VOLCANIC
SPRINGS

Bumpass Hell in Lassen Volcanic National Park

Bumpass Hell was discovered by the cowboy Kendall Bumpass in the 1860s. He had good reasons to call it a hell because he lost his leg after breaking through thin crust above a mud pot. Located on the caldera of the long-gone stratovolcano Mount Tehama, it is the largest and most spectacular geothermal area in Lassen Volcanic National Park. The area encompasses colorful hot springs, mud pots and fumaroles, but no geysers. Starting from a parking lot between Emerald Lake and Lake Helen, it's an easy 4.8 km (3 miles) round trip, but only open in summer, when the snow is gone.

Bear in mind that Lassen Volcanic Center is ranked with the highest threat potential by the California Volcano Observatory.

Bumpass Hell, Lassen Volcanic
Bumpass Hell, overview

When entering Bumpass Hell you first encounter a wide slope with numerous fumaroles. Sulfur precipitations are responsible for different shades of yellow and orange on the surface.

Fumarole, Bumpass Hell, Lassen Volcanic
Bumpass Hell, fumaroles on slope in the west

At the base of the slope West Pyrite Pool shows up. The observation platform has had to be set back a little bit due to an ongoing development of several small mud pots and springs just at its old position.

West Pyrite Pool, Bumpass Hell, Lassen Volcanic
West Pyrite Pool

Beyond West Pyrite Pool, Big Boiler becomes partially visible. This constantly boiling, 160 °C (320 °F) hot mud pot is the most active feature on location.

Big Boiler, Bumpass Hell, Lassen Volcanic
Big Boiler

Next, the boardwalk proceeds to another bluish clouded hot spring and an adjacent bubbling mud pot.

Hot Spring, Bumpass Hell, Lassen Volcanic
Unnamed hot spring and mud pot

If you look closely, you may see the tops of mud bursts beyond the rim of the mud pot.

Mud Pot, Bumpass Hell, Lassen Volcanic
Mud burst

Across the boardwalk the extended East Pyrite Pool exhibits a typical feature of Lassen hot springs at its best. The surface shows fluctuating light gray and dark gray areas. The dark tone is caused by floating particles formed of pyrite (iron(II) disulfide), big enough to be seen at close range with the naked eye.

East Pyrite Pool, Bumpass Hell, Lassen Volcanic
East Pyrite Pool

The area past East Pyrite Pool comprises several fumaroles. Some of them covered the adjacent surface with bright yellow sulfur crystals.

Fumarole, Bumpass Hell, Lassen Volcanic
Bumpass Hell, fumarole in the east section

The boardwalk ends in front of a beautifully opalescent blue pool. Its kind of surprising to find such a pretty setting in immediate vicinity to the muddy, sulfur rich boiling springs and fumaroles.

Opalescent Pool, Bumpass Hell, Lassen Volcanic
Bumpass Hell, opalescent pool

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