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The Painted Dunes, Lassen Volcanic National Park

A telephoto view of colorful beige, orange, and yellow pumice dunes seen from the top of Cinder Cone in Lassen Volcanic National Park
Rebecca Latson
Thursday, November 3, 2022

Many national parks have a "painted" something. Petrified Forest National Park has its Painted Desert, and John Day Fossil Beds National Monument has its Painted Hills. Lassen Volcanic National Park has the Painted Dunes, which should be seen from the top of the Cinder Cone Trail for full effect. Created from pumice and ash that fell upon hot lava to oxidize into these eye-grabbing colors, the Painted Dunes are just part of an amazing vista that greets the intrepid hiker after a final 200-feet workout over loose volcanic gravel to reach the end of the trail at the top. 

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