Find hotels near Lake Helen, from CA $769

Hike the scenic trail connecting the larger Lake Helen to this charming basin, which is cold for much of the year and sometimes covered in ice.

Notice the rotten egg smell as you perch over the dome at the end of a trail that loops around the Cascade Range’s southernmost active volcano.

The remnants of an ancient volcano release sulfuric steam into the air in this eerie world of fumaroles and bubbling mud pots, where a mine and spa once stood.

Colorful wildflowers and grasses decorate this vast, open meadow, where you’ll see mule deer grazing along the meandering Kings Creek.

In the shadow of Mount Lassen, this gorgeous meadow provides access to a waterfall and views of the Milky Way and even the aurora borealis.

With a gift shop, café and audiovisual presentation, this informative center serves as the perfect base before exploration of the volcanic park.