Craving solitude amongst big trees? Hike Merced Grove of Giant Sequoias. The least visited of the three groves, this grove of sequoias is my favorite in Yosemite National Park.
Hike: Cold Boiling Lake
Where: Lassen Volcanic National Park
Trailhead: Kings Creek Picnic Area
Level: Easy
Duration: 45 minutes
Length: 1.4 miles out and back
Gear: Icebreaker Aero Tank, Outdoor Research Turbine Shorts, Boreas Topaz 25, and Ahnu Sugarpine Waterproof Boot
Cost of Parking: Free
Cold Boiling Lake is one of those things that sounded cooler on the map than it did in person. Located near Bumpass Hell, the lake is a part of the active geothermal system in Lassen National Park. The lake gets its name from the cold carbon dioxide bubbles rising to the top giving the appearance of a boiling lake.
The trail out to the lake from the Kings Creek Picnic Area is relatively flat and well marked. The lake is fairly small in size and easy to miss if you’re not looking for it specifically. This was a hike that I definitely could have skipped, or extended by heading down to Crumbaugh Lake as well. It was pretty underwhelming. I could see a few bubbles here and there, and that was about it. This isn’t something that you’re completely missing out on if you never see it. I opted not to continue on since I had just tackled the Kings Creek Falls loop.
An alternate route to get to Cold Boiling Lake would be by way of Bumpass Hell, taking the trail about a mile and a half away from the boardwalk area to the lake.
Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of my favorite places in California. It’s an absolute hidden gem, overshadowed by other national parks like Yosemite. Bumpass Hell was my first hike within the park.
Bumpass Hell in Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of those features that you must see. It’s just so cool! And so stinky, a great, family-friendly introduction to the park.
Hike: Eagle Falls and Eagle Lake
Where: Desolation Wilderness
Trailhead: Eagle Falls
Level: Easy
Duration: 2 hours
Length: 2.5 miles
Gear: Icebreaker Oasis Crewe long-sleeve, Camelbak Aventura Pack, Arcteryx Women’s Alpha SL Hybrid Jacket, Triple Aught Design Artemis Hoodie, REI Sahara Convertible Pants
, Black Diamond Ultra Distance Trekking Poles
, and Ahnu Sugarpine Waterproof Boot
Cost of Parking: Free off Emerald Bay Road or $3 at the trailhead
A few weeks ago the boyfriend and I hiked up the Bayview trail and peered down onto Eagle Lake. The next day, we decided to hike to Eagle Lake and peer up to where we were standing before.
This is a fairly mellow 2.5 miler out and back hike with views of Upper Eagle Falls, granite walls, and a clear blue Eagle Lake.
The hike from the Palomarin trailhead to Alamere Falls is one of my favorites in Point Reyes, if not the whole Bay Area. There are few places in the world where you can see a freshwater waterfall drop directly into the ocean.
It’s rated as moderate. Not too long, not too short, and you’ll be back in San Francisco just in time for dinner.
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