Mt. Lassen National Park in northern California seems to be one of the lesser known and visited national parks. It make lack some of the panache, history or supreme grandeur that the better known parks have. However, as a photographer, I really enjoy the diversity, volcanic activity and wilderness feel it has. On my most recent trip, in addition to some of your more standard nature images, I was able to take some photos that I feel are truly unique and artistically intriguing.
Burney Falls State Park is less than an hour's drive north of Lassen
Several lakes in the park provide views and reflections of Mt. Lassen and other peaks.
Twilight glow, Mt. Lassen, Chaos Crags and Manzanita Lake
The boiling mud pots in Bumpass Hell are a sight you won’t see outside of Yellowstone. With some special light or atmospheric conditions they have the potential for some very interesting photography.
Bumpass Hell boiling mud pots and pools, Lassen Volcanic National Park
Kings Creek Falls is just one of many along a spectacular stretch over a mile long that drops steeply into a canyon.
Kings Creek Falls
But so far, the area around Butte Lake, in the north east corner of the park is my favorite for photography. The large cinder cone makes a great photo subject in itself, and from its summit one can photograph the surreal Painted Dunes and lava beds. The forest of ponderosa pine and carpets of pine cones also make interesting photography subjects.
The Cinder Cone, Lassen Volcanic National Park
Painted Dunes, Lassen National Park
Sunrise light on the Painted Dunes
Ponderosa pine cones
