One of my last posts in 2016 was about our time in Patagonia. I wrote how the air felt different – “it has an untouched quality, so crisp and fresh that you feel rejuvenated, almost healed by breathing it in” – and after our exceedingly hot summer and weeks upon weeks of terrible air quality, Lassen offered much of the same respite, albeit much closer to home.
With so much up in the air regarding COVID, even next Spring and Summer travel plans seem tentative. But if you’re like me and love having trips booked to look forward to, national parks are a safe bet. As one of the most underrated and sparsely visited national parks, Lassen is perfect for a social distant vacation.
When: October 2020
Where: Mill Creek, CA / Lassen National Park
Stayed: Mill Creek Resort is a family-friendly camping/cabin resort with old-fashioned summer camp vibes. The property is 13 acres down a very charming country road just ~10 miles south of the park’s southwest entrance. There are campsites, RV sites, and cabins. We rented cabin 10 which had an indoor fireplace, but all of the cabins have outdoor fire pits, picnic tables, and chairs. There is a playground that our kids had to themselves the entire time. It was the perfect place for people like us who want the outdoor feel but don’t want to camp. 🙂
Amount of Time: We arrived Sunday midday and left Wednesday Morning which was a good amount of time to be on a ‘hiking’ trip with a 2 and 3-year-old. If we didn’t have kids with us, we could have easily packed more into each day or added another day to the trip.
Food: We brought all our food and planned each dinner ahead of time which made another aspect of the trip a breeze. The cabins are supplied with pots/pans/dishes/cooking utensils/etc. making it really easy for those non-campers.
Itinerary:
- Sunday: A 4-4.5 hour drive from San Jose, we left Sunday morning and drove straight to Red Bluff for lunch and gas. Red Bluff is about 3/4 of the way to Mill Creek, so it’s a good place to stock up/get gas before heading to the park or to Mill Creek. We spent the afternoon exploring Mill Creek Resort’s property after being cooped up.
- Monday:
- Bumpass Hell Trail: One of the most popular hikes in the park, this is a 3-mile loop that takes you down to one of the most active geothermal areas in the park. Hiking down to the boardwalk gets you up close to the bubbling mud pots, steamy turquoise waters, and the sulfur smell!
- Lunch at Lake Helen: Only 500 feet past the Bumpass Hell trailhead, this was the perfect lunch spot. The clearest blue water I’ve ever seen and the perfect place to let kids throw rocks. 🙂
- Tuesday
- Sulpher Works: Located between the Visitor Center and the Bumpass Hell trailhead, this is another great area to see geothermal activity. No hiking – just park in the lot and walk along the sidewalk to see some crazy displays.
- Manzanita Lake: A flat 1.8-mile trail winds around the lake. Perfect for kids and families. In the summer you can swim, rent kayaks, and fish. And Lassen Peak is reflected in the water.
- Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway: A pretty 30-mile drive from the Visitor Center to Manzanita Lake – passing most major sites in the park and lots of lookout spots.
- Devastated Area: When Lassen Peak erupted in 1915, it cleared almost this entire area. There is a 1/2-mile interpretive trail with photography and audio. Good spot for restless kids to stretch their legs.
- Emerald Lake: While Lake Helen is deep royal blue, Emerald Lake is a myriad of greens. Not much to do other than a peaceful spot to stop.
On our list for next time: All Trails has good guides on each hike.
- Cluster Lakes Loop trail – 10.4 miles/moderate
- Cinder Cone trail – 4 miles/hard
- Lassen Peak hike – 5.1 miles/hard
- Kings Creek Falls – 3 miles/moderate
Looks like heaven! What a fun trip.