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Lassen Volcanic National Park

The Cinder Cone Trail, Lassen Volcanic National Park

Dark, sandy, barren landscape with a few conifers in the foreground and a 750-foot tall cinder cone with a delineated, curving trail in the background in Lassen Volcanic National Park

"Hike to the base or summit of the dramatic Cinder Cone volcano via this popular trail in the Butte Lake Area. The sand-like cinders on this trail make the hike challenging, especially when climbing the steep 200-foot ascent to the summit. However, hikers are afforded with fantastic views of the dramatic cinder cone, its lava flow called the Fantastic Lava Beds, and the colorful Painted Dunes. At 1.2 miles, the trail reaches a fork at the base of Cinder Cone. Look to your left (south) here for the first views of the colorful Painted Dunes.

Rebecca Latson

Lassen Volcanic National Park Beginning Transition To Winter

Fall is dropping temperatures, and a dusting of snow, at Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California, which means winter can't be too far off. Visitors should be prepared for changing conditions including below freezing nighttime temperatures, limited campsites and visitor services, and temporary effects of fire management activities.

Complex Of Fires At Sequoia National Park Spurring Evacuations

Highly combustible forests and rugged terrain in both Sequoia and Lassen Volcanic national parks in California gave firefighters on the ground little option but to watch as flames jumped across the two parks. While Lassen Volcanic has been closed to the public since early August, parts of Sequoia closed this week as a complex of fires was galloping across the landscape and forcing area evacuations.

Fire Prevention Helps Save Many Structures At Lassen Volcanic National Park

While the Dixie Fire continues to actively burn within Lassen Volcanic National Park, it's not destroying everything in its path. While some structures are confirmed to be damaged or destroyed, firefighters have successfully leveraged the park’s previous and current fire and fuels management projects to preserve park resources and structures.

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