Ridge Lakes and Sulphur Works in Lassen NP

Lassen Volcanic National Park is a great place to encounter stunning beauty amid pristine wilderness. The parks unique features and dramatic scenery are the results of the areas volcanic activity, both past and present. Sulphur Works is one such example in the park where evidence of the underground hydrothermal system rises through the cracks and displays its presence. In the same parking area as Sulphur Works is the trailhead for the very beautiful Ridge Lakes. One is a roadside attraction and one is a mere two mile hike roundtrip but both are worthwhile destinations!

Sulphur Works

Directions: From Chester, follow CA-36 W for almost 25 miles. Then turn right onto CA-89 N and continue for about 6.2 miles to the Sulphur Works parking area on the left.

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: The hydrothermal features can be observed from the road or just 300 feet from the parking area.

Experiencing Sulphur Works

From the parking area we walked along the sidewalk on the northwest side of the road. Just a couple of feet away on the other side of the fence is a huge bubbling, steaming mud pot. As we walked by it we could hear the bubbling, feel the steams humidity, and our nostrils filled with the smell of the sulphur. The cauldron is situated in the yellow-orange colored clay hillside. The heat from the water, mud, and steam of the mud pot seem to be eroding the clay wall surrounding it.

We crossed to the other side of the street and saw even more hydrothermal activity. Down in the canyon below we could see some steam rising from the ground.

And nestled up in the interesting clay canyon wall was another big boiling mud pot. Sulphur Works mud pots were cool and unique features to be able to see, hear and smell. While standing there in their presence, they were a great reminder of the volcanic activity underfoot right at that moment!

How Are Mud Pots Created?

To start, precipitation falls and then seeps through the ground eventually reaching the magma. The magma warms the groundwater to a boil and causes the water to bubble and steam. Then it rises upwards through the cracks resulting in the mud pots we can see at Sulphur Works. The mud pots are dependent on the precipitation. In times of low precipitation there is less water to boil and rise resulting in the appearance of steam rather than mud. High precipitation results in more boiling water reaching the surface filling the cauldron with bubbling mud!

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Also Very Interesting…

There are heat loving organisms called thermophiles present in the bubbling mud. The thermophiles consume some of the gases and help convert them into sulfuric acid. The sulfuric acid then breaks down rock to form clay which mixes with the water to create mudpots.

After we saw enough boiling mud and smelled enough sulfur we headed back to the parking area where we picked up the trailhead for Ridge Lakes. The trail begins near the restrooms.

Hiking to Ridge Lakes

Directions: From Chester, follow CA-36 W for almost 25 miles. Then turn right onto CA-89 N and continue for about 6.2 miles to the Sulphur Works parking area on the left. The trail for Ridge Lakes is located near the restrooms.

Distance: 2 miles roundtrip

Difficulty: Ridge Lakes is a short but moderately strenuous hike with a well defined but steep trail.

Our Hike to Ridge Lakes

As we began hiking to Ridge Lakes the trail immediately started to climb. In just one mile the trail gains 1,045 feet before reaching Ridge Lakes. Due to our proximity to Sulphur Works, as we started to climb we looked over the edge of the cliff and saw some steam vents down below.

The trail remained pretty steep as it climbed up the ridge.

We passed through some wooded areas as well as some pretty clearings. The hike to Ridge Lakes was pretty quick and all up. And before we knew it we were looking at the lakes!

The lake was very peaceful and quaint, tucked in a basin. It felt good to get to the top and on a hot day the water would be so inviting. On the opposite shore was a tree dotted mountain peak. The surrounding views behind us, looking away from the lake, were gorgeous. We walked a bit further along the trail but didn’t stay long before it started to snow.

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And then it started snowing hard.

The way back was a fast, steep, descent and it got slippery as the snow accumulated! Everything was coated in white making it so the way back looked way different than the way up which was pretty cool.

We made it back to the parking area and cranked the heat! Hiking to Ridge Lakes was awesome. We got to see a beautiful serene lake and got a workout in all in just two miles. And the snow was a bonus!

Time to Move On

After our Sulphur Works and Ridge Lakes adventure the weather turned quickly to winter-like conditions. And we like to avoid winter. One major perk of living on the road is that when the weather turns we can pack up and go! So we started our journey south, slowly. We didn’t have to go far to find the high temps of the lower elevations.

Although we were sad to be leaving the beautiful Lassen Volcanic National Park, we were so glad that we got to see as much of it as we did! Here are some of our favorite adventures in Lassen Volcanic National Park:

• Backpacking Across Lassen
• Incredible Warner Valley Trails
• Hiking to the Highest Peak in Lassen NP: Lassen Peak
• Bumpass Hell + Cold Boiling Lake and Crumbaugh Lake

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