Stopped by here a few years ago during winter and it still had snow, it was a hidden gem for sure,…read morebut scary hiking in the snow as you had to look for trail signs and make sure you dont accidentally walk into the areas you are not supposed to (dont want to walk over the thermal beds!)!! we used our snow shoes and hiking gear and it was a fun trip! Follow all the trail signs and bring plenty of water Read less

As part of our quest to visit all 63 U.S. national parks, we set off on a six week road trip. I…read morehave a personal rule: I only count a national park as "visited" if I actually spend time there, hike or walk through it, and truly experience it. On this trip, we visited 14 national parks, and Lassen Volcanic National Park was one of the biggest surprises. The drive into the park was beautiful, and despite evidence of recent wildfires in parts of the forest, the landscape is recovering and remains absolutely stunning. Nature has an incredible ability to heal, and seeing young trees growing alongside older burned areas was a reminder of how volcanic landscapes are constantly changing. Lassen is one of the few places in the world where you can experience all four types of volcanoes: shield, composite, cinder cone, and plug dome. That alone makes it geologically fascinating, but what really impressed us was how much variety the park offers. One moment we were standing beside steaming fumaroles and bubbling mud pots that reminded us of a smaller, quieter version of Yellowstone. The smell of sulfur, the hissing steam, and the boiling earth beneath your feet make you appreciate that this landscape is still very much alive. The next moment we were hiking around peaceful alpine lakes with spectacular reflections of Lassen Peak mirrored in the crystal clear water. Manzanita Lake was especially beautiful, and seeing the volcano reflected on its calm surface was one of the highlights of our visit. We also loved exploring quieter trails to places like Lily Pond, where we could hike for long stretches while seeing only one or two other people. There is something special about having so much natural beauty almost entirely to yourself. For those who enjoy being on the water, the lakes are perfect for kayaking or simply sitting quietly and taking in the scenery. The combination of volcanic landscapes, mountain forests, meadows, lakes, and wildlife makes every part of the park feel different. We stayed in the nearby town of Chester, which turned out to be a charming little base for exploring the park. It has several good restaurants, friendly people, and everything we needed after long days of hiking. Lassen Volcanic National Park may not receive the attention of some of California's more famous parks, but it absolutely deserves it. It combines dramatic volcanic features with peaceful alpine beauty in a way that feels both exciting and calming at the same time. If you enjoy hiking, geology, photography, or simply discovering places that are a little less crowded, Lassen Volcanic National Park is a hidden gem that should be on every national park lover's list.

The trail to Mill Creek Falls begins right off to the side of the new Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor…read moreCenter in the Southwest parking area. The trail is somewhat easy-moderate, depending how fit you are of course. It has a round trip distance of 4.6 miles with various areas of inclining slopes. The path was not smooth and in many spots there was snow blocking the way (but this was a few weeks ago and it may have melted by now). Hiking poles were very useful here. This trail isn't for those looking for an easy stroll. Keep a close eye on the trail too because it wasn't clearly marked and there are areas were you can get off the main path. With that being said, the hike and the actual falls were beautiful. Along the way there were open areas that offered lovely views of various mountain peaks, as well as areas with towering trees that loomed overhead and offered much leafy shade. There was one part of the trail that brought us to a hillside covered with bushes of yellow wildflowers, which was absolutely beautiful. The Mill Creek Falls itself was stunning. You can walk across a bridge that runs above its cascading waters and also across a second little bridge further up from the first. The bridge gives you a spectacular view of the canyon between the two hills. Be careful though because the wooden bridges do not have railings. It's hard to put into words the beauty and majesty of a natural waterfall. You just have to see it for yourself.

A beautiful facility offering information on businesses and events throughout Tehama County…read more Friendly "greeter" from the Work Training Center will direct you to various displays within the Center. Art Gallery features displays throughout the year.

From the owner: We are a Visitor Center, presented by North Valley Services, a non-profit organization which…read morepromotes opportunities for people with disabilities.

The visitor center had a surprisingly nice little gift Shop…read morewith plushies, local artisan clothing, books and some local guide books.

