Crater Lake National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park are two stunning destinations for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts. While both parks offer a unique blend of breathtaking landscapes, Crater Lake boasts of its crystal-clear lake formed from a massive volcanic eruption, surrounded by towering cliffs. On the other hand, Lassen Volcanic National Park is a volcanic wonderland with hissing fumaroles, bubbling mud pots, and steaming hot springs. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful lakeside stroll or a thrilling hike through volcanic terrain, these two parks promise an unforgettable experience. Get ready to immerse yourself in the beauty of nature and discover the fascinating geological history of these two parks.
Hiking Trails in Crater Lake National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park
Crater Lake National Park in Oregon and Lassen Volcanic National Park in California both offer stunning natural landscapes for hiking enthusiasts. Crater Lake is known for its clear blue waters and surrounded by steep cliffs, while Lassen is home to diverse volcanic landscapes, including geysers, hot springs, and boiling mud pots.
At Crater Lake, the easiest hike is the Rim Village Trail, a 1-mile loop around the lake’s rim. The hardest hike is the Cleetwood Cove Trail, a steep 2.2-mile trail down to the lake’s shore. At Lassen, the easiest hike is the Bumpass Hell Trail, a 1.5-mile boardwalk trail through a boiling mud pot and geyser area. The hardest hike is the Lassen Peak Trail, a strenuous 5.5-mile trail to the top of an active volcano. Both parks offer a range of hiking options for visitors of different skill levels, and both provide beautiful and unique scenic views.
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Crater Lake National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garfield Peak Trail | 5471.756 | 325.8312 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Cleetwood Cove Trail | 3379.614 | 189.8904 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| The Watchman Peak Trail | 2574.944 | 117.9576 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Mount Scott Trail | 6759.228 | 383.7432 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Discovery Point Trail | 6437.36 | 278.892 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Plaikni Falls Trail | 3218.68 | 40.8432 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Wizard Island Trail | 3701.482 | 228.9048 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Sun Notch Trail | 1287.472 | 38.7096 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Pinnacles Valley Trail | 1126.538 | 11.8872 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Mazama Village to Rim Village at Crater Lake | 13357.522 | 530.9616 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Lassen Volcanic National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lassen Peak | 8207.634 | 599.8464 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Kings Creek Falls Trail | 4345.218 | 143.8656 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Cinder Cone Nature Trail | 7724.832 | 317.9064 | Hard | loop | 5 |
| Brokeoff Mountain Trail | 12230.984 | 786.9936 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Mill Creek Falls Trail | 6115.492 | 237.744 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Manzanita Lake Loop | 3057.746 | 13.716 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Devil’s Kitchen Trail | 7402.964 | 187.7568 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Chaos Crags Trail | 6437.36 | 301.752 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Cluster Lakes Loop Trail | 16737.136 | 451.7136 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Boiling Springs Lake Loop Trail | 3701.482 | 75.8952 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
Wildlife in Crater Lake National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park
Crater Lake National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park both offer a diverse array of wildlife. At Crater Lake, common wildlife sightings include deer, squirrels, and chipmunks. Birds such as bald eagles and peregrine falcons can also be seen. In terms of vegetation, Crater Lake is home to evergreen forests and meadows.
Lassen Volcanic National Park, on the other hand, has a higher diversity of wildlife, including black bears, mountain lions, and coyotes. The park is also a prime location to see birds of prey, including hawks and owls. Vegetation in the park ranges from high-elevation forests to volcanic landscapes, boasting an array of plant life including pine trees and wildflowers.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Crater Lake National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Crater Lake National Park | Lassen Volcanic National Park |
|---|---|
| Peregrine Falcon | Peregrine Falcon |
| Northern Harrier | Northern Harrier |
| Sharp-Shinned Hawk | Sharp-Shinned Hawk |
| Osprey | Osprey |
| Tree Swallow | Tree Swallow |
| Mallard | Mallard |
| Canada Goose | Canada Goose |
| Lincoln’s Sparrow | Lincoln’s Sparrow |
| Ruby-Crowned Kinglet | Ruby-Crowned Kinglet |
| American Robin | American Robin |
| Great Horned Owl | Great Horned Owl |
| Red-Tailed Hawk | Red-Tailed Hawk |
| Northern Flicker | Northern Flicker |
| Merlin | Merlin |
| Barn Swallow | Barn Swallow |
| Savannah Sparrow | Savannah Sparrow |
| Great Blue Heron | Great Blue Heron |
| Hermit Thrush | Hermit Thrush |
| Bald Eagle | American Kestrel |
| Song Sparrow | Bald Eagle |
