Reviews Around the Circle of Discovery
I posted several reviews on Trip Advisor from our tour of southern Oregon and northern California. I reviewed all of our lodging, several places that we ate but only three of the hikes. I've collected them here and included links to TA as well.
Lodging:
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Dining:
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Hiking Trails: Lassen Volcanic National Park, CA
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Use browser back button to return to you where in the Oregon-California 2016 trip journal (if that is where you started).
Hampton Inn, Medford, OR: Nice place to crash in Medford
Stayed August 5-6, 2016 (1 night); reviewed September 10, 2016 See this review on Trip Advisor.
Since our flight landed very late, we stayed the first night of our OR-CA trip in Medford. I picked the Hampton Inn as it was close to the off-site rental car location where I would collect our car the next morning. Good choice. The Hampton was in great shape, we'll appointed, clean and comfortable. Just what we needed for a one night stand.
To get from the Medford airport to the Hampton, the hotel uses a local taxi company for the shuttle service. The instructions were to call the hotel as we exited the plane as it generally takes a while for the taxi to arrive. We made the call as the plane was taxiing to the gate, retriever our bags and still had a short wait for the taxi, but the plan worked and we were quickly at the Hampton.
The staff we dealt with were all very helpful and friendly. Check-in and check-out were both a breeze.
Our room was clean, comfortable and had all the normal appointments. No complaints. Nice breakfast buffet. Nothing extravagant, but hot, fresh fare.
Overall it was a pleasant experience. I would definitely stay at the Hampton in Medford in the future.
Stayed August 5-6, 2016 (1 night); reviewed September 10, 2016 See this review on Trip Advisor.
Since our flight landed very late, we stayed the first night of our OR-CA trip in Medford. I picked the Hampton Inn as it was close to the off-site rental car location where I would collect our car the next morning. Good choice. The Hampton was in great shape, we'll appointed, clean and comfortable. Just what we needed for a one night stand.
To get from the Medford airport to the Hampton, the hotel uses a local taxi company for the shuttle service. The instructions were to call the hotel as we exited the plane as it generally takes a while for the taxi to arrive. We made the call as the plane was taxiing to the gate, retriever our bags and still had a short wait for the taxi, but the plan worked and we were quickly at the Hampton.
The staff we dealt with were all very helpful and friendly. Check-in and check-out were both a breeze.
Our room was clean, comfortable and had all the normal appointments. No complaints. Nice breakfast buffet. Nothing extravagant, but hot, fresh fare.
Overall it was a pleasant experience. I would definitely stay at the Hampton in Medford in the future.
Idyllic Log Cabin, Trinidad, CA: Great base for exploring Redwood National Park
Stayed August 6-8, 2016 (2 nights); reviewed November 6, 2016 See this review on Trip Advisor.
No complaints about this lovely log home, none whatsoever. There were three of us staying here for two nights (my wife and her sister) as we used the house as a base for exploring Redwood National Park.
Easy to make the reservation through Flipkey. Owners were very responsive to questions.
Met at the house by a member of the management company. Bailey. Very helpful. She went over the do’s and don’ts at the house, showed us how everything worked, and also answered some questions on places to eat and things to do in the area.
The house is very nice and in a good location. Very near Trinidad. Good access to route 101. Quiet and fairly secluded. We could hear the ocean from the front porch which was very pleasant in the evening.
Plenty of space in the house. The owners did a nice job of defining the rules (hey, it is their house so they have a right to keep it looking nice!). Large open kitchen and living space. The master suite is an upstairs loft with lots of room. The cabin is very bright, open and inviting.
We spent the late afternoon and early evening out on the front porch just enjoying the serenity of the area. A great way to end the day after exploring along the coast and hiking through the giant Redwoods.
While the cabin is located at the southern end of Redwood National and State Parks, it is still a fairly convenient base for exploring throughout the park. The drive time from the cabin to the trailhead to Enderts Beach was about 1:15.
Overall it was a lovely stay in a great house. I would certainly rent this idyllic log cabin in the future when visiting the area.
Stayed August 6-8, 2016 (2 nights); reviewed November 6, 2016 See this review on Trip Advisor.
No complaints about this lovely log home, none whatsoever. There were three of us staying here for two nights (my wife and her sister) as we used the house as a base for exploring Redwood National Park.
Easy to make the reservation through Flipkey. Owners were very responsive to questions.
Met at the house by a member of the management company. Bailey. Very helpful. She went over the do’s and don’ts at the house, showed us how everything worked, and also answered some questions on places to eat and things to do in the area.
