The trail to Mill Creek Falls begins right off to the side of the new Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor…read moreCenter in the Southwest parking area. The trail is somewhat easy-moderate, depending how fit you are of course. It has a round trip distance of 4.6 miles with various areas of inclining slopes. The path was not smooth and in many spots there was snow blocking the way (but this was a few weeks ago and it may have melted by now). Hiking poles were very useful here. This trail isn't for those looking for an easy stroll. Keep a close eye on the trail too because it wasn't clearly marked and there are areas were you can get off the main path. With that being said, the hike and the actual falls were beautiful. Along the way there were open areas that offered lovely views of various mountain peaks, as well as areas with towering trees that loomed overhead and offered much leafy shade. There was one part of the trail that brought us to a hillside covered with bushes of yellow wildflowers, which was absolutely beautiful. The Mill Creek Falls itself was stunning. You can walk across a bridge that runs above its cascading waters and also across a second little bridge further up from the first. The bridge gives you a spectacular view of the canyon between the two hills. Be careful though because the wooden bridges do not have railings. It's hard to put into words the beauty and majesty of a natural waterfall. You just have to see it for yourself.

really lovely, clear blue-green lake to look at, walk around and/or have a picnic. on the day we…read morevisited, the weather was perfect....mid-upper 70s, sunny, breezy, and we saw visitors doing all 3 and just enjoying this little gem in lassen nat'l park. hubby and i took the time to admire this lake, snap a few pics, then walk around the lake, mainly b/c i was curious how long it would take to walk around and how many miles it was....answer? 24 minutes and 0.79 miles! normally, i'd be able to walk this distance in under 20 minutes, but given how bumpy the walking path was, it took a bit longer and i had to slowly step over a few of the rocky passages. there's plenty of spots for people to sit and sunbathe or have a snack. there are also a few picnic benches higher up from the lake, and we saw a family bring their camping stove and cook lunch there. lots of free parking all along the rim of the lake as well as separate men's & women's restrooms and trash/recycling receptacles. i'll definitely plan on a longer visit the next time i'm here and perhaps bring my portable stove to make myself a feast and enjoy this lovely lake!

Lake Helen is a simple quick-stop feature as you venture along the 30 mile Lassen Volcanic Parkway…read more The reason why I'd like to mention Lake Helen is because of how beautiful and COLORFUL I found this place to be! Wow....I was pretty stunned by the mixture of the still melting snow with what seemed like turquoise blue waters....and this was the status when I visited back in the middle of July! There's really not much to Lake Helen other than stopping, getting out of your car and taking scenic photographs of the area with this stunning lake as the focal point. During my visit to Lassen National Park, it was one of the first few attractions I came upon as I navigated the parkway from the main, southwest entrance all the way up towards the Manzanita Lake Camping Area. In estimation....I'd say it was located about 5 - 10 miles going along Lassen Parkway. It can't be missed from the road. I saw plenty of cars parked with visitors playing by the snow and capturing photos of this picturesque surrounding. I certainly took a few moments to appreciate the landscape. Although Lassen NP has a rugged and brownish exterior from the high elevations and chilly winter setting,....this Lake Helen was a wonderful reprieve from the mostly out of bloom and dull terrain I found the park to be. Although there's not much to Lake Helen other than observing the wonderful blue coloring of the waters mixed with the snowy ice melting....it was still quite a fascinating revelation to witness such an unheralded and strikingly colorful roadside attraction.

I did this trail this past Saturday morning 9/26/26. The guys and I got here at 8 AM. The parking…read morelot still had spots open. Bathrooms are at the parking lot. This trail stats at 8,500 feet and the summit is at 10,457 feet. Bring plenty of water and sturdy hiking boots and trekking poles. There is a fake summit but keep going until you see the huge rocks. Very windy up there do layer up. The air gets thin but if you train enough it isn't that bad. Total time to summit was 1.5 hrs. By the time finished the trail got crowded and parking lot was full. Definitely recommend starting early!

Go Outside. Five…read moremiles, 10,457 feet of beautiful panoramic views! The Facilities: There is a huge parking lot equipped with restrooms right at the trailhead. Keep in mind that there are absolutely no bathrooms along the trail or at the summit, so plan ahead. The Wildlife Warning: Absolutely no dogs are allowed on the trail (on-leash or in a backpack). This is strictly enforced to protect the endangered Sierra Nevada red fox, one of the rarest mammals in North America. High-elevation slopes like this are their last remaining habitat. Wild foxes will pick up a domestic dog's predatory scent, feel threatened, and permanently abandon their vital hunting and denning grounds. Under safe temperature conditions, dogs are permitted to wait inside a vehicle. The Hike & Terrain: The trail is straightforward but physically demanding. It is entirely exposed to the elements with zero shade, offering a mixture of everything--starting with smoother volcanic dirt, transitioning into 43 rocky switchbacks, and ending with stone stairs, loose scree, and patches of ice. Timing & Weather: It took us two hours to power up to the top. I ran back down, navigating the steep gravel and rocky descent in a fast 30 minutes! Even in August, the high altitude makes a massive difference; the top was incredibly cold and windy, so definitely pack layers.

