Hey, SF friends! Get your playlist ready; pack your snacks; grab three tees, your favorite travel pants, and a pair of trail runners. Then take next Friday off for this fun NorCal road trip.
Head north and start the trip with some majestic views of Mount Shasta.
In the morning, angle down to Burney Falls. This 129-foot waterfall was touted as the “eighth wonder of the world” by President Theodore Roosevelt. I just love the dozens of tiny falls that weep from the rock’s face. The snow from Burney Mountain moves through the earth in an underground network of ancient river channels until a large portion is forced up through the surface just a mile upstream of the falls. Over 1 million gallons of water tumble over the rocks daily! The very short, and easy, loop trail in the area is a great way to see the falls from several angles – worth doing.
Consider grabbing a picnic lunch at the falls before continuing SE towards Lassen Volcanic National Park. You should have time to hike the Cinder Cone before heading to Butte Lake for some RV or car camping.
After a good night’s sleep, you’ll want to get an early start to explore Lassen. If you’re into chasing waterfalls, stop at the Hat Creek Trailhead and make the 3-mile Paradise Meadows Hike for a great one. If you’re more excited about the geothermal activity in the area and have never been to Lassen, make a quick stop to see Mount Lassen and then head for Bumpass Hell, an area named for Kendall Vanhook Bumpass who discovered the area and suffered burns after falling into a boiling pool. This is the park’s largest hydrothermal area and the 3-mile round trip hike showcases its boiling springs, fumaroles, and mud pots! Back in the car, your next stop is Sulphur Works to witness more geothermal activity. The fumaroles and boiling mud pots are feet from the road, making it an easy stop for every age group. Lassen is home to all four types of volcanoes (shield, plug dome, cinder cone, and composite) so if you have time you can learn more by stopping at the visitor center before cranking up those tunes and heading home with stories to tell at work on Monday!