The house is very nice and in a good location. Very near Trinidad. Good access to route 101. Quiet and fairly secluded. We could hear the ocean from the front porch which was very pleasant in the evening.
Plenty of space in the house. The owners did a nice job of defining the rules (hey, it is their house so they have a right to keep it looking nice!). Large open kitchen and living space. The master suite is an upstairs loft with lots of room. The cabin is very bright, open and inviting.
We spent the late afternoon and early evening out on the front porch just enjoying the serenity of the area. A great way to end the day after exploring along the coast and hiking through the giant Redwoods.
While the cabin is located at the southern end of Redwood National and State Parks, it is still a fairly convenient base for exploring throughout the park. The drive time from the cabin to the trailhead to Enderts Beach was about 1:15.
Overall it was a lovely stay in a great house. I would certainly rent this idyllic log cabin in the future when visiting the area.
Lassen Cabin, Viola, CA: Peaceful retreat and a great base for exploring Lassen Volcanic National Park
Stayed August 8-11, 2016 (3 nights)
My wife and I enjoy visiting the National Parks and this summer we made a trip through southern Oregon and northern California to explore Redwood, Lassen Volcanic and Crater Lakes National Parks. Whenever possible we stay in lodging inside the park (which we did this trip at Crater Lake) but there was not an option for Redwood or Lassen. However, for our time at Lassen I found this lovely cabin just minutes from the park entrance. It really was ideal for the three of us (my wife’s sister also tagged-along on the trip).
There was more than enough space for the three of us. In fact the cabin has a lot of room; nice size bedrooms, and an open floorplan kitchen-dining-living space. However our favorite spaces on the property were the outdoor areas. We spent most of our time out on the back patio or the front porch. We enjoyed watching the ground squirrels, Steller’s Jays, Juncos and hummingbirds flitting about the hillside behind the house. There is a large bird feeder on the back patio that draws in the local critters and they provided hours of entertainment. It was a great way to start each day and to relax after a day of hiking in the park.
Everything we needed was in the house. And it was spotless. The kitchen was well stocked. The welcome basket was a wonderful touch! Nancy took care of every detail. She even checked the schedule with the youth camp to makes sure we were not going to be there during one of the big events. We could hear the kids at the camp some of the time, laughing and having fun. Not bothersome at all; they were quiet before dark (OK, the guy on the PA system was annoying but that was a minor issue).
The cabin is about a 10 minute drive to the entrance of Lassen Volcanic National Park, so about 40 minutes to get to some of the main natural wonders in the park like Bumpass Hell and Mount Lassen. In fact, it is so close that my wife and I drove back into the park each evening to enjoy sunset around Manzanita Lake. The cabin is also fairly close to Shingletown which has a nice little grocery store for provisions and a pretty good pizza shop in case you prefer not to cook.
Overall we really enjoyed our three-night stay. I would certainly stay at this peaceful, wooded retreat the next time I come through the area.
Stayed August 8-11, 2016 (3 nights)
My wife and I enjoy visiting the National Parks and this summer we made a trip through southern Oregon and northern California to explore Redwood, Lassen Volcanic and Crater Lakes National Parks. Whenever possible we stay in lodging inside the park (which we did this trip at Crater Lake) but there was not an option for Redwood or Lassen. However, for our time at Lassen I found this lovely cabin just minutes from the park entrance. It really was ideal for the three of us (my wife’s sister also tagged-along on the trip).
There was more than enough space for the three of us. In fact the cabin has a lot of room; nice size bedrooms, and an open floorplan kitchen-dining-living space. However our favorite spaces on the property were the outdoor areas. We spent most of our time out on the back patio or the front porch. We enjoyed watching the ground squirrels, Steller’s Jays, Juncos and hummingbirds flitting about the hillside behind the house. There is a large bird feeder on the back patio that draws in the local critters and they provided hours of entertainment. It was a great way to start each day and to relax after a day of hiking in the park.
Everything we needed was in the house. And it was spotless. The kitchen was well stocked. The welcome basket was a wonderful touch! Nancy took care of every detail. She even checked the schedule with the youth camp to makes sure we were not going to be there during one of the big events. We could hear the kids at the camp some of the time, laughing and having fun. Not bothersome at all; they were quiet before dark (OK, the guy on the PA system was annoying but that was a minor issue).
