On July 23rd, we took off for a week long trip to Shasta, Lassen and Siskiyou counties. Our first stop is the Rancheria RV Resort in Hat Creek for 5 days. We are within the Lassen National Forest, approx. 30 miles from Lassen Volcanic National Park and 15 miles from Burney Falls Memorial State Park. I am beginning this post on the road (free WiFi at RV parks is great). On Friday, we will head north and stay in McCloud for 3 days.
McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park - July 24The state park sets on 160 acres that were given to the state of California in 1920 by ranchers Frank and Scott McArthur. They bought the property around the falls to prevent hydro-electrical development from ruining the site. Samuel Burney was a pioneer who visited the area in the 1860s and the name of the falls is attributed to him. The park is very organized and well maintained. There are campsites and access to Lake Britton where boating and swimming is available.
View of the falls from the overlook. The overlook is 75 feet from the road and easily accessible.
Height of the falls-129 feet
Depth of the Pool-22 feet
Water Temp.-42-48 F
Daily Flow - 100 million gallons
The water flows to the Pit River that flows into the Sacramento River.
See the rainbow?
The waterfall is actually two waterfalls in one. Surface water plunges over the top of the falls and water also flows through the porous rock and comes out of the face of the cliff.
We took the 1.2 mile loop around the falls. Bud helped clear the trail :-)
Volcanic rock on the hillside
View of the falls from the other side
Lassen Volcanic National Park - July 25
There she is! Lasssen Peak. This picture was taken about 20 miles from the park entrance. Here is some info from the park website: "On May 22, 1915, an explosive eruption at Lassen Peak, the southernmost active volcano in the Cascade Range, devastated nearby areas and rained volcanic ash as far away as 200 miles to the east. This explosion was the most powerful in a 1914-17 series of eruptions that were the last to occur in the Cascades before the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens. Lassen Peak is the largest of a group of more than 30 volcanic domes."
Bumpass Hell
We hiked the 3 mile (round trip) trail to this hydrothermal area. It was named after an early settler who severely burned his leg after falling into a boiling pool.
View of Lassen from the trail.
More views from the trail
Plenty of Lupine on the hills.
This is the largest concentration of hydrothermal features in the park.
Sulfate water escapes at 200 degrees F as a result of groundwater being superheated by magma.
It is a must to stay on the boardwalk in the area. Several people a year get burned when they veer off the path. I was sure we would hear a piercing scream as several kids were way ahead of their parents on the trail and were unsupervised in this area.
This is Big Boiler, the hottest fumarole (steam vent) within a non-erupting volcano in the world. Steam temperatures can reach 322 degrees F.
This is a mudpot. A mudpot is the intermediate phase between a fumarole and boiling spring. Are you bored yet?
Hiking out of Hell
Lake Helen viewed from the trail. It is actually right on the park road which is hidden in this picture. We're almost to the parking lot.
This rock was left here by a glacier. This was a rare photo moment that people weren't around the rock.
Twenty-five plus years ago, Bud hiked to the top of Lassen Peak on the long trail. There were no fancy T-shirts to document the feat back then, so he finally got his T-shirt. Another fact - he accomplished this while suffering a hangover.
