Thursday, June 5, 2014

Cinder Cone to Rainbow Lake to Snag Lake to Butte Lake: Lassen Volcanic National Forest May 2014


 Hike to Cinder Cone
 Lava Flow
 View of Cinder Cone


 Painted Sand Dunes


 Rainbow Lake

 Lassen Peak
 Butte Lake

This is an 8-10 mile-ish backpacking trip that can also be done as a hike. Very little elevation changes throughout the entire hike. Very unique landscape from old lava flows, painted sand dunes, pines tress, burnt trees, and many beautiful little lakes. Bugs were limited. We went on Memorial Day weekend and there were very limited people here. This is an underutilized gem! Follow directions to Butte lake camp grounds and you will see signs once you arrive where to go. The trail to Cinder cone is extremely easy, wide, and groomed (or at least looks like it). You initially walk along volcanic sand flanked by a huge wall of volcanic flow frozen in time. Cinder cone is a huge hill with a steep but short .5 mile hike to the top. Behind it, you will see sand dunes with tints of red. Since we were packing, we hiked on past and went straight to Rainbow lake. A little tricky to find a spot to camp so walk around the lake and you will find them. No campfires… The next day, we hiked to Snag lake and camped there. The water looks dirtier compared to Rainbow lake. Another hiker told us that there were leaches in the water so double check your body when you get out if you go swimming. Lot's of deer in the area. They came out at dusk and by nightfall, they had fully surrounded our camp and were doing strange things while we tried to sleep just feet from our camp and would not leave even when 'prompted'. The hike back to the parking lot is also beautiful, and you get to walk along Butte Lake which is blue and clear with one side being the lava flow. Very cool. The final push is a very steep incline but only about .5 miles before it levels out and you get to the parking lot. Bring 10$ for parking.

Friday, April 4, 2014

Arroyo Seco Gorge/Santa Lucia Trail- Ventana Wilderness, CA




















Distance varies, your choose, we went about 7 miles. From the Arroyo Seco Campground (day parking is about 10$/day) you have two choices: walking along an old dirt mining road (lots of mountain biking backpackers) or a typical hiking trail with LOTS of poison oak. We chose the poison oak (: The trail is easy except for dodging poison oak with inclines and declines meandering around the hills until you meet up with the access road, take a left and you will run into an adobe hut. If you go to the left of this, you will cross a small creek and eventually run into a sign marked "trail" pointing to the right. We went left to follow the creek which eventually lead to a beautiful and secluded waterfall. We had it all to ourselves. I tried swimming but a little cold. On our way back, we discovered the access road goes for miles, not really sure where it leads but many mountain bikers and backpackers were going or coming from this area. We decided to take the road back and discovered all these little water ways where people were playing, floating, and eating near the river. We went in late March so there were fewer people there. A friend from the area says that it is more of a party spot in the summer so shoot for non-peak season if you want the place to yourself. The extra green lake is definitely not good for swimming or anything other than unique pictures.