Our first stop, in Lassen National Park, was Manzanita Lake where we were able to rent a kayak and take in all the scenery. What a gorgeous place, so diverse! We hiked the three mile Bumpass Hell loop trail to view the mudpots and hissing fumaroles. Beautiful mountain lakes, streams, waterfalls and snow abound here . . . yes snow! That's the reason the park road just opened two weeks ago. While hiking near Kings Meadow we spotted a bear! COOL!! We stayed out in the boonies at an "oasis in the woods" . . . no TV, no phone, no internet! The restaurant was warm and welcoming with great food! The next morning, at breakfast, we met two nice men from Grass Vally and Mission Viejo, California. We stopped off at the Vistior Center and discovered that Lassen Peak was indeed open to the top!! (After being told the previous day it was going to be closed for trail maintenance.) We grabbed a sandwich and a cookie and drove to the trailhead. A great hike, not too hard, but not easy.
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| Kings Creek in Upper Meadow |
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| Wildflowers |
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| Kayaking on Manzanita Lake |
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| Lake Helen |
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| Trail to Bumpass Hell |
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| Hissing fumaroles |
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| Mudpots |
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| Is that what I think it is? |
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| Yes, it's a bear! |
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| He's probably eyeing some fish in the stream |
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| The trail to the top is open......really it is! |
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| Almost there |
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| This is the false summit where most people stopped, but not us! |
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| Here we are at the false summit |
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| Looking towards the true summit |
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| Heading for the top of Lassen Peak |
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| Inside the Lassen Crater looking towards Mt. Shasta |
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| The tippy top of Mt. Lassen 10,457 ft. |
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| Great views |
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| I made it to the top of Mt. Lassen...whoohoo! |
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| Snow in August! |
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| Heading back down, still above the treeline |
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| Lake Helen in the distance |
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| Aerial view of the Lassen Peak Trail |
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| The wildflowers were pretty |
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| We kept seeing these huge pinecones along the road and just had to stop |
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| Burney Falls |
