Lassen Volcanic Center | U.S. Geological Survey Official websites use .gov .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS lock ( or means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Lassen Volcanic Center Find U.S. Volcano Filters The map displays volcanoes, earthquakes, monitoring instruments, and past lava flows. Get Help Earthquake Plots To view an earthquake cross-sectional plot, click "Draw Plot" to start drawing on the map. Once the plot area is selected, click on "View Plot" to view chart or "Clear Plot" to start over. Map Layers Earthquake Colors Earthquake Depth Units Earthquake Time Units Results Filters The map displays volcanoes, earthquakes, monitoring instruments, and past lava flows. Get Help Earthquake Plots To view an earthquake cross-sectional plot, click "Draw Plot" to start drawing on the map. Once the plot area is selected, click on "View Plot" to view chart or "Clear Plot" to start over. Settings Map Layers Earthquake Colors Earthquake Depth Units Earthquake Time Units Map Legend Map Legend Results Lassen Volcanic Center Science Data Multimedia Publications News Connect Lassen Volcanic Center has experienced hundreds of eruptions scattered over about 500 km2 (200 mi2) during the last 825,000 years. The most recent three notable eruptions were: Chaos Crags (1,100 years ago), Cinder Cone (1666 A.D.), and Lassen Peak (A.D. 1914 to 1917). The region hosts a vigorous geothermal system, numerous hot springs, steam vents, and boiling mud pots. Quick Facts Location: California, Shasta County Latitude: 40.492° N Longitude: 121.508° W Elevation: 3,187 (m) 10,456 (f) Volcano type: dome field, volcanic field Composition: andesite, dacite Most recent eruption: 1914-1917 Nearby towns: Mineral, Viola Threat Potential: Very High* *based on the National Volcano Early Warning System Summary Lassen Volcanic Center lies in Lassen Volcanic National Park 88 km (55 mi) east of Redding. The park draws over 350,000 visitors each year with its spectacular volcanic landscapes. Within the last 825,000 years, hundreds of explosive eruptions came from vents scattered over 500 km (approximately 200 mi ). Surrounding Lassen Volcanic Center, over fifty effusive (non-explosive) eruptions have occurred in the last 100,000 years. The area has been relatively quiet for the last 25,000 years with three notable exceptions—the Chaos Crags eruption (1,100 years ago), the eruption of Cinder Cone (1666 A.D.), and the Lassen Peak eruption (A.D. 1914 to 1917). The Lassen Peak eruption consisted mostly of sporadic steam blasts. In May of 1915, however, partially molten rock oozing from the vent began building a precarious lava dome. The dome collapsed on May 19 sending an avalanche of hot rock down the north flank of the volcano. Three days later, a vertical column of ash exploded from the vent reaching altitudes of 30,000 feet. The ash column spawned a high-speed ground flow of hot gas and fragmented lava. Ash from the top of the column drifted downwind 200 miles to the east, as far as Winnemucca, NV. On both days, melting snow fueled mudflows, flooding drainages 20-30 miles away. The older Chaos Crags eruption was similar in style but considerably larger in magnitude. Volcanic earthquakes are common at Lassen, although most are too small to be felt. Non-volcanic earthquakes along regional faults also occur—earthquake swarms in 1936, 1945-1947, and 1950 included several events above magnitude 4.0, with the two largest registering 5.0 and 5.5. Ground surveys show localized subsidence of the volcano, probably due to motion on regional faults. Hazard-ception: Fires are a hazard for monitoring California's hazardous volcanoes November 18, 2025 Hazard-ception: Fires are a hazard for monitoring California's hazardous volcanoes Water and debris are a recipe for lahars at California’s volcanoes August 19, 2025 Water and debris are a recipe for lahars at California’s volcanoes The value of volcano eruption photographs August 12, 2025 The value of volcano eruption photographs View All February 25, 2019 California’s exposure to volcanic hazards California’s exposure to volcanic hazards The potential for damaging earthquakes, landslides, floods, tsunamis, and wildfires is widely recognized in California. The same cannot be said for volcanic eruptions, despite the fact that they occur in the state about as frequently as the largest earthquakes on the San Andreas Fault. At least ten eruptions have taken place in the past 1,000 years, and future volcanic eruptions are... Authors Margaret Mangan, Jessica Ball, Nathan Wood, Jamie L. Jones, Jeff Peters, Nina Abdollahian, Laura Dinitz, Sharon Blankenheim, Johanna Fenton, Cynthia Pridmore By Volcano Hazards Program Volcano Science Center California Volcano Observatory Clear Lake Volcanic Field Coso Volcanic Field Lassen Volcanic Center Long Valley Caldera Mammoth Mountain Medicine Lake Mono Lake Volcanic Field Mono-Inyo Craters Mount Shasta Salton Buttes Soda Lakes Ubehebe Craters October 22, 2018 2018 update to the U.S. Geological Survey national volcanic threat assessment 2018 update to the U.S. Geological Survey national volcanic threat assessment When erupting, all volcanoes pose a degree of risk to people and infrastructure, however, the risks are not equivalent from one volcano to another because of differences in eruptive style and geographic location. Assessing the relative threats posed by U.S. volcanoes identifies which volcanoes warrant the greatest risk-mitigation efforts by the U.S. Geological Survey and its partners... Authors John W. Ewert, Angela K. 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At least 10 eruptions have taken place in California in the past 1,000 years—most recently at Lassen Peak in Lassen Volcanic National Park (1914 to 1917) in the northern part of the State—and future volcanic eruptions are inevitable. The U.S. Geological... Authors Wendy K. Stovall, Mae Marcaida, Margaret T. Mangan By Natural Hazards Mission Area Volcano Hazards Program Volcano Science Center Clear Lake Volcanic Field Coso Volcanic Field Lassen Volcanic Center Long Valley Caldera Mammoth Mountain Mono Lake Volcanic Field Mono-Inyo Craters Mount Shasta Salton Buttes Soda Lakes Ubehebe Craters View All November 2, 2023 Seismic monitoring at Lassen Volcanic Center Volcanic earthquakes often provide the initial sign of volcanic unrest and are measured with seismometers. By California Volcano Observatory Lassen Volcanic Center Seismic monitoring at Lassen Volcanic Center November 2, 2023 Seismic monitoring at Lassen Volcanic Center Volcanic earthquakes often provide the initial sign of volcanic unrest and are measured with seismometers. November 2, 2023 Hazards Summary for Lassen Volcanic Center Several hazards will likely accompany a future eruption of Lassen volcano. By Lassen Volcanic Center Hazards Summary for Lassen Volcanic Center November 2, 2023 Hazards Summary for Lassen Volcanic Center Several hazards will likely accompany a future eruption of Lassen volcano. November 1, 2023 Lava Flows at Lassen Volcanic Center Basaltic lava flows and small, associated, local ash falls, are the most common volcanic activity at Lassen volcanic center. By California Volcano Observatory Lassen Volcanic Center Lava Flows at Lassen Volcanic Center November 1, 2023 Lava Flows at Lassen Volcanic Center Basaltic lava flows and small, associated, local ash falls, are the most common volcanic activity at Lassen volcanic center. View All Quick Facts Location: California, Shasta County Latitude: 40.492° N Longitude: 121.508° W Elevation: 3,187 (m) 10,456 (f) Volcano type: dome field, volcanic field Composition: andesite, dacite Most recent eruption: 1914-1917 Nearby towns: Mineral, Viola Threat Potential: Very High* *based on the National Volcano Early Warning System Volcanoes Hazards Program Links Assess Prepare Forecast Activity Products Observatories About Was this page helpful?