Today we visited Lassen Volcanic National Park, where Lassen Peak is one of the largest plug dome volcanoes in the world. Its last eruptions were between 1914 and 1921. We drove Hwy 44 from Redding to the Park entrance, and the road was open to the Summit Lake Trailhead, where we had great views of Lassen Peak but couldn’t go any further because of the huge bank of snow still there. We saw ski tracks on the mountain and then met one of the fellows who had hiked up to the top earlier and had a great ski down back to his car. I guess May is the best time for spring skiing on Lassen Peak. We stopped a t Manzanita Lake on our way out to get reflections of the mountain in the clear blue water. Click on thumbnail to view images
We continued on the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway to Burney stopping at the McArthur-Burney Falls State Park. Burney Falls, once described by Teddy Roosevelt as the “eighth wonder of the world”, is the Park’s centerpiece at 129-ft tall, it is very impressive. We took the short 1.3 mile trail circling the falls and down to the base for great views of the falls. After visiting McArthur-Burney Falls, we decided to head up Highway 89 to see the McCloud Waterfalls. We took the McCloud River Falls Trail starting at the Lower Falls, and on to the Middle Falls of the McCloud River, about 50 feet high and 80 feet across, definitely the highlight of of the McCloud River Falls. The Trail comes within 30 feet of the edge of the falls’ pool. The water surging over the precipice is an awesome view from here. Climbing up the trail we reached the Upper Falls, where the McCloud River gouged a large trough through a 50 foot high basalt wall, and the water pouring out of it is an impressive sight. The three McCloud River Falls were well worth the hike. Click on thumbnail to view images
We went to Mt Shasta next where we hiked the 3-mile Spring Hill Trail at the north end of the city. The views along the trail were excellent of Mount Shasta City, nestled in the Strawberry Valley and from Rocky Point is a great view of Mount Shasta. Then we drove to Lake Siskiyou, nestled at the foot of the Trinity Divide, with fantastic views of Mount Shasta from the Loop Trail around the Lake. We stopped at the Mt Shasta City Park to experience the purest tasting water at the Sacramento River Headwaters. Gushing out of natural soil and rock wall, no pipes needed, is some of the most cold, clean, tasty sweet water ever!! Then off we went into Mt Shasta City to have dinner at the famous Lily’s Restaurant. Click on thumbnail to view images
Mt Shasta
