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.

We made a spur of the moment choice to hike up Lassen Peak, which might have been for the best? We…read morehad a lot less time to question our choices regarding this strenuous hike, but it was 100% worth it in the end. A five mile roundtrip, strenuous hike, this took us about 5-6 hours to complete - including the time we spent enjoying the view at the peak. And the hike up is definitely steep - about a 2,000ft elevation gain. We just went slow and steady, and it honestly wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. Just enjoy taking in all the surrounding beauty - you get gorgeous views of Lassen National Park from the trail. You'll get to the first summit, and there will be some plaques to read amongst the limited views. BUT, you can keep going a short distance more to reach the true summit. This last bit of trail is definitely unmaintained with more loose gravel, rocks, and a bit of climbing. We even had a bit of snow in this area in July. So definitely be safe if you choose to continue, but we found it so fantastic at the end. We found a place to sit, had a snack, and just took it all in. If you do choose to continue to the true summit, be aware of the rocks and use caution. They are very unstable and should not be used as leverage when climbing up or down. Pack lots of water, bring some food, and don't be afraid to take a lot of breaks. There is no shade, so bring a hat and some sunscreen. Plenty of parking at the trailhead. Probably one of our top 5 difficult hikes, but it was so worth it. Highly recommend.

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.

Great hike that is approximately 9.5 miles in length and has approximately 2500 feet elevation…read moregain. I believe the summit itself is roughly 7200 feet in elevation. We accessed the trail at the Walker Pass Owens Peak Segment trailhead where the PCT meets Highway 178. There's no bathroom facilities of any kind on this trail, so I highly recommend using the Walker Pass Campground prior to hitting the trail. Additionally there is zero water to be found on this trail, so come bring plenty of water! The trail itself was easily defined with a steady incline. There's no shade until you hit the middle portion of the hike and there's sporadic shade towards the summit, so make sure you wear a hat and/or sunscreen. There was a high wind advisory the day we went and it was bone-chilling cold! Overall it's an enjoyable hike with amazing views. Not the toughest of hikes, but definitely worth the road trip.

Strenuous hike involving sand…read more Exposure in intense heat Bring lots of water Sturdy hiking shoes Go early before the heat kills you in the summer time $30 entrance fee into park Park at lake Butte

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.

The Paradise Meadow Trail was never even on our radar when we planned our trip to Lassen National…read morePark, but something about the trailhead called us in? So as we drove by, we decided to park and do the hike. With about a 700ft elevation gain and 3 miles roundtrip, this hike was moderately easy. Absolutely beautiful views, very peaceful. When we got to the end of the hike, there was a huge meadow to sit and enjoy - and we were the only ones there. Really got to just be with nature. Very tiny parking lot (maybe 5ish spots if I recall?), and there isn't really any shoulder parking here. So if you see a parking spot, take it. Very enjoyable hike, a hidden gem in the park. Highly recommend.

this hike was certainly chaotic! i knew there'd be quite an elevation gain, but i wasn't expecting…read moreso many turns, textured paths, sharp ups and downs and even a tight squeeze through what felt like a tall bush! my friends and i planned to run up this trail, but after a mile and change, realized that we'd be walking/hiking instead. regardless, there was lots to see here, fallen logs, a variety of different trees, colourful birds, and of course, the namesake "crags lake." we enjoyed this run/hike and took our time to enjoy everything that it had to offer. after reaching the lake, we caught a rock slide, first time i ever witnessed this phenomenon! think of an avalanche, except with rocks....little pebbles that roll and continue to gather and grow into a large rock formation, just rolling down, down, down the hill. i will say, the trail was quite easy to follow, even with minimal signage on the trail, we didn't have any issues finding the peak and the lake. however, there are no water fountains, facilities or anything of that nature here...so bring your water and be prepared to be one with nature if you have "to go!" accessible via the main road at manzanita lake campground.

Seeing this amazing field of crumbled dacite rock made me do some research. Read up on the geologic…read moreevent that caused this. Look closely at the rocks. Imagine the tremendous sound and vibration when these rock fragments came flying across the landscape. Look up the phrase "Acoustic Fluidization" and the word Sturzstroms." It'll help you understand how the heck this could have happened.

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!