Daily Archives: September 2, 2014

September 2, 2014 Lassen Volcanic National Park, California Part 1

While we were in Weed we stopped off at their Visitors Center and the lady there suggested we stop by McCloud River Falls on our way to Lassen Volcanic National Park.  I was a little apprehensive about finding a parking place long enough for the RV and our tow vehicle at the falls, but Bill was confident we wouldn’t have a problem and he was right.  Since it was a weekday and after Labor Day, the parking lot was almost empty.  We walked down to the observation decks at both the upper and middle falls.  It was a lovely falls as the water tumbled over lava cliffs, and we could imagine it being even more spectacular after the spring thaw.

McCloud River upper falls

McCloud River upper falls

McCloud river middle falls

McCloud river middle falls

Sadly as we traveled down toward the park we entered an area devastated by fire with burned hillsides and forest.  We passed a couple trucks burned to the shell as well as some destroyed buildings, but we also saw where many houses had miraculously escaped fire.

We arrived at Manzanita Lake Campground in Lassen Volcanic National Park for a three night dry camping stay.  Lassen is known for mountain scenery reminiscent of Yosemite and geothermal features similar to Yellowstone, but the best thing is this park has only a fraction of the visitors of Yosemite or Yellowstone.  As expected after Labor Day, the campground was sparsely inhabited which was just fine with us.  There were loads of firewood to gather and unlike most state parks who want to sell you firewood, here they did not mind us gathering wood for a campfire.  We enjoyed nice campfires under the stars on two nights, but we were mindful of the extremely dry conditions in the area and were super careful.

Lassen Volcanic National Park was designated a national park in 1916. IMG_20140905_103005  All four types of volcanoes are found in the park (shield, plug dome, cinder cone, and composite) as well as three different types of geothermal features (steam vents, mudpots and hot springs). IMG_2210 IMG_2209 IMG_2208 IMG_2207 Lassen Peak, one of the world’s largest plug dome volcanoes, erupted in 1914 and continued volcanic outbursts for three years.

We stopped by the Visitors Center and watched an excellent movie about the park and the volcanic activity which shaped the landscape.  We purchased an auto tour book so we could learn more about the area as we made the thirty mile drive from south to north through the park.  There were sixteen pullouts where we could view and learn about that area of the park.

Hot Rock, was swept from the summit of Lassen Peak in 1915 by an avalanche and mudflow after an enormous steam explosion on the summit.  It weighs about thirty tons, the weight of a fully loaded semi truck.

30-ton rock placed here during the eruption, five miles from the peak

30-ton rock placed here during the eruption, five miles from the peak

Near Lassen Peak, the road reached 8,511 feet, making it the highest road in the Cascade Mountain range. IMG_2194

Lassen Peak

Lassen Peak

Lake Helen

Lake Helen

Do you see a face?

Do you see a face?

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Juniper Lake

Juniper Lake

Near the south entrance of the park we came to Sulphur Works, the most accessible hydrothermal area in the park.  The steam fumaroles and mudpots are evidence of the continued volcanic activity in the area.  Spring snowmelt and rain soaks into the ground and then percolates downward through cracks and fractures.  Eventually it comes in contact with hot rock and trapped gases.  The water is superheated and rises to the surface as steam.  The hydrogen sulfide gives the area a very strong smell of rotten eggs and the temperatures in the pools have been measured at 196 degrees.

Sulphur Works

Sulphur Works

IMG_2204 IMG_2206

We also managed to find four geocaches in the park also!