News

Lassen Volcanic National Park Seeks Public Review of Preliminary Alternatives for Bumpass Hell Trail

Five preliminary alternatives are being considered by the National Park Service (NPS) for rehabilitation of the Bumpass Hell Trail and boardwalk. Acting Superintendent Martha Crusius invites public comment on these alternatives. The alternatives will be modified by this public review and analyzed in an environmental assessment (EA) for rehabilitation of the trail.

The popular Bumpass Hell Trail is located across from Lake Helen off the Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway. This short trail offers outstanding opportunities to experience hydrothermal features. In 2015, a portion of the boardwalk leading to the Turquoise Pool was removed because the boardwalk was being undermined by the Pyrite Pool. Other parts of the trail have not been comprehensively rehabilitated since the 1970s.

To address these and other issues, the alternatives propose to rehabilitate the trail and retain, replace or remove the boardwalk. Viewpoints in several areas may be enhanced and safety and maintenance concerns will be addressed. A short section of trail, closed in the late 1990s, may be reopened to provide better access to some hydrothermal features and during the shoulder seasons.

Because public participation is very important to the success of the project, the NPS encourages your review and comment on the preliminary alternatives. Comments will be accepted through April1. The press release, brief alternative description, alternatives matrix and maps are available electronically for review and comment online by visiting http://parkplanning.nps.gov/lavo, the website for the NPS’s Planning Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) system. Comments may also be sent to the following address:

Superintendent

Lassen Volcanic National Park

P.O. Box 100

Mineral, California 96063

Commenters should be aware that their entire comment – including personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While commenters can ask that their personal identifying information be withheld from public review, the National Park Service cannot guarantee that this will be possible.