Travis Air Force Base Families Discover Lassen Volcanic National Park
A weekend of volcanic landscapes, alpine lakes, and new appreciation for California’s wild places.
Tucked in the northeastern corner of California, Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to steaming hydrothermal features, a still-active volcano, and some of the most striking scenery in the state — yet many visitors are surprised to learn it exists at all. That was true for the group of military service members and their families from Travis Air Force Base who spent a weekend there in July 2026, many discovering the park for the first time.
“Our service members and their families were really grateful for the opportunity to visit a beautiful park they hadn’t even heard of before,” said Patrick Perkins, Director of Outdoor Recreation at Travis Air Force Base, who helped organize the trip. “They thanked me multiple times on the trip and regularly expressed just how cool the park is.”
Over the course of the weekend, the group explored Bumpass Hell, the park’s largest hydrothermal area, where bubbling mud pots and steam vents created a landscape unlike anything most participants had seen before. The next day, all but two participants reached the summit of Lassen Peak, taking in 360-degree views that stretched all the way to Mount Shasta. Afterward, the group cooled off in the crisp waters of Manzanita Lake, and on their final day, hiked out to Kings Creek Falls through meadows and along a winding creek.
By the time the group headed back to base, they went home with more than sore legs — they left with new friendships and a deeper appreciation for California’s public lands.
What Are National Park Trust’s Military Family Programs?
National Park Trust is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit that partners with military installations and military-focused organizations to connect service members and their families to national parks and public lands. Trips like this one at Lassen Volcanic National Park give military families the chance to disconnect, spend time outdoors together, and build community, while experiencing the physical and mental benefits that time in nature provides.
Learn more about our Military Family Programs.
How Can You Support National Park Trust’s Military Family Programs?
National Park Trust believes parks have the power to bring people together, including the families who serve alongside our military. Your support helps make outings like this one possible, giving service members and their families new places to explore and lasting memories to bring home. Learn about ways to support our mission.
About National Park Trust
National Park Trust is an independent, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has protected national park land since 1983, acquiring missing pieces of our national parks and benefiting 58 national park sites nationwide. Our mission is to preserve parks today and create park stewards for tomorrow.
Our youth education and family initiatives — Buddy Bison School Programs, College Ambassador Program, and Military Family Programs, along with National Kids to Parks Day — connect tens of thousands of people to the outdoors each year.
We believe public parks, lands, and waters should be cared for, enjoyed, and preserved by all, for current and future generations. Learn more at parktrust.org.
