Stargazing in Lassen

At night, Lassen is dark—so dark that it warrants a celebration. The Dark Sky Festival, held in late July or early August, is a three-day bonanza of stargazing and astronomy activities—solar scope viewing, constellation tours, and discussions and demonstrations by experts from NASA and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Kids can learn about the stars, planets, and constellations at Junior Ranger Astronomy sessions and take part in Night Explorer activities. But it’s not just once a year that Lassen celebrates the night sky. In summer, rangers hold astronomy programs on both the north and south sides of the park--at the Devastated Area every Wednesday night and at the Bumpass Hell parking area on select Saturdays. Dress warmly—temperatures can drop to freezing after dark, even in summer.