On Highway 89 you’ll soon see signs for McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park; the spring-fed, 129-foot Burney Falls is known for its exceptional beauty, and there are five blazed hiking trails in the park as well.

The 13 hiking trails in this national park site lead to volcanic features like lava tubes, caves, cinder cones, and craters, plus petroglyphs and battlefields from the Modoc War.

You’ll have to compete with summer crowds for the opportunity to drive around the entire rim during the short season when it’s fully open, but it’s well worth it to see the spooky islands and clear waters of Crater Lake from dozens of angles.

A drive on the 30-mile park road from Mineral to Loomis offers an overview of the active geothermal features of Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Open in the summer only, the museum is housed in a 1927 building constructed of volcanic rock and also serves as a park visitor center.

Hotel-style accommodations are available at the Drakesbad Guest Ranch, a secluded, 22-room lodge in the Warner Valley. The dining room at the guest ranch serves three meals daily to guests and other park visitors.

Located on the north shore of Lake Almanor, Chester is a still-active lumber town—you can learn some of the history of the industry at the Collins Pine Museum in town.

Susanville is a popular place to stay the night for Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway travelers. The Diamond Mountain Casino and Hotel has dining, gaming, and a pool in addition to rooms and suites.

Fort Crook Museum tells the story of the U.S. Army outpost established in 1857 near Fall River Mills.

Mighty Mount Shasta, a 14,179-foot volcanic peak whose last eruption was just 200 years ago, looms over this segment of the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway. Tourists have been visiting this region to experience its dramatic beauty since the 19th century. Today, it’s mountain bikers who come in summer, and snowsports enthusiasts head to the Mount Shasta Ski Park in the winter.