Enjoy views of the Fantastic Lava Beds from the shores of Butte and Snag Lakes
Our day starts this morning with a meeting and orientation in Redding, California. We then hop aboard a provided shuttle for a two-hour drive to the northeast corner of Lassen Volcanic National Park, where our trek begins. Our trail hugs the shores of Butte Lake, which was shaped by underwater lava fields and continues to be fed by nearby Snag Lake, where we set up camp for the evening. Lunch & dinner included.
Backpacking: 5.5 miles, Elevation gain/loss: minimal; Van transfer: 2 hours
Meander through forests of first-year pine and cedar saplings with peek-a-boo views of Lassen Peak
Today's hike takes us deep into the peaceful corners of Lassen Volcanic National Park. As an ancestral meeting place for the Atsugewi, Yana, Yahi, and Maidu tribes, camps were established throughout the area to take advantage of prime warm-weather hunting and gathering conditions. We'll also witness first-hand the resilience of nature, as scars of recent wildfires are healed as the ecosystem regenerates. This evening we'll share stories from the day, before tucking into our sleeping bags and falling asleep under a sky full of stars.
Backpacking: 10 miles, Elevation gain/loss: + 1,000' / - 1,000'
Hike through the spectacular Painted Dunes and up Cinder Cone
We round out the backpacking portion of our trek with a hike through some of the park's most spectacular volcanic terrain. Our ultimate goal for the day is the rim of Cinder Cone. Sitting at 6,906' of elevation, it's a perfect perch for viewing the vibrant Painted Dunes, the Fantastic Lava Beds, Lassen Peak, and the route we traveled the past two days. To fully experience Cinder Cone, we head down into the crater itself. We climb back out to the rim for lunch before packing up for the last mile of our hike back to the Butte Lake trailhead.
Our next stop is a front-country campground in the heart of Lassen Volcanic National Park. We set up camp for the night and take time to relax and enjoy dinner before heading to bed early—we've got an alpine start in the morning! All meals included
Backpacking: 6 miles, Elevation gain/loss: + 800' / - 800'
Summit 10,457' Lassen Peak!
We wake up before dawn to prepare for our summit attempt of Lassen Peak. The world's largest "plug dome" volcano and the southernmost active volcano in the Cascade Range, Lassen also holds the distinction of being the largest lava dome in the world. On a good day, views from the top stretch as far south as Sacramento! After our summit we stop by the park's Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center to enjoy a picnic lunch and learn more about the park's history. We then hop in our shuttle back to Redding, where we hope to arrive by early evening. Breakfast & lunch included.
Hiking: 5 miles, Elevation gain/loss: + 2,000' /- 2,000'; Van transfer: 2 hours