The cabin is about a 10 minute drive to the entrance of Lassen Volcanic National Park, so about 40 minutes to get to some of the main natural wonders in the park like Bumpass Hell and Mount Lassen. In fact, it is so close that my wife and I drove back into the park each evening to enjoy sunset around Manzanita Lake. The cabin is also fairly close to Shingletown which has a nice little grocery store for provisions and a pretty good pizza shop in case you prefer not to cook.
Overall we really enjoyed our three-night stay. I would certainly stay at this peaceful, wooded retreat the next time I come through the area.
Crater Lake Lodge, OR: Another classic National Park Lodge. We had an outstanding experience!
Stayed August 11-14, 2016 (3 nights); reviewed December 4, 2016 See this review on Trip Advisor.
When I was planning our trip through southern Oregon and northern California that included Crater Lake, I knew there was only one place that we would be staying in that park, the lodge overlooking the lake. Sure I checked a few reviews, but having visited several National Parks and stayed in many of the lodges in these parks, I sort of knew the what to expect. I think that many of the negative comments posted in the reviews probably come from visitors who did not do their homework and were not aware of what to expect with a classic National Park lodge. Here are some points to consider:
First thing is that you have to make reservations well in advance of your trip to have the best chance of getting exactly what you are hoping for. The National Parks are extremely popular vacation destinations so the demand for the limited number of rooms is very high. I always try to book my accommodations in National Park lodge on the day the reservations open for the timing of my visit. For Crater Lake that is a year in advance (so, since we visited in August 2016, I made my reservations through the Xanterra website on August 1, 2015). I got lake view rooms with showers that I requested. I little planning goes a long way.
While the original lodge was opened in 1915, it was rebuilt (I think basically a complete rebuild) in the 1990s. The rehabilitation of the lodge strived to maintain the ambiance and flair of the original building but added the structural integrity, safety features and some modern hotel conveniences. While I think the Park Service and the design and construction firms involved with the rebuild did well on the first two point, there were a few things that perhaps could have been done better in terms of the overall comfort of the lodge. Granted it is hard to modernize while at the same time paying homage to the history of the Lodge. The one knock that I have is that the rooms we were in got rather warm at night, even with the window open and the fan running. There just was not any way to get air circulating well enough to make the room as comfortable as it I would have liked. It was sort of ironic that this was a problem considering how cool it gets at Crater Lake in the evening and overnight. But that was really the only negative that I have with the lodge facility.
One the positive side, the room was plenty big enough for my wife and me. Even the bathroom was ample size. We had a nice view out over the lake (slightly obstructed by the trees) from our third floor room. Unlike most of the old lodges, Crater Lake Lodge does have elevators which saved us from having to carry luggage up three floors (although when not toting the luggage, I used the stairs).
I highlight of the Lodge is sitting out on the back porch in the evening with a drink in had just enjoying the sunset. However, the crowd on the porch was unpredictable. Thursday was packed, Friday was deserted and Saturday was on and off. Visitors were a bit noisy on the porch, but again this was not every night (surprisingly, Thursday was the worst night as there were loud folks out until well after dark, but it was pretty quiet over the weekend). Our room was right above the porch so if you are a light sleeper and there were late revelers then this could be a problem.
Cost was not too unreasonable for a deluxe, lake side room with a queen bed (about $240 per night in August 2016).
Dining was excellent. We ate breakfast and dinner in the dining room and had great meals and excellent service each time.
My recommendation for a visit to Crater Lake is to definitely stay at the Lodge in Rim Village. The location is ideal, the setting is beautiful and the views cannot be beat.
Stayed August 11-14, 2016 (3 nights); reviewed December 4, 2016 See this review on Trip Advisor.
When I was planning our trip through southern Oregon and northern California that included Crater Lake, I knew there was only one place that we would be staying in that park, the lodge overlooking the lake. Sure I checked a few reviews, but having visited several National Parks and stayed in many of the lodges in these parks, I sort of knew the what to expect. I think that many of the negative comments posted in the reviews probably come from visitors who did not do their homework and were not aware of what to expect with a classic National Park lodge. Here are some points to consider:
First thing is that you have to make reservations well in advance of your trip to have the best chance of getting exactly what you are hoping for. The National Parks are extremely popular vacation destinations so the demand for the limited number of rooms is very high. I always try to book my accommodations in National Park lodge on the day the reservations open for the timing of my visit. For Crater Lake that is a year in advance (so, since we visited in August 2016, I made my reservations through the Xanterra website on August 1, 2015). I got lake view rooms with showers that I requested. I little planning goes a long way.
