J_Correa

I am looking for some recommendations for hikes and picnic spots in Lassen National Park.

My dad bought a house up near there, a few miles west of the park. We have gone up a few times, but never had the chance to check out Lassen - when we have gone up, it has either been snowy or rainy, or there was a family event so we had to stick around and be sociable - LOL.

We are going up in a couple weeks and will have at least 1 full day to explore the park, so I am looking for some good recommendations.

Thanks

justme22

don't know if this is a good recommendation.... i really liked hiking lassen peak, it is not too difficult or technical and i did it when i was less experienced in hiking then am i now. i was probably in better shape tho! views at the top were great. i also understand there are many trails one can take in the national forest just outside the park. so, here's a vote for lassen peak.

curmudgeon

Definitely do the hike (fairly short) to Bumpass Hell. It has a neat set of thermal features in a low-key, small scale setting. I think this and the peak would be the two main scenic hikes. While the peak is not a technical climb, the altitude would make it a challenge if you are not in good shape.

J_Correa

I was looking at Bumpass Hell - that looked like a neat place to start.

I think I will have to work up to Lassen Peak though - a 5 mile round trip hike would be ok if it were relatively flat, but not with a 2000 foot elevation gain at high altitude - LOL.

I grew up doing a lot of hiking and backpacking, but now I work in an office, and between that, graduate school, and homeowneship, I don't have much time to go hiking. I just don't have the endurance I used to have. I would like to get back to the point where I could do hikes like Lassen Peak. It used to be nothing for me to hike to the top of the Sierra Buttes - nice, relaxing day hike - LOL. Not anymore.

justme22

good luck, when i was there, it was a season that had a lot of winter snow and bumpass hell was still frozen over, dare i say hell frozen over!!! my first choice would have been bumpass, as the peak sounded a bit daunting as you point out 5 miles and 2K ft. but this isn't too bad, if you take your time. but i have to say if i had bumpass available i would have gone.

on this same trip i went to crater lake and the road was VERY closed around the lake (it was june) and wasn't close to opening....

J_Correa

I was looking at a map of the park, and there is a trail off Summit Lake to teh east that forks and each fork goes to some lakes on the way to the Pacific Crest trail. It looks to be about 2 miles from the road to each set of lakes, but my map doesn't have terrain. I do need to get a topo, but I haven't done that yet.

Does anybody know what the terrain is like for that area? Those concentrations of lakes look interesting.

curmudgeon

Try Google earth for a feel of the terrain; you can "fly over", as well as get elevations at any point.

Haven't done the hike to those lakes myself, our visit was a short one.

J_Correa

Thanks for the google earth recommendation I hadn't thought of that. I have used it to check out other areas - of course as soon as I heard about it, I went and checked out my house - LOL. But I didn't think of it this time. Thanks.

Shanghainese

Bumpass Hell is a very interesting hike, the thermal features are unusual and there is a boardwalk so you can get close to the steaming holes and pools.

North of the park is the gorgeous Burney Falls, real easy walk, definitely worth a visit. We did both last year, have fun!

J_Correa

We went to Burney Falls once, but it was winter time and the weather was not good - sort of a sleety rain. The falls were pretty impressive, but we definitely have to go back another time when the weather is better.

Shanghainese

Another gentle stroll is around Emerald Lake just inside the north entrance and a good picnic spot too.

J -- Do you work in SF?

J_Correa

No - I am in San Jose.

Shanghainese

Hopely there will be a GTG in SJ soon, there are GTGs in SF at least each quarter, the last one on 8/18.

J_Correa

I keep trying to make it to these, but they always end up being on a day that we already have plans. One of these times we will make it though

Grassshopper

J- The hike up Lassen is not bad; 44 switchbacks. My sister (who lives in San Jose) just came back about 3 weeks ago. The trails were clear on all their hikes. Bumpass Hell is a must do. Also, the hike to Cold Boiling Lake is nice.

Check out the Manzanita Lake Campground area. The stroll around that lake is lovely. Also, if they are having the ranger program, the Pioneer talk is a lot of fun.

Shanghainese

Sorry, I meant Manzanita Lake, not Emerald Lake!