Read Ebook: Lassen Trails: A Brief Guide to the Trails of Lassen Volcanic National Park by Matteson Stephen Halsey Matteson Dorothy M Illustrator

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The first part of this trail is #8, then it continues beyond the Cliff Lake junction, down to the park road. There is a good variety of trees, wildflowers, and birds. And for a feeling of being completely in the wilderness, this trail is ideal, for a few yards off the road there are no noises of civilization nor other reminders of the bustle of the world.

Beyond the Cliff Lake turnoff the trail descends quite rapidly through the Open forest, which becomes more dense as it approaches the lower loop of the road. Lupines, both yellow and blue, are the predominant flowers along the trail. At higher elevations the mountain hemlocks are most common, but give way to red firs, white pines, and ponderosa pines as the trail descends.

Starting Point: Guide Marker 27 Distances: 2.8 miles, one way Topography: Downhill, 1,600 feet, descending rapidly in places Time: 2 1/2 hours, one way Features: Flowers, forests, scenic views, stream

Starting where Trails No. 8 and 9 start, 0.2 mile from the road the left trail fork is followed, and the trail passes through forests and other natural features similar to No. 8 and 9. A number of good views of Lassen Peak can be seen along the way. For wildflowers it is one of the best in the park for variety, with lupine, scarlet gilia, red and blue penstemon, monkshood, columbine, and many others.

Starting Point: Kings Creek Campground Distances: Cold Boiling Lake, 0.8 mile; Crumbaugh Lake, 1.3; Conard Meadows, 2.2; Mill Creek Falls, 3; Sulphur Works Campground 5.3; all distances one way Topography: Downhill 800 feet to campground Time: Cold Boiling Lake, 3/4 hour; Crumbaugh Lake 1 1/2 hours; Conard Meadows, 2 hours; Sulphur Works Campground, 4 hours. For round trips times should be at least doubled Features: Forests, flowers, waterfalls, lakes, scenic views, streams

This little-traveled area is excellent for birds, wildflowers, and deer. Cold Boiling Lake is so named because gas bubbles are continually rising at some points near the shore. The meadow by Crumbaugh Lake has a variety of wildflowers and Conard Meadows is ideal for wildlife. There are no fish in either lake, as they will not live when introduced.

The trail is fairly level to Cold Boiling Lake, and then descends to Crumbaugh Lake. It is level to Conard Meadows, and from there to Mill Creek Falls descends by a steep grade . A one-way trip to the Sulphur Works campground, arranging for transportation at the lower end, makes an ideal, easy, half-day hike.

Starting Point: Guide Marker 32 Distances: 3 miles round trip Topography: Descent of 700 feet Time: 2 1/2 hours Features: Waterfalls, cascades, forest, flowers

About half a mile down, the trail splits. It is recommended that the left trail be followed downhill, where it rejoins the other section. The right fork follows the cascades, and is much easier to climb on the return trip. The trail goes down through pine and fir forests, and over a meadow where flowers bloom all summer. Here one can find the leopard lily, grass-of-parnassus, and many others. Watch for glacial polishing on the rocks along the way.

Morning is the best time to photograph the falls, as later in the day they are in shadow. The height of the falls is about 30 feet.

Follow the beautiful cascades on the return trip. Watch for mountainash, as this is one of the few places one can see this small, shrublike tree that produces clumps of brilliant red berries in late August and September.

Below the falls the trail continues downhill to Drakesbad, another 2.5 miles.

Starting Point: East side of Summit Lake, from the trail that encircles the lake Distances: Echo lake, 2 miles; Upper Twin, 3 1/2 miles; Lower Twin, 4 miles, one way Topography: Uphill 500 feet in the first mile, descending 500 feet to Lower Twin Lake Time: Echo Lake, 1 1/2 hours; Upper Twin, 2 1/2 hours; Lower Twin, 3 hours, all one way. Double these times for round trips Features: Lakes, forests, flowers

This is a good nature trail, as many kinds of wildflowers, trees, and birds are found. Deer are common in the area. Swimming is good in late summer. This is also a favorite trail for overnight hikers as it leads to the wilderness area of the eastern part of the park.

Hardy hikers may wish to go beyond Twin Lakes. The trail continues past Rainbow Lake to Snag Lake, 3.5 miles, and another trail goes to Butte Lake, 5.5 miles.

