Bumpass Hell will Remain Closed when Lassen Park Opens for Summer Season

In April of 2018, Lassen Volcanic National Park officials closed the trailhead for its famed hydrothermal area known as Bumpass Hell for restoration, with hopes of finishing the project by the end of 2018. With the mounds of snow that piled up on the park beginning early this winter, the work will finish once the snow is removed in the park this summer, delaying the reopening of the popular destination.

Bumpass Hell is plopping mudpots, bubbling pools, and roaring steam vents that can be dangerous without the walkways to navigate hydrothermal features. The area is named after Kendall Vanhook Bumpass, who famously lost his leg in 1864 when he fell into one of the pits.

Park trail crew will resume trail improvement efforts on the second half of the trail as soon as it is clear of snow. Trail crew anticipates completion one month after work begins. As with the normal summer trail opening of this high elevation trail, this date is largely dependent on winter snowpack and spring conditions. Due to heavy winter snowfall, the trail may not be accessible to begin work until well into August.

The popular Bumpass Hell Trail is located across from Lake Helen off the Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway. This short trail offers outstanding opportunities to experience hydrothermal features. In 2015, a portion of the boardwalk leading to the Turquoise Pool was removed because the boardwalk was being undermined by the Pyrite Pool. Other parts of the trail have not been comprehensively rehabilitated since the 1970s.

There are many other places in Lassen Volcanic National Park to learn about the hydrothermal areas - Discover the Hydrothermal Areas of Lassen Volcanic National Park