Lassen Volcanic National Park

We leave Red Bluff to go to Lassen National Park. That sounds Danish - and it is. The park is named after blacksmith and pioneer Peter Lassen, who found a cutoff trail for emigrants travelling west to California in the mid-1800's. He advertised it greatly, understating its length and dangers, leading to much suffering of the people who took his trail. (He was shot a few years later in good old Western style.) The park includes Lassen Peak, an active volcano and one of the world´s biggest lava domes.

We drive through a savanna-like landscape with vast expanses of dry yellow grass and green oaks. Again we realize the vastness of America and California. The road is straight as an arrow and seems to go on for ever. Then the landscape becomes more mountainous and the road bends, and we notice that we are gaining altitude. The temperature steadily decreases and we drive through increasingly forested areas. Instead of oak trees we now see almost exclusively pine. Finally, at an altitude of more than 2000 m, we arrive at the park. The air is cool and fresh, but the sun is intense. 

Viewpoint in Lassen park.

We see various signs of volcanic activity, such as sulfur steam, boiling mud pools and a bubbling lake.

The beautiful Lake Helen. There is still plenty of snow and ice around the lake even in the middle of August. We trow snow balls in the lake which ripples the mirror image of the mountain and greatly irritates people who are trying to get a good shot of the lake.

We go for a hike through giant pine trees to see the "Cold Boiling Lake", where gasses from volcanic activity bubble up from the water.

Another lake with a beautiful meadow with flowers

A well-deserved lunch at a picnic table after the hike

We drive on through the park and make various stops and eventually exit the park. We continue to Redding where the next hotel awaits. It turns out to be another very nice one.

The view from our hotel balcony