Bumpass Hell Trail

Due to hazardous snow and ice, Bumpass Hell Trail closes during the spring and may not open until July.

From the Bumpass Hell Parking Area, the trail traverses the rocky slopes of Bumpass Mountain. The trail slowly ascends 200 feet with views of the valley to the west and Lassen Peak to the north. At 0.9 miles, you reach an overlook with a view of Bumpass Hell. Then, for 0.4 miles, the trail descends 200 feet from the overlook to Bumpass Hell.

As you near Bumpass Hell, a boardwalk replaces the dirt trail. Also, you will probably notice a rotten-egg smell that fills the air. The smell is hydrogen sulfide gas being released from the Earth.

The boardwalk winds through the hydrothermal area, giving you an opportunity to experience the hydrothermal features and colorful landscape.

Miles below Bumpass Hell is a magma chamber. The magma superheats groundwater which rises to the Earth's surface and escapes through hydrothermal features as steam and sulfate water. Sulfates left behind by the sulfate-rich water give the ground at Bumpass Hell its vibrant orange and yellow colors.

Be sure to stay on the boardwalk at Bumpass Hell. Boling water could be at or just below the surface. Many visitors have suffered severely when they have fallen through the thin brittle crust covering dangerous boiling water. Even the steam heated waters are typically acidic and not safe.

SEASONAL OPENING AND POTENTIAL CLOSURES:

This trail typically opens in the summer through the fall months. Check the NPS.gov website for more updates on snow levels and trail closures.