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Mission41

Bumpass Hell, Lassen Volcanic

Bumpass Hell in Lassen Volcanic. Walk the boardwalk over bubbling mud pots and steam vents.

Hike over a ridge and down into Bumpass Hell, then walk the boardwalk over boiling pools, bubbling mud pots and hissing steam vents in a valley painted yellow, orange and turquoise. It smells strongly of sulfur. Each pick the weirdest bubbling spot and vote on a winner. The photo to get: you on the boardwalk with the steam rising behind you.

  • Date or adventure
  • Half day
  • Moderate
  • $20-60
  • Outdoors
  • Summer and fall
  • Daytime

Good with just you, friends, family, and kids

Check before you go: weather and trail conditions, and whether it's open this season

Bumpass Hell Trailhead, Lassen Volcanic National Park
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Kids' version

Volcano hunt! Find each thing.

  1. Steam coming out of the ground
  2. Bubbling mud
  3. A blue pool
  4. A stinky smell!
  5. A selfie on the boardwalk!

Checked November 2026

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About this place

Bumpass Hell is named for Kendall Bumpass, who found it in the 1860s and later broke through the thin crust and badly burned his leg. That's why you stay on the boardwalk: the ground can be thin and scalding.

It's the biggest hydrothermal area in the park, powered by the same volcanic system as Lassen Peak, which last erupted from 1914 to 1917. The trail is about three miles round trip and is snowed in much of the year, usually opening in mid-summer.

The park ranges from about 5,600 to 10,400 feet, so take it slow if you feel the altitude. Cell service is limited, so download maps before you go.

Also in: Kid-Friendly Adventures

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