Lassen Volcanic NP-Manzanita Lake Area
Located in the northwest portion of the park at 5800ft in elevation, Manzanita Lake is the first campground open for the season and is also the largest with the most amenities.
Manzanita Lake Campground
As we turn onto the Manzanita Lake Campground road we see a snow covered Mount Lassen framed by the tall pines that are hiding the campground below.
As we reach our site we can see it’s going to be both good and bad. It’s a beautiful setting; but getting solar and connectivity will definitely be a challenge.
After setting up camp and relaxing in our chairs, it’s official, solar and connectivity are definitely going to be an issue. There’s no cell signal to speak of and Starlink doesn’t have a clear line of sight to the sky. Oh well, we’ll make do.
After dinner we take a short walk around the upper campground loops to get a better view of Mount Lassen.
Manzanita Lake
After a good nights sleep, we decide to take the trail through camp, around Manzanita Lake and by the Visitor’s Center and Camp Store. The trail through the woods is very peaceful and the view over the lake is stunning.
As we approach the camp store we see that it’s under repair and the showers, laundry, and gas station are closed despite the National Park website showing them open. We learn from the manager that a tree fell on the building and it only reopened for limited business four days ago. It’s disappointing; but we came prepared and this won’t affect us. Unfortunately, other campers were not so prepared and are now left very unhappy and scrambling.
Bike Ride to Devastated Area
After lunch we set out on a 20 mile bike ride to the Devastated Area. According to the website the road is closed beyond this point due to deep snow. It’ll be interesting to see just how much snow is there given it’s over 80 degrees.
Chaos Crags & Jumbles
Our first stop along the way is at Chaos Crags & Jumbles. Chaos Crags is composed of six steep-sided dome volcanoes with the first and largest erupting over 1,000 years ago.
Dome volcanoes are especially prone to avalanches; which is evident here by the gray silty side of the domes and the massive amount of rocks in the foreground. An avalanche carried the rocks all the way across the road and created the Jumbles.
Sunflower Flat, Nobles’ Emigrant Trail
Our second stop is a pull-off at the site of Nobles’ Emigrant Trail. As the story goes, in 1851 gold-seeker William H. Nobles stumbled upon an easier, more direct Northern California route for those emigrating during the gold rush. Realizing it’s potential he gave up his dreams of striking gold. Instead, he found backers and convinced the US government to invest in the new trail. However, calamity after calamity landed Nobles in a legal battle with the federal government, halting the work and clinching the trail’s demise.
Hot Rock
Our next stop is Hot Rock; which following the May 1915 Lassen Peak eruptions, B.F. Loomis and other local residents discovered several massive hot rocks resting in the valley miles from the volcano. This hot rock is a piece of the dacite lava that filled Lassen Peak’s crater. The volcano’s eruption touched off a snow avalanche. The avalanche carried this 300-ton rock five miles from Lassen Peak to this location, where it was still sizzling over forty hours later.
Devastated Area Trail
Yeah, we made it! This time of year had very little traffic on the park road; which made this an incredibly peaceful ride.
This short, self-guided trail circles through a small portion of the Devastated Area and tells the story of devastation and forest recovery following the 1915 eruption of Lassen Peak. There are several large examples of the different type of rocks that were formed and/or carried here by the volcano.
At the end of the Devastated Area there’s the expected gate with a “Road Closed” sign. But, beyond it we can see clear road and there are people walking up it. So, we decide to keep going.
We end up down at Hat Lake.
And just beyond we see the Paradise Meadow Trailhead and figure what the heck, we have energy left.
Paradise Meadow Trail
Shortly after beginning the trail, we run into snow. The higher we progress up the trail the deeper it gets, until we’re walking on snow that’s over a foot deep. Given the temps are in the mid 70’s and we’re in shorts, walking through this much snow is quite a contrast.
It’s a tough climb with the occasional slip and slide and breaking through the crust, but the sight at the end is worth it. A vast snow covered meadow, split by a stream, with snow covered peaks at the back.
Oh So Close
On the way home we see a pickup suddenly stop in the middle of the road in front of us. As we approach they tell us that they’ve just seen a large black bear. It crossed the road in front of them and then disappeared into the woods.
All we get to see was the picture she took and the bear was large! One day we’ll get to see one of these magnificent animals in the wild; but today is not that day. Oh well, it’s dinnertime and we’re still over five miles from camp. Time to pedal on.
Lily Pond Loop Trail
Today we’ve decided to take it easy and only walk down to the Visitors Center, Museum, and meander through the interpretive trail across the road. As we begin the trail, there’s a detailed brochure you can pick up, enabling a self-guided introduction to the area.
Ok, so 5 miles by the end of the day, isn’t exactly taking it easy; but we had a great time.
Next stop… Whiskeytown National Recreation Area to Shasta Lake.
Loved the beautiful photos. The narrative is also excellent – good descriptions of what you are seeing and experiencing in each location. Thanks for all of that.