It's amazing when you say California, most people immediately think either beach or Hollywood. What most people don't know is that California is vast and extremely diverse with its nature offerings. I recently got acquainted with its volcanic side.
WHERE:
The Lassen Volcanic National Park is located about 4 hours drive North of San Francisco. Highway 44 will take you straight to the North Entrance.The Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center is open year-round. It is located at the southwest entrance of the park.
WHY:
Mount Lassen and its fellow volcanoes are a part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. In fact, all four types of volcanoes in the world can be found in this single National Park.Plug Dome (Lassen Peak), Cinder Cone (Cinder Cone), Shield (Prospect Peak), and Composite (Mount Tehama). This particular forest offers volcanoes, hydrothermal areas, fishing grounds, gorgeous vistas and beautiful waterfalls..how is that for variety? Great for scouts, campers, kids, family holidays and school outings. It is a fabulous mixture of science and a mini vacation..need I say more?
WHEN:
The Park is mostly closed in winter months due to snow, the earliest opening of its roads is on Memorial Day Weekend. Late May to Sep-Oct are the best months to visit this park.
Make sure to check the Park Alerts on the official page or by calling up the park for earthquakes, volcanic activity, closed roads, avalanches and current conditions.
GETTING THERE:
1. Drive: A link of highways will take you straight to the park.
2. Fly: a very small airport for chartered planes exists if you prefer it.
Some of the roads in the vicinity may be quite isolated. Phone connectivity in this area is pretty bad. Make sure you have back up supplies, a satellite GPS, maps and a spare tire.
HABITAT:
There are plenty of options to choose from. You may choose to stay in the park itself, remembering that the booking closes very early in the year.
We chose to go the glamping (glamour camping) route by renting a wooden lodge in KOA in nearby Shingletown. KOA also offers camping premises for true-blooded tent campers, other basic cabins or parking and docking ports for RVs. Clean and very efficient, with loads of entertainment options, we were delighted with our choice of stay.
MUST SEE:
1. The Wild Horse Sanctuary, Shingletown: For all the horse lovers, this one is a must-see. It's a completely volunteered organization , where the wild horses are free to roam and live as they please, and they are really beautiful animals to watch. Evenings are generally a good time to visit, when the horses tend to come out of the shade. They also have 2-3 days trail camps for the interested. Open only on Wednesdays and Saturdays. They also have some very cute goats and their kids and some sheep.
2. Burney Falls: This one is a nice easy hike, some beautiful vistas and some equally beautiful photo-ops.
Natives used to revere this lake and falls and perform rituals here. The blue-green of the lake is most pleasing to the eye. Swimming is prohibited in the lake, but the cool spray of the water is most refreshing. Much of the access trail also has wheelchair access.
3. Lava Subway Cave: Located about 1/3rd of a mile North of the Hwy 44 and Hwy 89 Junction, near the town of Old Station. This is a very easy trail, less than a mile long, but good for thrills and chills(quite literally). Visibility is zero in the cave , so flashlight is necessary. Also keep a jacket handy, since it can get very chilly down in the tube. Watch out for the surface, it is rocky and uneven. Markers line the path in the tube.
4. Lassen Volcanic National Park: I followed an itinerary of entering through the North entrance and exiting through the Southwest entrance on the Lassen Volcanic National Park highway. On the way, one can see the Manzanita lake, Lake Emerald and Lake Helen, besides a few others. You can also see Brokeoff mountian , Bumpass Hell (one of the largest Hydro-thermal areas in the forest) as well as Sulfur works. The biggest attraction of course is Mount Lassen, our good old dormant volcano, and if the peaks are free of snow, one can climb to the peak. Semi frozen lakes are a delight and one can watch in wonder as the water in the springs bubbles from volcanic activity and fills the air with Hydrogen Sulfide at Sulfur works. It gives you a little bit of everything for a one day plan. If you are camping here however, and/or have more time, one can enter through the west entrances and explore the other Hydro-thermal areas and volcanoes like cinder cone.During the right season, one might even spend some time on the Lava beds.
Restrooms and parking are located at all important spots and the The Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center has a nice little cafe for refreshments. It also has an auditorium which showcases educational films on the park at regular intervals, if you are playing guide to some young scouts.
The Museum near the North entrance is also a good spot to get some more information.
MUST DO:
1. Campfire, s'mores et al: I always love sitting around a warm fire, eating fresh BBQ sandwiches and making s'mores, listening to some old R&B. It's indeed a wonderful feeling.. do it, if only for one night.
2. Go hiking: Breathtaking views, sprawling landscapes, and where else might you get the satisfaction of having climbed a volcano?
