After a peaceful evening at our beautiful camp spot (which was blanketed in tiny pink flowers!), we set out for another late morning hike. Today, we planned to hike a short 5 miles to Bumpass Hell, followed by a road tour along the Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway.
DAY 2 | Lassen Volcanic National Park
Our day started off magically, since we spotted a blonde-colored black bear almost immediately! We watched it munch on some juicy vegetation before crossing the street because it was greener on the other side.
Cold Boiling Lake
We arrived at Kings Creek Picnic Area (not to be confused with Kings Creek Trailhead), which is the trailhead for the ~1 mile hike to Cold Boiling Lake. The lake was rather still compared to my expectations, although there were smaller pools around the lake where a little bit of action was taking place. There used to be more hydrothermic activity here, but it has mostly died out now.
The area around the smaller pools was heavily flooded, making it difficult to get a closer look at the tiny gas bubbles.
The Hike from Cold Boiling Lake to Bumpass Hell
We hiked around Cold Boiling Lake, before heading up behind it towards our final destination. The hike was a bit steep at first, but slowly leveled out as we approached the ridgeline. We hiked through lush vegetation, bright wildflowers, and somewhat sloppy ground as seasonal streams fell down the mountainside around us. We enjoyed an amazing view of the stunning Crumbaugh Lake (above, right).
It was quite the diverse hike! Beautiful vistas frequented one side, but the trail also traveled through charred trees devastated by wildfire. The hike from King’s Creek Picnic Area to Bumpass Hell Basin was about 5.2 miles long, with ~750′ of elevation gain over the first two miles from Cold Boiling Lake. Since it was an out-and-back trail, that means it was all downhill on the way back!
Bumpass Hell
Bumpass Hell is the largest hydrothermal area at Lassen Volcanic National Park. Although the trailhead was closed due to the remaining snow danger, we took a longer “back way” to reach our destination. From Cold Boiling Lake, we hiked another two miles until we began to smell the distinct odor of sulfur. We crossed several snow fields, but they were relatively level with established footpaths.
By the time the boardwalk and basin came into view, the hike was already well worth it. Bumpass Hell was rolling, pasty hills stained with the red-orange of iron oxidation and the vibrant poisonous-looking yellow of sulfur deposits.
White steam hissed out of the fumaroles (volcanic-gas vents), and was caught and carried off by the wind. The ground was again steaming, as it was at the first hydrothermal location we visited at Lassen, Sulphur Works.
A grey-blue shallow creek wound back and forth under the boardwalk, giving us a close up look at all the beautiful coloration.
Bumpass Hell contained several idyllic turquoise pools, but we resisted the urge to swim. Signs were posted everywhere to stay only on the boardwalk and other trails, or potentially suffer a painful injury. There were even pictures of previously injured trespassers!
After exploring the Bumpass Hell Basin as thoroughly as we could, we hiked back past Cold Boiling Lake, and then on to the trailhead. It had started to get hot, so we were glad to be back at Ogre! We grabbed chilled drinks from the fridge, rolled down the windows, and continued our road tour of Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway.
Chaos Crags + Chaos Jumbles
Our next stop, the Chaos Crags (above) and Chaos Jumbles (below), were easily accessible from the Lassen Volcanic National Park Scenic Highway.
Chaos Jags and Crumbles, as Tom referred to it, was an endless field of lava rock. It was created during the collapse of a nearby dome volcano, and covers an area of about two and a half square miles!
We continued on the Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway, and enjoyed reading the informational plaques about the California National Historical Trail, and the historical volcanic activity of Lassen Peak and the other park volcanoes. Unfortunately, by the time we reached the northern end the museum and discovery center were closed.
We camped at the free first-come first-serve Butte Creek Campground, with had a few amenities in the form of pit toilets, fire rings, picnic tables and a gurgling creek. What more do we need?! It was just down the road from the $22/night Butte Lake Campground, where we planned to begin our day tomorrow.
Seasonal Conditions for Lassen Volcanic National Park
Tom and I visited Lassen Volcanic National Park in July, and while there was still snow present, most of the trails were open. Bumpass Hell Trailhead is closed seasonally due to a sketchy steep snow crossing, and it was still closed during our visit. Traction devices were recommended for the ascent to Lassen Peak.