While the original lodge was opened in 1915, it was rebuilt (I think basically a complete rebuild) in the 1990s. The rehabilitation of the lodge strived to maintain the ambiance and flair of the original building but added the structural integrity, safety features and some modern hotel conveniences. While I think the Park Service and the design and construction firms involved with the rebuild did well on the first two point, there were a few things that perhaps could have been done better in terms of the overall comfort of the lodge. Granted it is hard to modernize while at the same time paying homage to the history of the Lodge. The one knock that I have is that the rooms we were in got rather warm at night, even with the window open and the fan running. There just was not any way to get air circulating well enough to make the room as comfortable as it I would have liked. It was sort of ironic that this was a problem considering how cool it gets at Crater Lake in the evening and overnight. But that was really the only negative that I have with the lodge facility.
One the positive side, the room was plenty big enough for my wife and me. Even the bathroom was ample size. We had a nice view out over the lake (slightly obstructed by the trees) from our third floor room. Unlike most of the old lodges, Crater Lake Lodge does have elevators which saved us from having to carry luggage up three floors (although when not toting the luggage, I used the stairs).
I highlight of the Lodge is sitting out on the back porch in the evening with a drink in had just enjoying the sunset. However, the crowd on the porch was unpredictable. Thursday was packed, Friday was deserted and Saturday was on and off. Visitors were a bit noisy on the porch, but again this was not every night (surprisingly, Thursday was the worst night as there were loud folks out until well after dark, but it was pretty quiet over the weekend). Our room was right above the porch so if you are a light sleeper and there were late revelers then this could be a problem.
Cost was not too unreasonable for a deluxe, lake side room with a queen bed (about $240 per night in August 2016).
Dining was excellent. We ate breakfast and dinner in the dining room and had great meals and excellent service each time.
My recommendation for a visit to Crater Lake is to definitely stay at the Lodge in Rim Village. The location is ideal, the setting is beautiful and the views cannot be beat.
The Pub at CLE: Very average; there are better places to eat at CLE.
Ate here on August 5, 2016; reviewed September 2, 2016 See this review on Trip Advisor.
Since I travel out of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport a fair amount, I do eat there more than I like. But this was my first time eating at The Pub. We tried it just for something different, primarily to see what kind of beer they served. Well, it was not a bad place, but there was nothing special about it either. Now, we visited on a Friday in early August, arriving at 4:30. There was a good crowd there with only a couple of open tables remaining. It does have that stereotypical English pub feel, dark wood everywhere with subdued lighting. The server was pleasant, and she was attentive, so not bad on that point. There was a decent variety of beer on tap, particularly beers from the UK, Ireland and a couple from elsewhere in Europe, plus bottles of US craft beer as well as mass-produced swill. The menu has a nice variety for airport fare with sandwiches, burgers and some English inspired entrees (bangers and mash, fish and chips, shepherd’s pie). My wife had the Reuben and an accent salad and I the turkey sandwich with veggies. OK food, but just. My wife said that the bread was more like a big croutons. Plus the kitchen was slow so the meal was not quite right out of the oven.
Overall, it was not a bed experience, it just was not great. I doubt that I will eat here again. I much prefer Great Lakes Brewery, or Panini's down in Concourse C for a sit down meal.
Ate here on August 5, 2016; reviewed September 2, 2016 See this review on Trip Advisor.
Since I travel out of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport a fair amount, I do eat there more than I like. But this was my first time eating at The Pub. We tried it just for something different, primarily to see what kind of beer they served. Well, it was not a bad place, but there was nothing special about it either. Now, we visited on a Friday in early August, arriving at 4:30. There was a good crowd there with only a couple of open tables remaining. It does have that stereotypical English pub feel, dark wood everywhere with subdued lighting. The server was pleasant, and she was attentive, so not bad on that point. There was a decent variety of beer on tap, particularly beers from the UK, Ireland and a couple from elsewhere in Europe, plus bottles of US craft beer as well as mass-produced swill. The menu has a nice variety for airport fare with sandwiches, burgers and some English inspired entrees (bangers and mash, fish and chips, shepherd’s pie). My wife had the Reuben and an accent salad and I the turkey sandwich with veggies. OK food, but just. My wife said that the bread was more like a big croutons. Plus the kitchen was slow so the meal was not quite right out of the oven.
Overall, it was not a bed experience, it just was not great. I doubt that I will eat here again. I much prefer Great Lakes Brewery, or Panini's down in Concourse C for a sit down meal.
Seascape, Trinidad: Nice view, average food.
