Picnic area · Lassen Volcanic National Park
A trailhead picnic stop for Lassen's hydrothermal corner.
Overview
Map
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 Warner Valley Day Use Area 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 day-use area has potable water and a vault/composting toilet, along with an information kiosk, recycling, and trash receptacles. Drakesbad Guest Ranch is about a mile farther along the road; NPS lists dining and bagged lunches there by reservation. Other visitors may walk to the ranch from the trailhead, but vehicle access and parking are limited to guests, so plan food separately if you do not have a reservation.
The area is about 17 miles from Chester. The last three miles are dirt and steep, and NPS advises against trailers. There is no cell service at the day-use area, so download directions before leaving coverage. NPS lists the area as seasonal from June through October and says the road closes in winter and spring; confirm access before making the long drive.
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
EasyBoiling Springs Lake Trail3 mi · 2 hr · 0.2 mi awayAn easy three-mile walk to steaming water and lakeside mudpots.
ModerateDrake Lake Trail5 mi · 3.5 hr · 0.2 mi awaySteep switchbacks climb from a meadow to a quiet forest lake.
ModerateTerminal Geyser Trail5.8 mi · 2.8 hr · 0.2 mi awayA forest climb ends at a steam plume in Willow Creek’s canyon.
ChallengingKings Creek Loop from Warner Valley10.5 mi · 8 hr · 0.2 mi awayA hard loop over Flatiron Ridge, Kings Creek Falls and Bench Lake.
EasyDream Lake Basin Trail1.5 mi · 45 min · 0.2 mi awayA former lake basin threaded by springs and meadow plants.
ModerateDevils Kitchen Trail4.2 mi · 2.5 hr · 0.4 mi awayA meadow walk to a bubbling, steam-filled volcanic basin.
ModerateLittle Willow Lake to Terminal Geyser Trail3.2 mi · 2.3 hr · 2.3 mi awayA lakeside fen leads to a steam vent in the woods.
ChallengingPacific Crest Trail through Lassen Volcanic19.1 mi · 10 hr · 2.3 mi awayA true PCT crossing strings together remote lakes and forest.
Campground · 0.1 mi awayWarner Valley CampgroundA remote, wooded base for Warner Valley's trail network.
Sight · 0.5 mi awayBoiling Springs LakeA warm, milky lake ringed by steam and bubbling mudpots.
Lodging · 0.6 mi awayDrakesbad Guest RanchA remote Warner Valley base for meals, lodging, and nearby hikesSight · 1.7 mi awayTerminal GeyserA creekside steam vent at the end of a long hike.Sight · 2.2 mi awayDevils KitchenBubbling pools and steam after a longer Warner Valley hike.
Sight · 2.8 mi awayKings Creek FallsThe creekside stone steps are half the payoff.
Sight · 3.7 mi awayHorseshoe LakeA trout lake people have fished since 1936
Campground · 3.7 mi awaySummit Lake South CampgroundA short lake walk and dark skies define this tent campground.Parkwolf’s Lassen Volcanic ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
