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Pacific Northwest National Parks Road Trip: Crater Lake, Lassen Volcanic, and the Deschutes River Adventure

  • Writer: Kristin Jones
    Kristin Jones
  • Oct 30
  • 2 min read

This week’s adventure is a little different—we’re hitting the road!


Starting from Seattle, I packed up the 4Runner and set out on a multi-day road trip through some of the most scenic national parks in the Pacific Northwest. My route included Crater Lake National Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and a peaceful stretch of the Deschutes River on the way home.


Crater Lake National Park


The first stop was Crater Lake, where the deep blue water is almost unreal in person. We were only passing through and stopped at Merriam Point to stretch our legs and take in the great view of the lake and Wizard Island.


Lassen Volcanic National Park


From Crater Lake, I continued south to Lassen Volcanic National Park, where rugged volcanic peaks rise above steaming vents and alpine meadows. I made the climb up Lassen Peak, one of the few places where you can stand on the top of an active volcano. The trail winds up a nicely groomed trail and has incredible panoramic views across northern California every step of the way.


On the drive back down, I pulled over to check out one of the boiling mud pots along the roadside—a small reminder of just how alive this landscape still is beneath the surface.


Roadside Camping & Simple Living


For this trip, I decided to sleep in the back of my 4Runner instead of tent camping. It made travel flexible—I could pull off at a quiet forest road, make a quick dinner, and be ready to hit the road again by sunrise. It’s one of my favorite ways to travel: minimal setup, maximum freedom.


The setup in the back of my truck, is a custom-made double-wide platform I built with my dad in 2020. It takes the fullwidth of the back of my truck, can fold up in order to have the sits up, and has plenty of storage room underneath. The only downside is that you are limited on head room and can't sit up, but totally worth it for cozy camping in my truck.


The Deschutes River


On the return north, I followed the Deschutes River through Oregon, where we stopped for lunch in Bend and got brussel sprouts and beer at Monkless Belgian Ales, and then spent the night in Warm Springs, where John spent a few hours fishing and soaking in the fall sunshine before the rain came in. This stretch of river is beautiful any time of year, but autumn brings golden trees and fewer crowds.


Final Thoughts


This Pacific Northwest road trip check off a bucket list item for me of visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park and hiking to the summit of Lassen Peak. Between volcanic peaks, alpine lakes, and quiet riversides, it was a reminder that adventure doesn’t always need a big plan. Sometimes, all you need is a tank of gas, your favorite gear, and a map full of possibilities.


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