Pacific Crest Trail through Lassen Volcanic

This is a 19.1-mile, one-way PCT section from Lassen Volcanic’s southern boundary to its northwestern boundary. It is a through-route, not a loop from one trailhead lot. The park brochure lists 17 miles of PCT, while this connected boundary-to-boundary line measures 19.07; plan around about 19 miles. The trail stays high, between roughly 5,800 and 6,700 feet, with repeated climbs and descents. Allow about 10 hours of hiking, plus the time needed to reach both ends and arrange a return.

The PCT crosses the park’s eastern high country. One well-described middle stretch runs from Corral Meadow and Kings Creek to Lower Twin Lake: it climbs gradually from creekside woods and a wet grassy swale, then more steeply to a forested ridge. Swan Lake appears to the east and Upper Twin Lake lies below to the west before the trail drops to Lower Twin Lake. This description comes from a prefire walk, so the forest along parts of the route has since changed.

The 2021 fire affected part of this corridor. Repair work on the 13-mile stretch inside the fire footprint was completed in 2023, but standing dead trees remain and can fall without warning. The park does not update PCT conditions regularly; check locally before setting out, especially for current blowdown.

The mapped start and finish are park-boundary crossings, not a single parking lot. No endpoint parking or shuttle was verified, so arrange access and return transport before attempting the whole section. This is a backcountry route: the park requires a permit for an overnight stay, and pets are not allowed on park trails. No route-wide water or services were confirmed; treat any backcountry water before drinking.