The collection of mud pots, fumaroles, and steaming pools in Lassen National Park is called Bumpass Hell. The story is that an explorer named Bumpass hiked into the area, crashed through the thin crust into the geothermally heated water and scalded his ankles. Upon returning and being asked where he had been, he replied "I've been to hell!".

The name Bumpass Hell stuck as the name for the area, and there are abundant signs warning you to stay on the trail to avoid the fate of Bumpass. Interestingly, the trail to this hot spot was lined with snow, and we even had to walk across snow in several places on the trail. We didn't expect the road to hell to be paved with snow! August 15, 1982.

Brenda and Mark along the trail to Bumpass Hell. This is a good perspective of the nature of the trail - it was an excellent trail with snow patches along it and good views of the mountains.

The collection of mud pots, fumaroles, and steaming pools in Lassen National Park is called Bumpass Hell. The story is that an explorer named Bumpass hiked into the area, crashed through the thin crust into the geothermally heated water and scalded his ankles. Upon returning and being asked where he had been, he replied "I've been to hell!".

The name Bumpass Hell stuck as the name for the area, and there are abundant signs warning you to stay on the trail to avoid the fate of Bumpass. Interestingly, the trail to this hot spot was lined with snow, and we even had to walk across snow in several places on the trail. We didn't expect the road to hell to be paved with snow! August 15, 1982.