A Passion for Lassen
Shanda Ochs has a passion for Lassen Volcanic National Park. As it is, I do too.
Lassen Volcanic is a truly fascinating place. Because it is the southernmost peak in the Cascades, it attracts different animals and plants than are found on Dyer Mountain, the northernmost peak in the Sierra Nevada, a few miles to its southeast.
Lassen Peak is now past peak, as is most of Lassen Volcanic. Though Shanda found Near Peak color along the Manzanita Lake trail, on Thursday.
She wrote, “It was late afternoon, so there were some long shadows. The plants are primarily Pacific willow, mountain alder (many alder are still fully green), and black cottonwood. The cottonwood were peaking, as were the willow.
Willow and Mountain ash, Manzanita Lake, Lassen Volcanic NP (10/27/22) Shanda Ochs
Mountain ash, Manzanita Lake, Lassen Volcanic NP (10/27/22) Shanda Ochs
Lassen Peak, Manzanita Lake, Lassen Volcanic NP (10/27/22) Shanda Ochs
Black cottonwood, Manzanita Lake, Lassen Volcanic NP (10/27/22) Shanda Ochs
At an elevation of 5,900′, Manzanita lake is lower than most of the other fall color locations in the national park and, thus the last to peak in Lassen Volcanic.
The Manzanita Lake Trail is a loop of only 1.8 miles but full of entertaining vistas. Reflected in the lake’s mirror surface from the west end is Lassen Peak, southernmost of the Cascades. To its north, the scraggly Chaos Crags lava dome volcanoes loom.
Moving across the lake in a slow-motion ballet are coot, mallards and Canada geese. A lone Great Blue heron can be found standing sentinel near shore, while an osprey surveys the surface from his eyrie for signs of rising “bows.”
No bald eagle was seen on Shanda’s walk, though a convocation of them will gather near Lava Beds National Monument to overwinter, and the park’s American eagles may have already flown there, or south, for the party.
The Manzanita Lake Trail is such a wonderful walk, that California Fall Color has designated it as next week’s Hike of the Week. If traveling to Lassen Volcanic, lodging is now found in Redding (CA-44).
- Manzanita Lake (5,900′) – Near Peak (50-75%) Go Now.
