The 30-mile highway through Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California has opened for the summer season, though sections might seem like winter. A higher-than-average snowpack slowed operations, but through the hard work of National Park Service and Caltrans road crews, the road has been fully cleared. Visitors to the park should prepare for winter conditions at higher elevations, and possible delays due to ongoing road work.

If you’ve ever visited Lassen Volcanic National Park, you’ll probably have hiked the Bumpass Hell Trail. It’s one of those must-do hikes. But that’s not the only trail you should tackle. Contributing photographer and editor Rebecca Latson hiked Cinder Cone Trail in the more remote northeastern portion of the park and firmly believes the rewards are worth the effort.

There’s something to be said for a simple composition, you know. Something to be said for an image not requiring much parsing through the various details combined to create a shot, the gist of which might take time to fully comprehend. A simple image can pack a punch and create an emotional response despite, or perhaps because of, its minimalism.

Have you ever stopped to think about the number of National Park System units created around volcanoes and volcanic features?