Dinner here on August 6, 2016; reviewed November 8, 2017 See this review on Trip Advisor.
We ate at the Seascape based on the recommendation of a local (the young lady who let us into our rental house). We ate at the Seascape on a Saturday evening in early August. We arrived at 5:00 and were seated right away. We were lucky to get a table with a great view right next to a window. We were overlooking the beach and pier. We saw otters frolicking around on the rocks out in the cove. That was probably the highlight of the meal.
As for the restaurant, the service was very good but the food was just average. Honestly, I was expecting better of a seafood place right on the coast. Everything was edible, actually tasted fine, but the meal was just nothing special. Good, but not great. My sister-in-law, who is not a fan of seafood, just had a burger which she reported was just OK. I tried the chowder but it had a very gritty texture, although the taste was good. My wife and I had grilled seafood platters which were fine, but again nothing out of this world. Good food, but not as good as I hoped.
Would I eat here again? Sure, but I would study the other local options as well.
Dinner here on August 6, 2016; reviewed November 8, 2017 See this review on Trip Advisor.
We ate at the Seascape based on the recommendation of a local (the young lady who let us into our rental house). We ate at the Seascape on a Saturday evening in early August. We arrived at 5:00 and were seated right away. We were lucky to get a table with a great view right next to a window. We were overlooking the beach and pier. We saw otters frolicking around on the rocks out in the cove. That was probably the highlight of the meal.
As for the restaurant, the service was very good but the food was just average. Honestly, I was expecting better of a seafood place right on the coast. Everything was edible, actually tasted fine, but the meal was just nothing special. Good, but not great. My sister-in-law, who is not a fan of seafood, just had a burger which she reported was just OK. I tried the chowder but it had a very gritty texture, although the taste was good. My wife and I had grilled seafood platters which were fine, but again nothing out of this world. Good food, but not as good as I hoped.
Would I eat here again? Sure, but I would study the other local options as well.
Larrupin Café, Trinidad: By far the best meal of the trip. Outstanding all the way around.
Dinner here on Sugust 7, 2016, reviewed November 8, 2016 See this review on Trip Advisor.
Where to start with this review. First of all, we just lucked into finding the Larrupin Cafe. It is located south of Trinidad on Patrick’s Point Drive, so it is sort of off by itself. We only really noticed it as it was on the way between our rental house and Trinidad. From the outside you certainly would not expect it to be such a wonderful dining experience. But when we passed by on the way back from Trinidad on our first night in the area and noticed the jam-packed parking lot. Someone must like this place. So I did a little research online that evening and all indications were that Larrupin Café was THE place to eat while in Trinidad. OK, I’m in. I made reservations for dinner the following day.
Everything about Larrupin is great. The décor is on the eclectic side and both entertaining and inviting. There was live music playing in the outdoor seating area. The hostess and the wait staff were all very friendly, helpful and professional. Service was very prompt, but this is a dining experience so the meal took some time which was fine as we were on vacation and in no rush.
As for the food, this was a gold mine. The meal starts with an appetizer platter that has an assortment of breads, cheeses and spreads. For our entrees, my sister-in-law had the chicken, my wife the brisket and I had the sockeye salmon. We all enjoyed our meals. My wife thought the brisket was a little on the fatty side but had wonderful flavor. The salmon was awesome with some nice heat and spice. The twice baked potato was excellent. Crème Brule for desert with big blueberries, an excellent way to round out the evening. The wine list looked to be fairly extensive, but there was only a short list of beer options, but some interesting local choices which worked out well.
I predicted that this would be the best meal of the trip and I was correct. If I am ever in Trinidad, CA, again, I will definitely have dinner at the Larrupin Café.
Dinner here on Sugust 7, 2016, reviewed November 8, 2016 See this review on Trip Advisor.
Where to start with this review. First of all, we just lucked into finding the Larrupin Cafe. It is located south of Trinidad on Patrick’s Point Drive, so it is sort of off by itself. We only really noticed it as it was on the way between our rental house and Trinidad. From the outside you certainly would not expect it to be such a wonderful dining experience. But when we passed by on the way back from Trinidad on our first night in the area and noticed the jam-packed parking lot. Someone must like this place. So I did a little research online that evening and all indications were that Larrupin Café was THE place to eat while in Trinidad. OK, I’m in. I made reservations for dinner the following day.
