It seems like an odd name for a point of interest, but in fact the Devastated Area is one of the most fascinating geological and ecological sites anywhere in California. When Lassen blew its top in 1915 after nearly a year of sporadic eruptions, a tremendous part of the mountain and all the life on its slopes was destroyed.

Boiling mud and exploding gases tore off the side of Lassen’s mountain peak and killed all the vegetation in the area. A hail of lava rained down, creating brand-new rocks, from gravel to boulders, across the north side of the mountain.

Today visitors can easily see how a volcano’s surface ecosystem recovers after an eruption. First, park at the Devastated Area lot and take the interpretive walk through a small part of the recently disrupted mountainside. You’ll see everything from some of the world’s youngest rocks to grasses and shrubs up through tall pine trees.

Also be sure to check out the photos in the Loomis Museum that depict the area during and immediately after the eruption for a great comparison to the spot as it looks now.

The Devastated Area offers ample parking, and the interpretive walk is flat and wheelchair accessible. Please don’t pick up any of the red and black volcanic rocks here; they are part of the redeveloping ecosystem and necessary to the area’s recovery.