This place is wonderful. We had read about Quincy and the Fall foliage in AAA's Via Magazine and…read moresent away for a travel packet. They sent it by super jet---it arrived a couple of days later! We stopped in for some more info. They gave us a "Leaf Peeper" bag which included a "Leaf Peeper" sign to put in our rear window (so other drivers would know we were looking for fall colors) with some ticky-tacky gum to affix it o our window; a small bottle of glass cleaner rand several paper towels; more maps and more brochures. This has got to be one of the best visitors centers we've been to. There are pamphlets for every interest possible (wildlife viewing, birding, museums, historical sites, trains, Native American sites, etc. etc) The staff there is so warm, friendly and helpful. Carrie spent a lot of time answering our questions. And they have two resident cats----two large tabby brothers named Mowgli and Balloo (ie from The Jungle Book by Kipling). They are so laid back. We didn't notice them since they were lounging around on the bench and blended in.

Large open space to relax and see the amazing dam. Lots of parking available. Visitors center…read moredoes not allow for pets unless service animal. Picnic tables in the grass area under trees to enjoy the peaceful area. The water level was low at the time of our visit but the water was very calm and blue.

The parking lot was huge, but the visitor center itself was pretty small. There's security guards…read moreat the visitor center and dam. Came on a weekend and it was pretty crowded. There's a video in one of the room that taught about the dam's history. Apparently, the staff ran two free hour long tours at 11AM and 1PM the day we visited. We were told the tour schedule changes all the time so you need to call ahead for their schedule. You need to arrive an hour in advance and it's first come first reserve. You cannot reserve before the hour. There were a lot of people waiting for the tour. Hopefully, we can return one day for the tour.

The place kinda looks like a library but it has a lot of maps and best of all, they sell stickers…read more(I love tiny stickers, but the one from Weed made me laugh). It's cool to visit, but unfortunately they don't hold a candle to the one a few miles from when you leave California and enter Oregon. That one has picnic tables, a dog run, lots of bathroom stalls and when you enter the building, you feel like you're in a gigantic lodge for a state park. The Oregon one also has tons of freebies, including beautiful half sheet posters of some of the nature and activities of some of the big towns and kids walk away with a bag of toys, pins, and stickers for free. I know it's not fair to compare the two, but when you've seen better, everything else kinda pales in comparison. The lady who helped me at this Welcome Center was nice though.

This is a must stop when you are driven North or South. They have lots of resources, maps, history…read moreetc. There is a shop with very unique items like a t-shirt made of California dirt. Clean restrooms available too.

What a hidden gem! This visitor center has a "free" interactive museum showcasing how the dam was…read moreengineered; the history of the native Yahi Indian culture and of Ishi, Oroville, and the local fish and wildlife. My favorite exhibit was the story and photos of Ishi. The center also has a viewing tower which is accessible by stairs or elevator. You can see the dam. Don't worry if you are afraid of heights. The tower is not very tall. Plus it has coin operated telescopes. But I put a quarter in one of the telescopes...it didn't work. I suggest bringing your own binoculars, if you have one, because the center is on top of the ridge overlooking the dam with pretty nice views. The center also is the starting point to several easy 1-1.5 mile round trip hikes. To boot the parking is free and the lot is paved. So come on and visit the center, soak up nature and a bit of fun facts...all free. Oh by the way, the road to the dam is off limits to the public still due to repairs. Per the center docent, there is no ETA on when it will open back up.

I'll keep this very nice and simple: The folks at the Lake Oroville Visitor Center are SO NICE!…read more Basically, a few weeks ago my friends and I were planning a perilous trip to Feather Falls and Oroville. The only reason why we were so hesitant about going was because of the raging fires happening throughout NorCal. We decided to go anyway, because we weren't going to pass up on the opportunity. A week before, I called the Lake Oroville Visitor Center because I wanted to see whether it was possible to head down to the Oroville Damn, or at least what's remaining of it. If you haven't been living under a rock, you'll know that the damn spillway cracked in half in 2017 because of the extreme flooding and they've been repairing it since then. Well, a lovely park ranger on the phone told us that we could definitely drive NEARBY the damn and grab pictures. She also recommended we stop by the visitor's center for recommendations around the area. And that's exactly what we did. After surviving an intense, 8 mile hike to and from the gorgeous Feather Falls (https://www.yelp.com/biz/feather-falls-trail-oroville), we made a pit stop the next day at the Lake Oroville Visitor Center. It was only about 45 or so minutes from where we stayed in Marysville and all we had to do was drive up Highway 70 and then east on Highway 162. The visitor center had a pretty big parking lot, there was a large picnic area, and we saw deer roaming around! Not knowing what to expect, we bravely went inside the visitor's center. I honestly believe that the woman who approached us was the same as the one who talked to me on the phone because this lady was SUPER NICE. She eagerly ushered us into the theater room and showed us a zoomed-in image of the Oroville Damn. She discussed the history of the damn and then proceeded to walk us through how to drive to the road nearest the damn that just opened up! Afterwards, she suggested we check out the tower structure that's at the visitor's center. I highly recommend it because that 3 story tower provided AMAZING 360 degree views of the surrounding area. Before we left, we asked if she had any other places we should go to and she also directed us to Bidwell Bridge - supposedly the oldest suspension bridge in the U.S.? We would eventually go there, and had a really fun time! Need to give a major shout-out to the people at the Lake Oroville Visitor Center because they gave us a few awesome things to do for our Sunday morning in the Butte County area. We could have totally just gone home after our hike, but instead had some fun exploring! I give the folks here an "Omg, I'd travel 2 hours for this" rating. have fun and prosper,

