Bumpass Hell - Lassen Volcanic National Park

Tamara Lopez and I hiked out to Bumpass Hell in Lassen Volcanic National Park during early September. This is a feature I had not yet explored in Lassen. Bumpass Hell is basically a hydrothermal vent connecting the surface to a magma chamber deep underground. Water and mud is constantly boiling, and the smell of hydrogen sulfide is almost overwhelming. This area was once part of the main vent feeding Mount Tehama, a massive prehistoric volcano that eroded away due to chemical weathering--Brokeoff Mountain, a peak I hiked earlier in the summer, is the largest remnant of Tehama.

The main trail to Bumpass Hell remains closed due to park service restoration. However, a section of Bumpass can be reached by hiking 2.5 miles from the Kings Creek picnic area.