This is a great trail to see both the lake and forest. It is great for everyone since it is paved…read moreand flat. We came here after it had rained and this was perfect. There are numerous places to access this 19 mile trail. The photos that I have included show these. We caught it at the north trail head that starts near the intersection of 89 and Humbug Humboldt Cross Road. It starts about 30 feet towards the lake after the asphalt roads turns to dirt. There is parking for several cars. I was doubting if this trail actually existed as I s could not see it on satellite photos from Google maps. But it turns out that the trail is 90%+ covered in pine needles, which accounts for this (one of the pictures I posted shows the trail with no sign of the pavement). There are some blue diamond-shaped trail markers to help you along the way, but they are too infrequent to be used reliably. But it is not too hard to follow the pavement if you pay attention. Here is a link with more info. https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/lassen/recarea/?recid=11327

This is my favorite bike trail ever. I've been riding it for about 10 years or so, and they've…read moreadded another mile or so taking it all the way to the dam end of the lake. You wind your way in and out of lake coves, campgrounds, through forest filled with huge ponderosa pines. We usually ride single track, but this paved trail is just plain fun, and any level of rider can enjoy it, some flat sections, some small hills that are a bit of a challenge, some fun downhills and sharp turns. For us flat-landers, the smell of the pines is just heady! The views of Lake Almanor are amazing, and then you'll round a turn and majestic Mount Lassen comes into view. There are benches, bike racks and story boards throughout the route. Wear you bathing suit so you can jump in the lake on a hot day. There are two restaurants right off the route in Prattvillle, Carol's Cafe and Plumas Pines Resort lakeside. There are bathrooms at the free day use parks, not much more one could ask for! There are some dirt trails mountain bikers can veer off on. This is a great accessible trail for wheelchairs. There are also horse trails weaving through the forest. Also great for walkers, hikers, strollers. We have never passed more than 6-12 people on the trail, it's off the beaten path, just do it!

Great experience renting jet skis for our boys to try for the first time. They made the rental…read moreprocess super easy and gave clear, easy to understand (and not intimidating) instructions to the boys. They had an amazing time and could not stop talking about it. Really appreciate how helpful and friendly they were! They made our vacation really special. We will definitely be back!

This outfit does a great job! We've been renting from them for decades, and they always provide…read moretop notch service at great prices!

Captain Rob !!!! He is the guide you want. Book your date now for a day on his pristine "Olivia…read moreLynn", she is fitted with all the gear you need, ..sunscreen and a bathroom! Robs expertise and gentle style made for a memorable experience on Lake Almanor .. I have a fantastic memory of reeling in the catch of the day. YA a 7lb brown trout. Captain Rob and the Olivia Lynn is your next best experience..... slow down ....go fishing. It will be the best thing you've done for yourself. Thanks Captain.

What can I say? These are memories shared amongst 3 generations of our family. Memories precious…read morefar beyond a few bucks spent on the best boat, best guide & on one of the prettiest lakes in California. For the men, children & especially the teens & women aboard, you just can't beat the privacy & comfort of the exclusive, fully enclosed head. The "Olivia Lynn" is a fishing machine with little thoughtful things like a space heater to provide cabin warmth in the morning together with coffee, cold drunks & snacks thruout the day added in. I guarantee Capt. Robb will bust his butt to put you on the fish & make your trip the best on Almanor.

Awesome business! Tracy and Bobby were so great to work with. We stayed at the Ponderosa Flat…read moreCampground along Butt Valley Reservoir and rented a couple of kayaks for our boys to take out on the reservoir. Tracy made the entire rental process super easy and Bobby delivered the kayaks right to our campground and then picked 'em up a few hours later. They are super nice down-to-earth genuinely good people who really care about their community and those of us who come visit their beautiful corner of the world. Highly recommend renting from them! Thank you again for making our boys' vacation super special. We will be back!

These guys are the best! Great service, great equipment and a real pleasure to deal with. We…read morerented 4 paddle boards for a week and they delivered everything to our dock which was no easy task. The dock for the house was down a very steep hillside (more like a cliff) with over 100 steps and Bobby joyfully delivered and picked up everything and had a great attitude. The paddle boards really made our trip special thanks to Tracy and Bobby!

Love this library!! The librarian was super sweet to us! The kids section has so much to offer…read more Thank you so much for letting my daughter do story time!

A must see in Chester. A lot of local history and great information on lake Almanor and Butt Lake…read more Pictures from the towns and farms that are now at the bottom of the lake.