LASSEN VOLCANIC
LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK & WHISKEYTOWN
NAME:
SIZE:
RANK BY SIZE:
RANK BY PEOPLE:
Early morning I visited Lessen Volcanic because same day I had to get back to San Francisco. So I got up very early, it was still dark. Dropped the keys and hit the road. The drive here was beautiful. As soon as I reached the mountains I’ve seen snow. Not much but a little. But as I was going up the mountains, there was more and more snow. It was really beautiful to see those large redwood pines in snow. It was a gorgeous drive up there. The Kohm Yah-mah-mee Visitor Center is 6707 feet (2044m) high. The road has ice patches all over, but my car was just handle it fine. As soon as I reached Raker Memorial Gateway everything just became fabulous. Cant take a photograph or video about the scenery, its not the same, cant write it down what was I feel during this short drive
The road made a few turns and at the lookouts you seen a large valley and even bigger snowy mountains on the other side of it.
Once I reached the visitor center what was closed by the way, I met a couple of guys they were just about get into off path skiing. Crazy. I hope they did it without breaking a leg or arm.
For me, unfortunately most of the road was snowed in so much, the national park closed it. They don’t clean it. But it was a sunny day, and the mountain peaks were shining in from the snow mirroring back the sunshine. The air is so fresh over here, you can clean your lung.
The park has only one route the Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway that is between RT89 and RT44. Beside that many longer and shorter trails you can find in the park. The highway goes by the 7968 feet (2429m) high Diamond peak, and the roads highest point not far from here , near by Lassen Peak trail head, and its 8512 feet (2594m) high from ocean level. This is the Lake Helen area and probably the most exciting part of the road to drive.
One of the most beautiful part of the park is the Manzanita Lake, which is the most photographed scenery in this park, and you can find by the northern entrance of the park.
The Bumpass Hell boardwalk and basin you ca find steaming ground and sulfurous gases just like in Yellowstone NP. The largest peak in this park is the Lassen Peak which is 10457 feet (3187m) high, and visible from miles and miles away.
The park has a very unique ecosystem. You can find from lava beds, to hots springs, High snowy mountains, large forest geysers, many-many lakes and rivers waterfalls. This is an extremely beautiful national park, this is a national treasure. I don’t know why was I wait so many years to by. It was a mistake. Unfortunately I did not see most of the national park, I have to come back summertime, but at least I’ve seen it at winter, and I will be able to match it with the summer look. I bet winter is already won the contest.
I was heading down to Whiskeytown, and old historical site just an hour drive from the National Park.
I arrives shortly after leaving Lassen Volcanic NP, on state route 299. I stopped at the Visitor Center, where you can use bathroom, and get some gifts if you will. From here here is a view to the Whiskeytown lake, shich si a great recreational area. I was try to find the old Whiskeytown, but not mush lfet from it. I was driving all the way to Oak Bottom, but this is the end of the lake. The visitor center side or the other side if the lake is much more beautiful. Also you can hike there the Davis Gulch Trail and you will get a nice view to the lake.
How Whiskeytown earned it name?
Many US town have weird names. Whiskeytown has a cool one. But where is it get it from? There was a guy, who was “hauling supplies back to his mine, the pack on his mule’s back broke loose and a whiskey barrel tumbled down the hillside, breaking on rocks below and spilling its contents into a creek. From this christening came the name Whiskey Creek, and the small settlement next to the creek became known as Whiskeytown.” – says National Park information. Of cores the story probably not true but at least the town has a story.
WHAT ELSE IS AROUND? WHERE TO STAY? HERE YOU GO….
Washington state is one of the best state for summer vacation. summer short, but not so hot, a lot to see and what you see is beauty everywhere! This evergreen state have 3 national park, and all 3 parks are stunning! Probably the most gorgeous parks in the entire nation. The Olympic has these awesome forest with moss hanging down from it. feels like to be in another world. North Cascade is Alps of America. I cant say anything but good about this park. Lakes are clean like never seen human before, and from the top of the mountains looks like emerald green. Like a painting. The beaches of Washington state is so nice, so beautiful, with the huge rock on the beaches, the east coast has nothing like that at all. One of my favorite beach here is the Ruby beach. The Stack of abundant driftwood along the rocky shoreline has a dramatic view from walking down the upper parking lot. Its got great hiking trails and so many photo opportunity that not many beach offers.
What to do Here:
Gold Panning, which is only cost you $1 and you can keep the gold if you find. Just ask at the Visitor Center.
Camping: AT Oak Bottom have a tent and RV campground with restroom, dump-station and water.
Water sport: you can boating, swimming scuba diving, Pedal-board, kayak.
Hiking: There are so many hiking trails, you can choose with backpacking and back country primitive camping if you dare.
Historical: Shasta State park preserved an old mining town, that still have many old buildings left.