Lassen Volcanic National Park

Now that Onions is working, he doesn't often get two days off in a row. Thanks to 4th of July, we were able to leave after he got off work on the 2nd and headed up to Lassen National Park, to continue our tour of parks and beautiful places. Our first stop was the Cinder Cone, in the far Northeast Corner of the park.

It's a mile or so hike from the trailhead to the base of the cone and then there is a path up to the top.

From the rim of the cone, you can see the park's namesake, Lassen Peak.

But there is ALSO a crater, we didn't descend down into it, though.

From the top of Cinder Cone, the base is surrounded by dunes, which have these amazing colored spots.

From rim, you can also see the extent of the lava fields.

The hike to and from Cinder Cone is right along the edge of the lava fields.

So, this Costco Chicken had been sitting in our refrigerator for almost a week and we finally ate it post hike.  It's probably the most well traveled Costco Chicken ever.

After Cinder Cone, we drove back through the main part of the park.  Here's a reflection of Lassen Peak on Manzanita Lake.

Of course, Onions reads all the signs.....

.....and this is the reason I can't get him to consider camping.  AARGH!!

The south side of Lassen Peak, less snow on the mountain, but at the base, a melting lake.  It was a perfect time to see the lake and snow/ice as it was breaking and melting.

The bummer of the visit to Lassen Peak is that the famed hydrothermal/volcanic area called Bumpass Hell was closed.  This is looking down at what we could have hiked to.  Next time....but I have a feeling we aren't going to make a special trip.  Lassen, after places like Yosemite and the Grand Canyon just didn't compare.