| European Starling | Song Sparrow |
| Northern Pintail | European Starling |
| American Wigeon | Northern Pintail |
| American Pipit | American Wigeon |
| Swainson’s Thrush | Green-Winged Teal |
Mammals
| Crater Lake National Park | Lassen Volcanic National Park |
|---|---|
| Coyote | American Beaver |
| American Beaver | Muskrat |
| Muskrat | Bobcat |
| Big Brown Bat | Striped Skunk |
| Bobcat | Raccoon |
| Striped Skunk | Black Bear |
| Little Brown Bat | Silver-Haired Bat |
| Deer Mouse | Hoary Bat |
| Raccoon | Long-Tailed Weasel |
| Black Bear | Mountain Lion |
| Porcupine | Mink |
| Silver-Haired Bat | Mule Deer |
| Hoary Bat | Gray Fox |
| Red Fox | Wolf |
| Long-Tailed Weasel | Long-Eared Myotis |
| House Mouse | Snowshoe Hare |
| Mountain Lion | Fringed Myotis |
| Mink | Western Harvest Mouse |
| Mule Deer Or Black-Tailed Deer | Yuma Myotis |
| Gray Fox | Bighorn Sheep |
| Wolf | Montane Shrew |
| Long-Legged Myotis | Long-Tailed Vole |
| Long-Eared Myotis | Ringtail |
| American Badger | Virginia Opossum |
| Ermine | Wolverine |
Fish
| Crater Lake National Park | Lassen Volcanic National Park |
|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | Redband Trout |
| Brook Trout | Brook Trout |
| Brown Trout | Brown Trout |
| Lake Trout | Fathead Minnow |
| Silver Salmon | Golden Shiner |
| Kokanee Salmon | Silver Salmon |
| Cutthroat Trout | King Salmon |
| Mottled Sculpin | |
| Speckled Dace | |
| Brown Bullhead |
Reptiles
| Crater Lake National Park | Lassen Volcanic National Park |
|---|---|
| Western Terestrial Garter Snake | Gopher Snake |
| Racer | Western Terrestrial Garter Snake |
| Sagebrush Lizard | Racer |
| Common Garter Snake | Western Rattlesnake |
| Rubber Boa | Ring-Necked Snake |
| Western Skink | Sagebrush Lizard |
| Western Fence Lizard | Common Garter Snake |
| Common Kingsnake | |
| Rubber Boa | |
| Striped Whipsnake | |
| Western Whiptail | |
| Western Skink | |
| Western Fence Lizard |
Amphibians
| Crater Lake National Park | Lassen Volcanic National Park |
|---|---|
| Bullfrog | Bullfrog |
Insects
| Crater Lake National Park | Lassen Volcanic National Park |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulphur | Orange Sulphur |
| Painted Lady | Painted Lady |
| Red Admiral | Monarch Butterfly |
| Honey Bee | American Painted Lady |
| Purplish Copper | Common Checkered-Skipper |
| Anise Swallowtail | Honey Bee |
| Buckeye | |
| Anise Swallowtail |
Beautiful Landscapes in Crater Lake National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park
Crater Lake National Park is famous for its deep blue lake surrounded by Wizard Island and towering cliffs. The lake was formed by the collapse of a volcanic caldera and offers stunning views from Rim Drive and various overlooks. Lassen Volcanic National Park is known for its hydrothermal features like boiling mud pots, steam vents, and hot springs. The park also features Lassen Peak, an active volcano that last erupted in 1915, and the park’s diverse landscapes include forests, meadows, and mountain ranges.
Things To-Do and Activities in Crater Lake National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park
Crater Lake National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park are two of the most popular parks in the US. At Crater Lake, visitors love to go boating and fishing on the lake, as well as taking scenic drives and exploring the Rim Drive for stunning views. Winter activities include snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and sledding on the rim. At Lassen Volcanic, visitors enjoy scenic drives and exploring the hydrothermal areas, such as Bumpass Hell, with its bubbling mud pots and steam vents. Hiking is also a popular activity, with trails leading to the park’s many volcanic features, including Lassen Peak, the largest plug dome volcano in the world.
Best Time to Visit Crater Lake National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park
Crater Lake National Park is set in the Cascade Mountains of southern Oregon and experiences a semi-arid climate with high variation in temperature. Winter temperatures average around 20°F (-6°C) with heavy snowfall and can drop to below 0°F (-18°C). Summer temperatures average in the 60-70°F (16-21°C) range with occasional thunderstorms. The best time to visit is July to September when the park is accessible and weather is mild.
Lassen Volcanic National Park, located in northern California, has a subalpine climate with cooler, wetter weather and higher precipitation compared to Crater Lake. Winter temperatures average in the 30-40°F (-1 to 4°C) range with snow, while summer temperatures average in the 60-70°F (16-21°C) range with occasional thunderstorms. The best time to visit is June to October when park roads and facilities are open and weather is mild.
Family Friendliness of Crater Lake National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park
Crater Lake National Park and Lassen Volcanic National Park are both known for their stunning natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities, but they differ in terms of family-friendliness. Crater Lake has easier hikes and scenic drives, making it more suitable for families with young children. On the other hand, Lassen Volcanic has more challenging trails and geothermal features, making it a better fit for families with older children or teens who enjoy more adventure. Both parks offer ranger-led programs and campgrounds, but Crater Lake has a more developed infrastructure with more amenities, making it a more convenient choice for families.