Sight · Lassen Volcanic National Park
A warm, milky lake ringed by steam and bubbling mudpots.
Overview
Boiling Springs Lake is a pale green hydrothermal lake in Warner Valley, with bubbling water, steam vents and mudpots along parts of its shore. The roughly 3-mile round trip begins at the parking area west of Warner Valley Campground and loops along the lake; allow about two hours. Go for the unusual sight of a whole hot lake, rather than a roadside vent or a quick pullout. The park's latest trail table rates it moderate.
Parkwolf’s verdictA strange lake worth the walkMap
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Lassen Volcanic Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Lassen Volcanic National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Lassen Volcanic audio tourRecorded for this place
Warner Valley and Drakesbad“You're coming up on the Warner Valley trailhead, a starting point for meadow walks and hydrothermal hikes.”
Plays as you drive up to Boiling Springs Lake in the Parkwolf Lassen Volcanic Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
The route crosses a meadow, continues through forest and reaches the lake on foot. The trail is mostly sun-exposed and the 2021 Dixie Fire affected this area; standing dead trees can fall without warning, so stay alert in burned sections. The road into Warner Valley can close with winter conditions, so check access before making the drive.
The lake is about 125°F (52°C), not a swimming spot. On the southeast shore, look for the mudpots the park calls some of its best in the park. Stay on marked trails: the pale ground can hide unstable crust over acidic, boiling water or mud, and the shoreline is no place to step closer for a photo.
Rain and snowmelt from the highlands seep deep underground, where heat from the volcanic system below Lassen Peak warms the water. It rises at the surface as hot pools and mudpots, while steam escapes through cracks as fumaroles. Lassen's volcanic center last erupted in 1914–1917, including the major May 1915 eruption; that history is regional context for the heat, not a recorded eruption of this lake.
The pale green water, mineral-colored edges and bubbling southeast shore make the loop more interesting than a single look from one side. If the sky is clear, include Lassen Peak beyond the lake; the southeast side also brings the shore mudpots into view. Steam and water color can look different from one visit to another.
Wildlife
103 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
44 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
348 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
17 sightingsSandhill CraneMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
47 sightingsGreat Blue HeronMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
12 sightingsGreat EgretMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Lassen Volcanic. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ModerateDevils Kitchen Trail4.2 mi · 2.5 hr · 0.5 mi awayA meadow walk to a bubbling, steam-filled volcanic basin.
EasyBoiling Springs Lake Trail3 mi · 2 hr · 0.5 mi awayAn easy three-mile walk to steaming water and lakeside mudpots.
ModerateDrake Lake Trail5 mi · 3.5 hr · 0.5 mi awaySteep switchbacks climb from a meadow to a quiet forest lake.
ModerateTerminal Geyser Trail5.8 mi · 2.8 hr · 0.5 mi awayA forest climb ends at a steam plume in Willow Creek’s canyon.
ChallengingKings Creek Loop from Warner Valley10.5 mi · 8 hr · 0.5 mi awayA hard loop over Flatiron Ridge, Kings Creek Falls and Bench Lake.
EasyDream Lake Basin Trail1.5 mi · 45 min · 0.5 mi awayA former lake basin threaded by springs and meadow plants.
ModerateLittle Willow Lake to Terminal Geyser Trail3.2 mi · 2.3 hr · 1.9 mi awayA lakeside fen leads to a steam vent in the woods.
ChallengingPacific Crest Trail through Lassen Volcanic19.1 mi · 10 hr · 2 mi awayA true PCT crossing strings together remote lakes and forest.
Picnic area · 0.5 mi awayWarner Valley Day Use AreaA trailhead picnic stop for Lassen's hydrothermal corner.
Campground · 0.5 mi awayWarner Valley CampgroundA remote, wooded base for Warner Valley's trail network.
Lodging · 0.7 mi awayDrakesbad Guest RanchA remote Warner Valley base for meals, lodging, and nearby hikesSight · 1.4 mi awayTerminal GeyserA creekside steam vent at the end of a long hike.Sight · 2 mi awayDevils KitchenBubbling pools and steam after a longer Warner Valley hike.
Sight · 2.9 mi awayKings Creek FallsThe creekside stone steps are half the payoff.
Campground · 4.1 mi awaySummit Lake South CampgroundA short lake walk and dark skies define this tent campground.
Sight · 4.1 mi awayHorseshoe LakeA trout lake people have fished since 1936Parkwolf’s Lassen Volcanic ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
