chuckmo26

Jun 8, 20245 min read

Mt. Lassen, California

The drive to Mt. Lassen was a breeze. The "bing bong" alerts had finally ceased, and it felt like the wicked witch was truly dead—no more wiring disconnected notifications on this leg of the trip. The smooth, uninterrupted journey was a welcome relief and made the scenic drive even more enjoyable.

Our campground for Mt. Lassen is the Mt. Lassen / Shingletown KOA Holiday.

The campground was a delightful find. It's impeccably clean with a fantastic dog park, and it has the charming feel of a mom-and-pop establishment. The tap water is pure mountain water, filtered three times—four if you count our own filter—and it's incredibly clean. This place has been around for 60 years and is run by wonderful people: Patty, the owner; Doug, the maintenance guy; and Gina at the front desk. They made us feel right at home.

We made a pit stop at Lumberjacks Restaurant for a meal, then headed over to Quick Quack for a much-needed truck wash. The Ceramic Duck treatment left our truck with some bugs, but—no more black-and-tan mess from our Flounce Rock adventure. Afterward, we swung by Walmart for some supply shopping, restocking essential camping gear like toilet paper. It’s the little things that keep the trip running smoothly.

On day two, after wrapping up work, we headed to Burney Falls. Unfortunately, our visit was shorter than we had hoped. The trail down to the falls was under renovation, and all other facilities were closed. Despite the brief visit, the sight of the cascading falls was still breathtaking and worth the trip.

We drove down to Burney Lake for a picturesque picnic dinner. Afterward, we ventured to the Northwest entrance of Mt. Lassen, exploring the fascinating destruction zone and marveling at the rocks displaced by the 1915 eruption. Instead of snowballs, we had a contest to find the largest pinecone. We wrapped up the day with a cozy campfire, sharing stories and enjoying the warmth under the starry sky.

Mt. Lassen Norwest Entrance

The Northwest entrance of Lassen Volcanic National Park offers a unique entry point to explore the park's diverse landscapes. This entrance provides access to some of the park's most remarkable sites, including the Devastation Area, Manzanita Lake, Chaos Crags, and Chaos Jumbles geological formations.

On day three, Diana was sick, so Debbie and Jennae set off on an adventure. They hiked around Manzanita Lake, enjoying the surroundings. Along the way, they spotted a deer, a mother mallard with her eight ducklings, and took trails around Reflection Pond and Lily Pond. They encountered a striking red spiked flower, possibly a snowdrop, and met a couple who mistakenly thought it was a mushroom—Debbie and Jennae quickly set them straight. They also encountered "Big Jeffrey," a magnificent Jeffrey Pine tree.

After Chuck and I finished work, we started with an exploration of Subway Cave (an extinct lava tube), followed by our visit to the Southwest Entrance near the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center. However, I accidentally strolled out in slippers instead of hiking shoes, so we had to dash back to the trailer for a quick shoe swap. Trekking through the cave in slippers would have been an adventure in itself.

The journey up to the cave was a breeze, and exploring inside was equally effortless. As soon as we stepped away from the entrance, we could see our breath in the chilly air. Inside one of the side chambers, we decided to turn off all our lights. It was an eye-opening experience—utter darkness where you couldn't even see your hand in front of your face!

Navigating the lava tube's uneven floor required caution to avoid tripping. The cave is one-way, so after emerging, you are greeted with a short nature hike. Along the trail, we encountered volcanic-thrown rocks and a diverse array of plant species, showcasing the dynamic ecosystem shaped by the volcano's activity.

Subway Cave

Subway Cave is a fascinating lava tube located in the Lassen National Forest near the town of Old Station in Northern California, not Oregon. This impressive geological feature was formed by volcanic activity around 20,000 years ago. The cave stretches for approximately 1,300 feet, offering visitors a unique opportunity to walk through the remnants of a volcanic eruption.

The cave is easily accessible with a well-maintained entrance and trail, and it provides a cool and dark environment perfect for exploring on a hot day. Inside, you'll find intriguing formations such as lava stalactites, stalagmites, and smooth tube-like walls created by flowing lava. Remember to bring a flashlight and sturdy shoes. <-This is my reminder!

Since the mountain pass at Mt. Lassen is still blocked by snow, we decided to drive around the circumference of the national park to reach the other entrance. Our route took us down a rugged logging road, and as luck would have it, our once black truck is now sporting a shade of tan once more! Dusty adventures indeed.

We arrived at the visitor center just 15 minutes before closing time. The center is divided into two distinct areas: one for the national park and another for the concession area. If you're in need of a quick meal, it is available.

Southwest Entrance (near Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center)

The Southwest Entrance of Lassen Volcanic National Park, near the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center, serves as a primary gateway to explore the park’s fascinating volcanic landscape and natural wonders. This entrance provides convenient access to Sulphur Works. It is the heart of an extinct volcano.

After a quick shopping stop, restroom break, and a chat with the rangers, we were off to explore the Sulphur Works.

At Sulphur Works, the geothermal features are within the remnants of an extinct volcano, Mount Tehama, also known as Brokeoff Volcano. Mount Tehama was a prominent stratovolcano in the area, but it became extinct thousands of years ago and has since eroded significantly over time.

The boiling mud pots and steaming fumaroles were truly impressive, both in sight and smell—whew!

Wish this was Scratch and Sniff. You should be glad it isn't.

At this entrance, the road was closed past Sulphur Works. Did that stop our exploration? Not a chance! We laced up our hiking boots and ventured up the hill past the first switchback to see what hidden gems we could discover.