Chester

A gateway to Lassen Volcanic National Park on Lake Almanor's north shore, Chester, population 2,200, supports locals and tourists with modest restaurants, hotels, and shops. The Dixie Fire of 2021, the second-largest wildfire in California's history, consumed much of the lake's western shore, but firefighters saved Chester. Expect to see evidence of the conflagration and recovery efforts when traveling in the area, though.