause you'll need it. And though the walk can seem interminable, the sight that awaits you at the end of the trip is well worth it. One knows that one has reached Bumpass Hell when the rotten egg smell from the sulphur starts to assault you and stays with you as you tour this magnificent collection of thermal features. Bumpass Hell is a gallery of mud pots, fumaroles and boiling pools in action. Notice boards are displayed everywhere urging visitors to stay on the Boardwalk as the ground is very brittle and a false step can land you in a boiling vent (pretty much what happened to Kendall Bumpass, after whom this place was named). The Boardwalk trail ends in a small lake and along the way one can see many hydothermal features in action. I was particularly fascinated by the black goo, popularly known as "Fool's Gold" in one of the boiling pools. For those who do not wish to undertake the 3 mile hike to Bumpass Hell, "Sulphur Works" which is the first main attraction from the visitor's center offers a glimpse of what a steam vent looks like. However, you won't be disappointed if you do the hike to Bumpass Hell . And keep out an eye for wildlife, we spotted a deer on our trail that didn't seem to mind us at all! read more

Well hello Bumpass! I just got back from Lassen and enjoyed this hike earlier today. It is a 3 mile walk roundtrip with a mostly easy trail winding up the hill, however the incredible amount of SNOW definitely made it precarious at times! We decided we would check it out in our street shoes, even though 10 minutes in I was incredibly nervous looking at a snow covered hill but determined if little kids and older people are coming back, I should be able to make it without being airlifted out. The views, surrounding trees and sheer beauty of the trail alone are enough reason for me to go on this hike again! (pics tomorrow). Midday heat was broken up by the ample amount of shady areas and there are MANY opportunities for photos. If there is snow when you go I would definitely recommend snow shoes or something grippy as street shoes or flipflops will prove to make the last, steeper, leg of the journey a difficult one. And you may decide there is another reason for the name Bumpass... Coming across the bend and seeing the mud pits and steam for the first time is truly something amazing and gives you a great gauge for how much longer :) There is a great boardwalk to bring you around the steam vents with once again, ample opportunities for photos. Stay on the marked trail but even from there you may get a steam vent to surprise you :) Oh and kids will not stop talking about the smell...we had a couple trying to tell us it wasn't worth it because of that...too cute! read more

Once again Mother Nature did not disappoint. The majority of the trail is a dirt/rocky path. As you get closer to the hydrothermal area, the trail becomes a wooden walkway over the steaming pools. The trail is about 3 miles total and took us (2 adults, 2 kids) almost 2 hours. The multi colored soils that is created by the different minerals was beautiful to see. read more

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We had to wait over two months for the snow melt this year due to their record snowfall. Let me tell you it was worth it! The trail is beautiful and the views are breathtaking being most of it is along the rim of the mountain. It is an easy trail all the way to the hydrothermal area. What goes down must come up so that is the hardest trek on this whole trail. Not really hard and it is a short way up then back on flat trail. Well worth it to see the colors, mudpots and vents. read more

Loved the name. Named after a local early inhabitant. Steep trail to the hot spring. May even take it one day. Beautiful scenery/ country.

Pretty cool place to visit when in the park. Nice hike down to the pots.

This is a beautiful location. The views from the trail are absolutely panoramic. You are on top of the world looking out! The trail is a bit of a challenge on the way back up the hill if you aren't much of a hiker. But the end destination is well worth the hike! read more

Nature is amazing! This hike has some good inclines, but nothing extraordinarily difficult. Great hike and a stunning Natural park. Go out of your way to see this, read more