How to Spend a Week in Lassen Volcanic National Park
This past summer was the first time I’ve ever been to Mt. Lassen. Here’s a quick recap and photo dump of everything I tried to jam pack into four days.
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Hiking Mill Creek Falls, Lassen Volcanic National Park
After finishing up the Mt. Lassen hike before 9am in the morning, I decided that I had enough time to tackle one more trail and see one more sight in the park. The trailhead starts at the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center and descends rapidly into conifer forest. The trail dodges in and out of patches of red fir trees all the way to the falls.
Swim the Big Sur River Gorge
I had accidentally stopped by Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and headed up the Big Sur River Gorge last summer when we stopped too early in an attempt to do the Tanbark Trail & Tin House loop at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. I mean, the names are confusing. Really.
The last time I was here, we made it up the river to the swimming hole, but opted to come back at a later time to jump in. I was determined to check this place off my bucket list! And this weekend, I did. Headed down to the park on a hot Sunday morning with some friends. We were afraid it would be foggy and cool, but the fog quickly burned off to reveal blue, blue skies for a marvelous trek up the river.
Hiking Kings Creek Falls and Sifford Lake Loop, Lassen Volcanic National Park
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Water level was a little low and quality was a little questionable without boiling, but still drinkable and swimmable. The cliffs by the lake also offer some great views of the forest.
It was a fairly mellow trail that wound through redwoods. I wasn’t terribly impressed by most of it other than the Kings Creek Falls section. This a hit it and quit it trail; probably won’t be back to see most of it again.
Hiking Mount Lassen
Took a few days off work to extend my 4th of July weekend and headed up to Lassen Volcanic National Park for the first time, ever. I’m super jealous of all the families I saw camping around me; I wish my parents were more into that when I was younger! We spent a few days exploring as much of the park as we could. Prepare yourself for an onslaught of my Lassen adventures! But first, my favorite adventure… hiking Mt. Lassen on the 4th of July!