Starting Point: East side of Summit Lake Distances: 8 miles, one way Topography: Two ridges to cross, 500 feet and 300 feet Time: 6 hours one way. For round trip, it will take approximately twice the time Features: Lakes, forest, flowers, wildlife

This is one of the two main trails to the east part of the park. Horseshoe Lake can also be reached by a dirt road from Chester. If transportation can be arranged this trail will make a comparatively easy day's hike. There is a campground at Horseshoe Lake, so it can make a good objective for an overnight hike. Hardy hikers can make the round trip in one day.

The first part of the trip is most of No. 13, and from Upper Twin Lake the trail goes south and passes close to the base of Crater Butte. Part of the trip is in open meadows and part through fir-pine forest.

An interesting variation for a round trip is to return via Grassy Swale Creek.

Starting Point: South end of Summit Lake campground Distances: 8 miles, one way Topography: Downgrade 700 feet during first 3 miles, then gradually upgrade 500 feet Time: 6 hours, one way. Double the time for round trip Features: Flowers, forest, lakes, wildlife, streams

Grassy Swale Creek passes through some beautiful meadows in which are found a variety of wildflowers. Sundew, a rare, insect-eating plant, may be found near the trail in the wet section of the meadow about one mile northeast of Corral Meadow. Douglas spirea also makes a colorful display here.

The trail descends along Summit Creek about 3 miles to Corral Meadow. Here it leaves the Drakesbad trail, crosses Kings Creek and follows along Grassy Swale Creek to the base of Crater Butte. It then follows on to Horseshoe Lake. It may be quite wet in places until late summer. Mosquito repellent may be needed.

This is an excellent trail for naturalists as many species of trees, flowers, birds, and mammals can be observed.

Starting Point: Locked gate at Budget Flat. Badger Flat is 6 miles down the dirt road which leaves the Park Road at Guide Marker 41 Distances: First Cluster Lake, 2 miles; second, 2.5; Silver Lake, 3; Big Bear Lake, 4, one way Topography: Uphill 200 feet on a gradual grade Time: Round trips: 2 1/2 , 3, 4 and 5 hours respectively Features: Lakes, forest, flowers

This group of six lakes is easily reached by the trail from Badger Flat.

Mule-ears puts on a magnificent display in Badger Flats, and falsehellebore is prevalent in places. Spreading phlox is especially attractive in late June and early July along the beginning of the trail, and paintbrush further up, along with Newberry penstemon or pride-of-the-mountains.

The trail passes through open forested areas in a relatively level section of Lassen. After passing the second lake the trail forks. The left trail goes to Silver Lake. The trail continues over rather level terrain past Feather Lake to Lower Twin Lake, another 2 miles.

From Big Bear Lake the trail continues 3.5 miles to Summit Lake, crossing two ridges on the way.

Starting Point: Hat lake parking area, Guide Marker 42 Distances: 1.5 miles, one way Topography: Uphill, 600 feet Time: 2 hours, one way, 3 hours for round trip Features: Flowers, forest, stream

For wildflowers during midsummer Paradise Meadows is one of the best areas in the park. Elephanthead and gentian can be seen near Hat Lake; scarlet gilia along the first mile; and columbine, lupine, monkshood, penstemon , falsehellebore, and many other species will be found in the meadow area. Also, it is a good area to see birds and deer.

For about a mile the trail goes up rather steeply. At the meadows there are good views of Lassen and Reading peaks, and the cirque in which the meadows lie.

Upon reaching lower Paradise Meadows a trail turns to the right. This goes to the Park Road near Terrace Lake.

Starting Point: The trail leaves the Manzanita Lake Camp road about 100 yards south of the store and near the creek crossing Distances: 1.8 miles, one way Topography: Uphill about 700 feet Time: 3 hours, round trip Features: Forest, flowers, recent volcanic activity, dwarfed trees

Chaos Crags were formed by lava being forced upward and hardening in place, similar to squeezing toothpaste out of a tube. Considerable volcanic activity took place in the crater at the north base of the Crags. As a result of this activity a huge landslide occurred, strewing rocks over 2 1/2 square miles, including the area around Manzanita and Reflection lakes. This rock slide is called Chaos Jumbles.

The trail follows through pine-fir forests close to the edge of the Jumbles. Many saprophytes can be seen along the trail, together with pipsissewa and pyrolas.