3. Go Fishing: Have a quiet moment with Dad.. multiple fishing opportunities in the different lakes.
4. Sky-gazing: This is a tremendous opportunity to look at the sky at night, one even spots the milky way. In summer, rangers have programs for sky-gazing at night. Book ahead.
5. Bird/ Animal Spotting: Besides the horses, one spots a variety of birds, and animals in the Lassen county. We spotted woodpeckers, blue jays, lots of deer and even spotted some Llamas! (Commonly found in South America, these animals are rarely found on the north american continent)
MUST HAVE:
1. Camping gear
2. Matchsticks/ flashlight/ candles/ night lamp for dinners
3. Tongs and BBQ equipment
4. All weather jacket for unpredictable rains
5. Spare tire, maps, GPS for isolated roads
6. Binoculars(if needed)
7. First aid kit
8. Lots of food
9. A healthy and adventurous spirit
Close to home, and yet unknown, Lassen is indeed a hidden gem. I have had an amazing time discovering parts of it. Post your thoughts and findings here as I continue my education
Natives used to revere this lake and falls and perform rituals here. The blue-green of the lake is most pleasing to the eye. Swimming is prohibited in the lake, but the cool spray of the water is most refreshing. Much of the access trail also has wheelchair access.
3. Lava Subway Cave: Located about 1/3rd of a mile North of the Hwy 44 and Hwy 89 Junction, near the town of Old Station. This is a very easy trail, less than a mile long, but good for thrills and chills(quite literally). Visibility is zero in the cave , so flashlight is necessary. Also keep a jacket handy, since it can get very chilly down in the tube. Watch out for the surface, it is rocky and uneven. Markers line the path in the tube.
The above 3 can be completed in the same day (right day) in the order of Horses-cave-falls or the other way around
4. Lassen Volcanic National Park: I followed an itinerary of entering through the North entrance and exiting through the Southwest entrance on the Lassen Volcanic National Park highway. On the way, one can see the Manzanita lake, Lake Emerald and Lake Helen, besides a few others. You can also see Brokeoff mountian , Bumpass Hell (one of the largest Hydro-thermal areas in the forest) as well as Sulfur works. The biggest attraction of course is Mount Lassen, our good old dormant volcano, and if the peaks are free of snow, one can climb to the peak. Semi frozen lakes are a delight and one can watch in wonder as the water in the springs bubbles from volcanic activity and fills the air with Hydrogen Sulfide at Sulfur works. It gives you a little bit of everything for a one day plan. If you are camping here however, and/or have more time, one can enter through the west entrances and explore the other Hydro-thermal areas and volcanoes like cinder cone.During the right season, one might even spend some time on the Lava beds.
Restrooms and parking are located at all important spots and the The Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center has a nice little cafe for refreshments. It also has an auditorium which showcases educational films on the park at regular intervals, if you are playing guide to some young scouts.
The Museum near the North entrance is also a good spot to get some more information.
MUST DO:
1. Campfire, s'mores et al: I always love sitting around a warm fire, eating fresh BBQ sandwiches and making s'mores, listening to some old R&B. It's indeed a wonderful feeling.. do it, if only for one night.
2. Go hiking: Breathtaking views, sprawling landscapes, and where else might you get the satisfaction of having climbed a volcano?
3. Go Fishing: Have a quiet moment with Dad.. multiple fishing opportunities in the different lakes.
4. Sky-gazing: This is a tremendous opportunity to look at the sky at night, one even spots the milky way. In summer, rangers have programs for sky-gazing at night. Book ahead.
5. Bird/ Animal Spotting: Besides the horses, one spots a variety of birds, and animals in the Lassen county. We spotted woodpeckers, blue jays, lots of deer and even spotted some Llamas! (Commonly found in South America, these animals are rarely found on the north american continent)
MUST HAVE:
1. Camping gear
2. Matchsticks/ flashlight/ candles/ night lamp for dinners
3. Tongs and BBQ equipment
4. All weather jacket for unpredictable rains
5. Spare tire, maps, GPS for isolated roads
6. Binoculars(if needed)
7. First aid kit
8. Lots of food
9. A healthy and adventurous spirit
Close to home, and yet unknown, Lassen is indeed a hidden gem. I have had an amazing time discovering parts of it. Post your thoughts and findings here as I continue my education
" A Volcano is nothing but a mountain..but with hiccups"
Lassen is GREAT!!!! Came all the way from NORTH CAROLINA to camp and hike and i will be back next year!! Also CRATER LAKE in nearby Oregon is super!
ReplyDeleteI am glad you loved it as much as I did.. do share your experiences and feel free to follow the blog!
ReplyDelete