Everything about Larrupin is great. The décor is on the eclectic side and both entertaining and inviting. There was live music playing in the outdoor seating area. The hostess and the wait staff were all very friendly, helpful and professional. Service was very prompt, but this is a dining experience so the meal took some time which was fine as we were on vacation and in no rush.
As for the food, this was a gold mine. The meal starts with an appetizer platter that has an assortment of breads, cheeses and spreads. For our entrees, my sister-in-law had the chicken, my wife the brisket and I had the sockeye salmon. We all enjoyed our meals. My wife thought the brisket was a little on the fatty side but had wonderful flavor. The salmon was awesome with some nice heat and spice. The twice baked potato was excellent. Crème Brule for desert with big blueberries, an excellent way to round out the evening. The wine list looked to be fairly extensive, but there was only a short list of beer options, but some interesting local choices which worked out well.
I predicted that this would be the best meal of the trip and I was correct. If I am ever in Trinidad, CA, again, I will definitely have dinner at the Larrupin Café.
Pioneer Hillside Pizza, Shingletown, CA – Probably 4 stars: Convenient carry-out for a pretty good pizza.
Carry-out pizza on August 10, 2016; reviewed November 8, 2016 See this review on Trip Advisor.
Even though we were renting a house with a full kitchen in Viola, none of us wanted to cook. Options were a little thin around the area but Pioneer Hillside Pizza in Shingletown would certainly cover us for at least one night. We opted for a carry out order which I was told would be ready in 40 minutes. The drive time from our rental house to Shingletown was less than 15 minutes so I tried to time my departure so that I could have a beer in the bar adjoining the pizza joint. The bad news was that this plan did not work, but the good news was because my dinner was ready when I arrived only 30 minutes after placing the order.
We ordered a veggie pizza and jalapeño poppers (the poppers were for me as my wife and her sister are not into spicy food). The poppers were just OK, but they gave me something to munch on during the drive back to Viola. The pizza was much better than average, but it was pricey. Still, considering the location, sort of out in the middle of nowhere, it was better than expected. They might want to buy a yardstick as I asked the size of the pizza and they said that a large was 14 inch; it was more like 16 so more food than the three of us needed. I thought the crust was very good; the main pie was thin but not crispy with a nice chewy, soft edge. I liked it! They used a yellow cheese (cheddar?) mixed with the mozzarella. Good amount of toppings. So, yeah, it was a good pizza.
Quick service, easy set up for carry out and a decent pizza, overall a good deal, even if the price was on the high side. We did not have to cook which was a bonus on vacation.
Carry-out pizza on August 10, 2016; reviewed November 8, 2016 See this review on Trip Advisor.
Even though we were renting a house with a full kitchen in Viola, none of us wanted to cook. Options were a little thin around the area but Pioneer Hillside Pizza in Shingletown would certainly cover us for at least one night. We opted for a carry out order which I was told would be ready in 40 minutes. The drive time from our rental house to Shingletown was less than 15 minutes so I tried to time my departure so that I could have a beer in the bar adjoining the pizza joint. The bad news was that this plan did not work, but the good news was because my dinner was ready when I arrived only 30 minutes after placing the order.
We ordered a veggie pizza and jalapeño poppers (the poppers were for me as my wife and her sister are not into spicy food). The poppers were just OK, but they gave me something to munch on during the drive back to Viola. The pizza was much better than average, but it was pricey. Still, considering the location, sort of out in the middle of nowhere, it was better than expected. They might want to buy a yardstick as I asked the size of the pizza and they said that a large was 14 inch; it was more like 16 so more food than the three of us needed. I thought the crust was very good; the main pie was thin but not crispy with a nice chewy, soft edge. I liked it! They used a yellow cheese (cheddar?) mixed with the mozzarella. Good amount of toppings. So, yeah, it was a good pizza.
Quick service, easy set up for carry out and a decent pizza, overall a good deal, even if the price was on the high side. We did not have to cook which was a bonus on vacation.
Dining at Crater Lake Lodge: A great National Park dining room.
Dined here August 11-14, 2016; reviewed December 4, 2016 See this review on Trip Advisor.
We ate in the dining room at Crater Lake lodge several times during our three-night stay in early August (breakfast and dinner). The food was consistently very good and the service was always excellent. There was a nice variety of items on the menu for both breakfast and dinner. The food was served quickly and was always very appetizing. The clam chowder was excellent. I also enjoyed the elk and the filet Oscar. The setting is wonderful, in the big, open room with plenty of windows to enjoy the views of the lake.
