Day 287 - Mount Shasta - Cascade Loop (Part 5)

Day 287 of Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Another park that was closed due to snow in May when I was in the northern California area was Lassen Volcanic National Park so as I head south to Texas, I have revisited the park, this time on a beautiful day at the end of September.

Lassen Volcanic National Park

The landscape in the park is extremely varied. Upon entering through the northern entrance of the park, I passed by beds of pumice which looked like rocks from the moon. I made a few quick stops before I finally settled on taking a hike to Kings Creek Falls. Judging by the cars, it looked like a popular destination. Having said that, given summer is over and it was a Thursday, there weren’t that many.

The hike was lovely. The three mile roundtrip passed through a meadow, crossed several dry creeks, and then descended rather steeply to the falls area. Hikers were routed via the horse trail as the cascades trail was considered too dangerous. I was still able to turn up river to admire the tumbling waters before turning downriver to see the waters spill over the steep cliff.

cascades in lassen volcanic national park

As I was headed toward the falls, I met Ron, Sylvia, and Teresa from Redding who were finishing up for the day. Upon my return to the car, I caught up with them again as they had just finished exploring a side trail. They found a very rare wildflower which I can’t recall its name while trying to snap a photo of some deer. Sylvia had been wanting to see the flower for years. She was so excited that she took me to see it.

Knowing how I feel when I see elusive wildlife, I commented, “This must have made your day”.

She responded, “It made my year!” It was a very small white flower with green lines running up the petals. I would have never known it was something so special.

After my hike, we made a few more scenic stops at Bumpass Hell, Emerald Lake and Sulphur Works. At Bumpass Hell, I met a couple from Palo Alto who talked me out taking a three mile walk along a boardwalk to an active hydrothermal basin to view mudspots and fumaroles. I wasn’t that gung ho and when they commented, We’ve been to Yellowstone enough”, I thought the same thing. I’m glad I didn’t take the hike given Sulphur Works which was roadside had a few.

Emerald Lake, so named for its color was also roadside and simply gorgeous. It used to be home to the Cascade frog, a species whose population has declined dramatically. In the 1920s, there was a frog for nearly every yard around the lake. Now the lake is devoid of the species. Researchers are asking citizens to inform them any time one is located so that they may determine what is causing the decline.

From Lassen, I headed south to Reno where I stayed for the evening. Tomorrow, I plan on visiting the parts of Yosemite that were closed due to snow in May. ETB