Cinder Cone, Lassen National Park CA

• 5-star hikes
• 3 to 5 mile options
• Moderate | Gain 730 to 1,120 ft | Peak 6,820 ft
• Mineral, CA | Lassen Region
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The image shows a cinder cone, which is a type of volcanic feature. It has a steep, conical shape and a large crater at the summit. The surrounding landscape is barren with sparse vegetation, though some trees are visible in the foreground. The sky is clear with a few clouds, and there are distant mountains in the background.

The image shows a cinder cone, which is a type of volcanic feature. It has a steep, conical shape and a large crater at the summit. The surrounding landscape is barren with sparse vegetation, though some trees are visible in the foreground. The sky is clear with a few clouds, and there are distant mountains in the background.

Looking into the Lassen Cinder Cone.

Cinder cones are scattered all around you at Lassen Volcanic National Park. Some are in plain sight and others are overgrown and hidden by forest, but none are more recent and more spectacular than the Cinder Cone that created the Fantastic Lava Beds and the colorful Painted Dunes eleven miles north east of Lassen Peak.

Sometime around the middle of the seventeenth century a volcanic vent in this area began to expel small chunks of lava, which cooled in mid-air and fell back to earth to collect into a cone some 700 feet in height. Activity finally ceased when larger amounts of lava flowed up to the surface and eventually blocked the vent.

Trail Options Expand KML · Google Earth ·

⬤ 5★ Cinder Cone Part Loop 4.9 mi part loop, moderate, gain 1,120 ft
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions GPX?

⬤ 5★ Cinder Cone Shortest Route 3.0 mi out & back, moderate, gain 730 ft
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions

The hike from Butte Lake campground takes a route along the side of the lava beds and through a thin forest of evergreens before ascending the cinder cone. Although the route up the north face of the cone is well used, the ground underfoot is still loose, feeling much like walking along a mile of sandy beach, albeit at a thirty degree angle. From the summit you should take the time marvel at the Fantastic Lava Beds and Painted Dunes below you and the great mountain views of Lassen, Brokeoff and Chaos Crags.

Though geographically only eleven miles from Lassen Peak, Cinder Cone's Butte Lake trailhead is a 32 mile drive from the park's northern entrance and a fifty mile drive from Lassen Peak. We still recommend a visit however, particularly as you can stop by the Subway Caves lava tube on the way. Alternatively you can hike in from the park road if you start at Summit Lake, provided you're comfortable with a 17 mile out-and-back route with around 2,500 feet of elevation gain.

The image shows a serene lakeside scene surrounded by tall pine trees. The lake is calm and reflects the blue sky above. In the background, there are forested hills and a small peninsula jutting into the lake. A picnic table is visible near the water's edge, suggesting this is a recreational area, possibly a campsite or park.

The image shows a serene lakeside scene surrounded by tall pine trees. The lake is calm and reflects the blue sky above. In the background, there are forested hills and a small peninsula jutting into the lake. A picnic table is visible near the water's edge, suggesting this is a recreational area, possibly a campsite or park.

Butte Lake Trailhead.

To reaching the Butte Lake trailhead exit off Feather Lake Road (CA-44) and head south on the unpaved Butte Lake Road (NF32N21). We found the seven mile unpaved road to be entirely accessible by all types of vehicle in good conditions and the scenery along the route does a great job of distracting from the long drive.

Snow covers the Lassen landscape for much of the year and some roads and trails may not be open - even in summer. Check the links below to find updated information on road closures, trail closures and campground status.

The image showcases a breathtaking view of a snow-capped mountain in the background with a rugged, rocky terrain in the foreground. There are a few small trees and bushes scattered across the rocky landscape. Two hikers are seen walking along the ridge, silhouetted against the sky. The sky itself is clear with a few clouds, making the scene serene and picturesque.

The image showcases a breathtaking view of a snow-capped mountain in the background with a rugged, rocky terrain in the foreground. There are a few small trees and bushes scattered across the rocky landscape. Two hikers are seen walking along the ridge, silhouetted against the sky. The sky itself is clear with a few clouds, making the scene serene and picturesque.

Hiking the Cinder Cone caldera, with a distant Lassen Peak.

Tangents:
• Official: Lassen Volcanic NP
• AllTrails Public: Cinder Cone
• Facebook Group: Comment, Follow Us

Trailspotting Nearby
5★ Subway Caves Lava Tube (1 mi) · 4★ Manzanita Lake (2 mi) · 5★ McArthur Burney Falls (1 mi) · Show Map

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