Lassen Volcanic National Park, CA
A former lake basin threaded by springs and meadow plants.
Overview
Map & elevation
Plan your hike
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 area
Warner Valley and Drakesbad“You're coming up on the Warner Valley trailhead, a starting point for meadow walks and hydrothermal hikes.”
Plays near this trailhead 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!!!!”
Trail guide
Dream Lake Basin Trail is an easy 1.5-mile out-and-back from Warner Valley Trailhead to the former lake bed. Allow about 45 minutes to an hour with a stop at the basin. This is a meadow and wetland walk with a restoration story, not a lakeshore hike or a summit viewpoint.
The shared trail leaves the Warner Valley Trailhead through meadow, over small footbridges and boardwalks, then crosses Hot Springs Creek. At about 0.6 mile, take the Dream Lake Basin junction rather than continuing toward Devils Kitchen. A short stretch of wooden boardwalk crosses wet ground at the basin; return the way you came.
Dream Lake was held behind a dam built in the 1930s for Drakesbad Guest Ranch. The dam was removed in 2011, and four spring-fed channels now meander over the exposed bottom among meadow plants. The payoff is seeing a former lake turn back into wetland, not a guaranteed expanse of open water.
The Warner Valley Trailhead parking area is about 16 miles northwest of Chester. From Chester, follow Feather River Road about a mile to the fork, continue toward Warner Valley and Drakesbad for roughly 15 miles, then bear left onto the dirt road and pass the campground to the trailhead turnoff. Warner Valley Road is not maintained in winter, roughly November through June, and snow can prevent vehicle access. Dogs are not allowed on park hiking trails.
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 · At the trailheadAn easy three-mile walk to steaming water and lakeside mudpots.
ModerateDrake Lake Trail5 mi · 3.5 hr · At the trailheadSteep switchbacks climb from a meadow to a quiet forest lake.
ModerateTerminal Geyser Trail5.8 mi · 2.8 hr · At the trailheadA forest climb ends at a steam plume in Willow Creek’s canyon.
ChallengingKings Creek Loop from Warner Valley10.5 mi · 8 hr · At the trailheadA hard loop over Flatiron Ridge, Kings Creek Falls and Bench Lake.
ModerateDevils Kitchen Trail4.2 mi · 2.5 hr · 0.2 mi awayA meadow walk to a bubbling, steam-filled volcanic basin.
ModerateLittle Willow Lake to Terminal Geyser Trail3.2 mi · 2.3 hr · 2.4 mi awayA lakeside fen leads to a steam vent in the woods.
ChallengingPacific Crest Trail through Lassen Volcanic19.1 mi · 10 hr · 2.5 mi awayA true PCT crossing strings together remote lakes and forest.
ChallengingKings Gorge Loop16.8 mi · 13 hr · 3.4 mi awayA long loop links Juniper Lake, wet meadows and a deep gorge.
Campground · 0.2 mi awayWarner Valley CampgroundA remote, wooded base for Warner Valley's trail network.
Picnic area · 0.2 mi awayWarner Valley Day Use AreaA trailhead picnic stop for Lassen's hydrothermal corner.
Lodging · 0.4 mi awayDrakesbad Guest RanchA remote Warner Valley base for meals, lodging, and nearby hikes
Sight · 0.5 mi awayBoiling Springs LakeA warm, milky lake ringed by steam and bubbling mudpots.Sight · 1.8 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 · 2.6 mi awayKings Creek FallsThe creekside stone steps are half the payoff.
Campground · 3.6 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.
