Sulphur Works Snowshoe

Sulphur Works, a collection of fumaroles near Lassen Volcanic National Park's southwest entrance gate, is located just over a mile from the winter parking area up a road that is typically covered with snow during the cold months. The short distance makes the feature an ideal snowshoe and cross-country ski destination for winter visitors. The trail rises nearly 300 feet in elevation over that 1.1-mile distance; however, the gradual incline combined with the scenic trail that follows the path of West Sulphur Creek makes this route good for intermediate levels of skiers.

The area surrounding the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center and the trailhead makes up the park's Southwest Entrance Winter Recreation Area, and it is popular for everyone from beginning snowshoers and sledders to backcountry downhill skiers. But the further you find yourself from the visitor center, the fewer people you'll cross on the trail.

Sulphur Works itself - a feature whose steam you will see and whose sulfurous odor you will almost definitely smell before you actually reach it - is thought to be the active remaining center of Mount Tehama, the old 11,000-foot volcano that once dominated the landscape but has since eroded into a series of slightly shorter peaks.

The gaseous vents bring water to the surface at nearly 190 degrees, where the bubbling hot pots are visible from an adjacent sidewalk before flowing into West Sulphur Creek.

It is possible to continue following the road further into the park as it maintains its gradual grade, or you can turn around here and begin heading back toward the parking area.

There are no benches or amenities along the snowshoe route, though the visitor center's bathrooms and drinking fountains remain open to visitors through the winter.

Note that seemingly solid areas of ground around the Sulphur Works have collapsed beneath the weight of people stepping on it in the past. Remain on the adjacent sidewalks.