Manzanita Lake

Summary

Manzanita Lake Campground, located one mile south of the park entrance in Lassen Volcanic National Park, is the largest campground in the park. It is popular for fishing and kayaking and is close to hiking trails and The Loomis Museum, providing access to the park's 300 active volcanic domes, hydrothermal features, diverse plant and animal species and its most notable feature, Lassen Peak, the southernmost active volcano in the Cascades.

Overview

Manzanita Lake Campground (elevation 5,900 ft.) is the largest campground in Lassen Volcanic National Park. It is within walking distance of the scenic Manzanita Lake, a popular fishing and family destination, and offers impressive views of Lassen Peak, the largest volcano in the park at 10,457 feet.

The facility is conveniently located one mile south of the park entrance, close to The Loomis Museum, Loomis Ranger Station and popular hiking trails. Educational programs are presented at the museum and amphitheater.

Recreation

Manzanita Lake is popular with fly fishermen, but the campground does maintain a catch-and-release policy. Non-motorized boating is also permitted and Kayak rentals are available nearby. The park boasts more than 150 miles of hiking trails, a variety of which can be accessed from the campground, including family-friendly hikes as well as those for more experienced hikers.

Facilities

Manzanita Lake Campground is forested with Jeffrey and Ponderosa pines and has many comforts in the campground or close by, including pay showers, a general store and paved roads.

Flush toilets and running water are turned on during the summer, vault toilets are available outside of the peak season. For more information visit Campgrounds of Lassen Volcanic.

Natural Features

The national park is known for its volcanic history, as well as its diversity of plants and animals. It contains 300 active volcanic domes, as well as many hydrothermal features, such as mud pots and steam vents. Lassen Peak is the southernmost active volcano in the Cascades, and the second most recent to erupt in the lower 48 of the United States before Mount Saint Helens.

Lassen National Park boasts over 700 species of flowering plants and 250 species of birds, mammals, reptiles and fish. The park is at the junction of the Cascade Mountains, the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Great Basin, thus providing many unique habitats.