We also had dinner (chowder and appetizers) on the back porch one night. You just cannot beat the view from here, although a window seat in the dining room does also afford a nice view. The service is a little slower here, but the young ladies staffing the area were really hustling to keep up with drink and food orders from the large group of folks on the porch.
We had a very good experience each time we went to the dining room or the back porch at Crater Lake Lodge. It was worth it for the views alone but the quality of the food and the friendly serving staff made for a wonderful experience.
Dined here August 11-14, 2016; reviewed December 4, 2016 See this review on Trip Advisor.
We ate in the dining room at Crater Lake lodge several times during our three-night stay in early August (breakfast and dinner). The food was consistently very good and the service was always excellent. There was a nice variety of items on the menu for both breakfast and dinner. The food was served quickly and was always very appetizing. The clam chowder was excellent. I also enjoyed the elk and the filet Oscar. The setting is wonderful, in the big, open room with plenty of windows to enjoy the views of the lake.
We also had dinner (chowder and appetizers) on the back porch one night. You just cannot beat the view from here, although a window seat in the dining room does also afford a nice view. The service is a little slower here, but the young ladies staffing the area were really hustling to keep up with drink and food orders from the large group of folks on the porch.
We had a very good experience each time we went to the dining room or the back porch at Crater Lake Lodge. It was worth it for the views alone but the quality of the food and the friendly serving staff made for a wonderful experience.
Beckie’s Café, Prospect, OR : Average Pie and Very Crowded.
Stopped here on August 14, 2016; reviewed December 4, 2016 See this review on Trip Advisor.
We stopped at Beckie’s on the way from Crater Lake back to Medford at the recommendation of a few folks on the Trip Advisor Forum. We were there on a Sunday around lunchtime in early August, so I guess I should not have been surprised at the crowd. The place was swamped. The staff was doing all they could to get folks into the restaurant but it would have been a very long wait for lunch. Fortunately, we really only wanted to try the pie since we had a large breakfast before leaving Crater Lake Lodge. We ordered our pie and found a picnic table outside to have our snack. Between the three of us we tried the apple, the pecan and the peanut butter pies. The peanut butter was by far the best. The apple and pecan were average at best. I was disappointed.
Stopped here on August 14, 2016; reviewed December 4, 2016 See this review on Trip Advisor.
We stopped at Beckie’s on the way from Crater Lake back to Medford at the recommendation of a few folks on the Trip Advisor Forum. We were there on a Sunday around lunchtime in early August, so I guess I should not have been surprised at the crowd. The place was swamped. The staff was doing all they could to get folks into the restaurant but it would have been a very long wait for lunch. Fortunately, we really only wanted to try the pie since we had a large breakfast before leaving Crater Lake Lodge. We ordered our pie and found a picnic table outside to have our snack. Between the three of us we tried the apple, the pecan and the peanut butter pies. The peanut butter was by far the best. The apple and pecan were average at best. I was disappointed.
Olive Garden, Medford, OR: Yeah, it’s a chain, but it is very good.
Dinner here on August 14, 2016; reviewed December 4, 2016 See this review on Trip Advisor.
We ate at the Olive Garden in Medford on a Sunday in early August. I had hoped to try one of the breweries or places with more of a local flare, but alas those places were closed on Sunday. But the Olive Garden proved to be an excellent choice. We had an early dinner, arriving before 6:00, but just in time to beat the rush. We were seated right away. The service was excellent. Our server did a wonderful job in keeping the drink glasses full and making sure that we had plenty of salad and breadsticks. Very good food, served quickly and brought to us hot and appetizing. They also had a decent beer selection, something you do not always find at chain restaurants. Overall it was a very nice meal. I would certainly eat here again, if ever I am in Medford.
Dinner here on August 14, 2016; reviewed December 4, 2016 See this review on Trip Advisor.
We ate at the Olive Garden in Medford on a Sunday in early August. I had hoped to try one of the breweries or places with more of a local flare, but alas those places were closed on Sunday. But the Olive Garden proved to be an excellent choice. We had an early dinner, arriving before 6:00, but just in time to beat the rush. We were seated right away. The service was excellent. Our server did a wonderful job in keeping the drink glasses full and making sure that we had plenty of salad and breadsticks. Very good food, served quickly and brought to us hot and appetizing. They also had a decent beer selection, something you do not always find at chain restaurants. Overall it was a very nice meal. I would certainly eat here again, if ever I am in Medford.
Mount Lassen Hike, Lassen Volcanic National Park, CA: Hiking to the top of a volcano.
Made this hike on August 10, 2016; reviewed February 20, 2017 See this review on Trip Advisor.