The crater at the base of the Crags is filled with snow early in the season, later melting to form a small lake which may dry up toward the end of the summer.

The trees in the Jumbles are small, but in spite of their size, many are over 250 years old. From the age of the oldest trees it is estimated that the eruption and landslide occurred about 1690.

Starting Point: Across the Park Road from the Manzanita Lake Visitor Center Distances: 1 mile Topography: Level Time: 1 hour Features: Trees, flowers, shrubs, ponds, recent volcanic activity

This trail is maintained by the National Park Service primarily as a nature trail. Leaflets are available describing 43 numbered points of interest, many of which are trees, shrubs, and flowers. Ten of the 12 species of coniferous trees found in the park are along this trail. In the pond itself are aquatic plants and amphibians. The willows and alders nearby are shelters for several species of birds. Deer are frequently seen in the area, as well as ground squirrels and other small mammals. In the early summer the brilliant snowplant is quite common along the trail.

This is an excellent trail for a person to become acquainted with the flora and fauna of Lassen Volcanic National Park. Leaflets may be purchased at the trail head describing 43 points of interest.

Starting Point: Any place along the lake Distances: 1.7 miles around the lake Topography: Level Time: 1 1/2 hours Features: Lake, flowers, wildlife, trees, shrubs, scenic views

On the south side of the lake the trail goes through manzanita brush and open meadows. Along the west side is ponderosa pine forest with alder thickets by the lake. Along this stretch can be seen some of the few black cottonwood trees found in the park. On the north side is the road, with willow and alder thickets by the shore, and on the east side is the lodge and campground. From the west side are excellent views of Lassen Peak and Chaos Crags. A good variety of birds may be observed, including ducks, geese, coots, grebes, warblers, finches, swallows, blackbirds, sapsuckers, and nighthawks. Deer are frequently seen in the manzanita. An easy, pleasant walk.

Starting Point: South end of Manzanita lake Campground Distances: 3.5 miles to upper meadows, one way Topography: Uphill, 1,250 feet Time: 5 hours for the round trip Features: Forest, flowers, scenic views, stream

This hike starts on a fire road that provides steady, but relatively easy climbing. The first 0.7 mile is through manzanita, and birds and smaller mammals can be observed. When the forest of red fir and lodgepole pine is reached the trail becomes much more appealing, and striking views of Chaos Crags and Lassen Peak are glimpsed through the trees.

On the last half mile, where the creek winds and tumbles through sloping meadows, the wildflower display is magnificent. Flowers bloom profusely through July and August. Walk through the upper meadows to see the Lassen paintbrush , the pink Lewis monkeyflower, the brilliant fireweed, both the blue and the white monkshood, and many others. Camera, binoculars, and lunch are all advisable for this trip.

Starting Point: West end of Butte Lake Campground Distances: 2 miles to the summit, one way. A trail continues down the south side for a round trip of 5 miles. Topography: 800 feet climbing cone Time: 3 hours to the cone summit and back, 4 hours if trail down south slope is followed back to Butte Lake Campground Features: Forest, recent volcanic activity, history, views

This is one of the most perfectly formed cinder cones in the United States, and one of the most recent. In the spring of 1851, pioneers following Emigrant, or Nobles, Trail saw the results of the previous winter's eruption.

For persons interested in geology or photography this trail is a must. It goes through open forest for about 1.5 miles, close to the base of the cone, and the rest of the trail is in the open. The trail up the cone is fairly steep, and is in loose Cinders, making climbing similar to what it would be in loose sand. The climb is not difficult if made with frequent rest stops. High shoes or boots are advisable.

The Cinder Cone Summit commands excellent views of Lassen, Prospect, Harkness, and other mountains, of Butte and Snag Lakes, and of the Fantastic Lava Beds and Painted Dunes. A trail completely encircles the double crater, and a spur goes down into the crater. Another trail continues down the south side of the cone and encircles it, adding another mile for a 5 mile round trip. It passes near the 1851 vent from which lava flowed. This is now a small ice grotto.

Self-guiding leaflets which describe 44 numbered points of interest may be purchased at the Ranger Station.

Starting Point: Cinder Cone Trail Marker 13 Distances: 3.5 miles to the summit Topography: 2,200 feet of climbing Time: 5 hours for the round trip of 7 miles Features: Scenic views, forest

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