I’m sure Kendall Bumpass didn’t intend for his personal hell to become one of the most unique trails in the entire national park system. He probably didn’t expect his name to be the butt of jokes for a century after his death, but that’s the web you weave when you go prancing around boiling volcanic springs and steaming fumeroles all willy-nilly.

Mr. Bumpass had big visions for this area. When he came across this “Hell” complete with volcanic steaming vents and boiling mud-pots, Bumpass saw dollar signs, he had intended to guide visitors here and mine the unique minerals in the area. Turns out, plans come to a complete halt if while guiding a group of visitors, you break through the crust and cook your leg so bad that it needs to be amputated. Hence the name, The Bumpass hell Trail.

Today, we get to enjoy one of the strangest places on earth from the relative safety of a boardwalk maintained by the park service and instead of a private business, we all own it. The remote location of Lassen and the three mile hike required, make this one of the lesser visited natural wonders in America. The trail was incredible, a fun walk through the forest surrounded by massive peaks and snow covered volcanoes. All that, just the approach to a valley of crazy volcanic activity. There are few spots on earth where an average person can get this close to these rare geologic features. Here exists a mini Yellowstone that many Americans don’t even realize exists.

The past two years, this trail has been closed in mid summer due to snow cover. This year I planned to return much later in hopes of hiking to Bumpass Hell, I was getting nervous but was relieved when they opened it last week. I love Lassen.