Road trip guide: Conquering Butte Lake in Lassen Volcanic NP

Butte Lake is a bright blue water lake at an elevation of 1.864m (6,115ft) above the sea level, located in Lassen County, in the northeastern portion of the U.S. state of California.

Butte Lake

Is the road to Butte Lake paved?

Located in the northeastern section of Lassen Volcanic National Park, in northern California, the road to the lake is totally unpaved. It’s a rough gravel road, usually in good condition (may be washboarded), but pretty bumpy. It’s called Butte Lake Road (Forest Road 32N21).

How long is the road to Butte Lake?

From Highway 44 (Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway), turn south on Butte Lake Road. The road is 10.62km (6.6 miles) long. It’s navigable by all passenger vehicles and pretty flat. The elevation gain is 221 meters and the average gradient is 2.08%.

Is the road to Butte Lake open?

The road to the lake is fairly remote and subject to seasonal closures. It’s usually closed from November to May.

 

 

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