DONT FORGET TO GET YOUR ENTRANCE PASS AT THE VISITOR CENTER!!…read more We did not know this and had to drive all the way back to the visitor center to get our pass. Also they don't have a daily pass, only a weekly one for $25! Our dogs enjoyed this place. We enjoyed it so much we came back twice during our trip. Crystal creek was a trail we did and ended up swimming in the water. Note: water was FREEZING!! Definitely recommend to anyone looking for a place to take their dogs

Visiting Redding, CA and swung through here to use our National Park pass. Wasn't sure what to…read moreexpect or how active we would be, given it's November, rainy and we showed up after 2pm. Rangers were FANTASTIC at the Visitor's Center and guided us toward 3 driving tours we could take. Started with the South Fork Lookout fire trail, which winds up to an amazing view of all of Whiskeytown Lake and environs. It was a very chilly 40° but, for us, beautiful. The could of rain were sweeping up, and over, the mountain we were on. We got out of the car long enough for photos, videos, fresh air, then dodged back in and headed back down. We were able to appreciate the width and breadth of the Carr Fire in 2018 and imagined the beauty prior to that fateful event. But we also took a moment to appreciate the beautiful remnants left on the scorched earth and how beautiful it will be again in time. After the South Fork Lookout trail, we headed to the sight dedicated by JFK during his last trip to California, just a few months before his assassination. It is now a memorial and is a fantastic look at an incredible engineering accomplishment. After this, we intended a 2+ hour circle tour of Hwy 299 W + SR 3 circling back towards Redding, but the evening was nearing, sunlight fading, so we changed plans and headed just around Whiskeytown Lake on Shoreline Drive. We are so glad we did! Lots of deer, beautiful scenery and a feeling that all this beauty was just for us. Note: both these trails, South Fork and Shoreline are dirt, so better to do these treks in a vehicle made for these drives. We thoroughly enjoyed this area and stopped back in to the Visitor's Center to thank the rangers again. Great day!

Mount Shasta is an incredibly beautiful mountain and volcano. If your driving between Seattle and…read moreLos Angeles you can't miss it from the highway. There are probably a couple different cities that you can enjoy Mount Shasta from but my favorite city is Weed. They have hotels and gift shops and is a cute little town with everything you need. There are two exits for Weed off the highway. One exit is the 'old town' part that is more cute and the other exit is the newer part. I think staying a night here is a perfect thing to do as the scenery is so pleasant. It really is a destination. So often to see natural beauty like this you have to sacrifice comforts of city living. Not with Mount Shasta - its a town that has it all and is just steps away from a little nature walk with an incredible backdrop. It is a real sight to see when you have this regular old Shell Gas station or even Grocery Outlet where the backdrop is the volcano. I don't think you can ever get tired of the harmony here of man made combined with nature.

Incredible volcano and mountain…read more Really recommend spending some time around the nature in this area, even if you won't be committing a summit climb. I went up this past weekend with the attempt to summit Shasta and had a really nice time. The town of Mt. Shasta has a few restaurants and some decent accomodations for sleeping (slept in Loge with our group which was great)... As for the hike, we went up and started at Bunny Flats and camped at Helen Lake for the night and then going for the summit via the Avalanche Gulch route. It was a beautiful and trying hike...definitely be familiar with the risks and have the proper skills to manage them if attempting. All in all; Mount Shasta is majestic and magical. Spend some time here!