Hiking to the summit of Mount Lassen (Lassen Peak) is a challenge but it is very rewarding as we had wonderful views along every step of the trail. Plus when we made the hike we were treated to dazzling displays of wildflowers and a few animal sightings along the trail. We completed several hikes during our trip that also included Redwood and Crater Lake National Parks, but the hike to the top of Mount Lassen was near the top of the list.
We made the hike in early August (the 10th). “We” is my wife, her sister and me. We are all in our early 50s and in good shape. Hiking is our main activity when traveling as we spend a lot of time in the National Parks. We had a lovely day for this hike, but cloud cover rolled in as the day progressed. The weather is something to be aware of when making this hike as you do NOT want to be on this exposed mountain side in the event of a storm. But for us the clouds provided no threat, rather they just added to the beauty of the vistas.
The trailhead parking is about a 45 minute drive from the Manzanita Lake entrance of the park and is situated right off the main park road. We arrived in the parking lot about 8:45 and found the lot to only be about a quarter full. There are outhouses nearby and it is a good idea to visit the little houses before we started the climb as there is absolutely no place to take a break along the trail.
The trailhead is at about 8,400 feet above sea level. The trail climbs right at 2000 feet over about 2.5 miles to the top of Mount Lassen, which measures in at 10,463 feet. It is uphill all the way along long grades and switchbacks. Due to the altitude and the elevation change, we spent yesterday on flatter trails (Bumpass Hell then Cold Boiling Lake) to get acclimated. We figured we would be setting a slow pace with many breaks as our Ohio lungs would not be used to these conditions.
The trail starts with an uphill grade and never really lets up all the way to the top. There is a scar from an old social trail that extends from the official trail and goes straight up the side of the mountain. The scar was created by hikers who felt that the trail was not for them and decided to make their own route up the slope. Years of this disregard by these thoughtless folks had created the scar which will take decades to heal, provided that future hikers stick to the maintained trail. There is a sign at the turn in the trail where the social trails begins and shows a Photoshopped image of the mountain side sans scar. The message on the sign also indicated that “future of this trail is in our hands” as the Park Service will close the trail to all but guided hikes to ensure there will be no further damage. That would be a shame, but if that is what is necessary to protect the fragile landscape then so be it. The message also encouraged visitors to politely ask hikers who were off the trail to return to it and to report any flagrant abuse of the trails. In addition to the informational sign there was an “Area Closed” sign and a low wall built between the official and social trail, so someone would have to blatantly ignore a set of warnings to take that trail, but there are plenty of folks out there who think the rules don’t apply to them. But the good news was that we saw no one attempting this steep climb today.
Once through the initial switchbacks, we got a short break as the trail climbed gently through a couple meadows and some sparse trees. Then the serious uphill hike started as we worked steadily upward through a seemingly never ending series of switchbacks. But as we climbed we were rewarded with wonderful views of big vistas as well as interesting scenes right along the trail plus more nuggets of information from the signs scattered along the trail.
The trail was steep but an easy one to walk, well, most of the way, as there were no roots to trip over and for most of the way the trail surface was pretty well packed. There were only a couple places where stairs had been build, I bet there were less than 100 stair steps the whole way. So this was a strenuous hike but an easy trail, if you know what I mean. This was also a very friendly trail. I think trails should have a friendliness rating and this one would get high marks. Folks were chugging along at whatever pace they could manage but there was a lot of friendly banter and encouraging words along the trail. Maybe part of it was knowing we were all working toward the same goal, I don't know, but it just made for a more pleasant day. Perhaps a quick stop to chat with our fellow hikers just gave us all an excuse for a breather.
Speaking of opportunities to pause, the Park Service gave us plenty. When not pausing to look at the vistas or watch the varmints, there were also several signs, mostly at the switchback turns. They described the mountain, the volcanic activity of the area, and the critters. They also had the distance to the top so we could track our progress up Mount Lassen. The only problem with this was that the numbers indicating the distance remaining just did not seem to get smaller fast enough!
We took 2:24 to get to the “top” of the mountain. The point where the trail dumps out is almost at the top and has a few more interpretive signs and affords wonderful views. But it is not the high point. To reach the official summit, there is a snow field to traverse and a final scramble to the peak. DW and SIL opted out of this last little climb but I had to give it a go. This final stretch was short but steep and rocky. The route was just a goat trail, really. But I made it easily. There were a dozen or so other intrepid folks up here as well. I found a nice place to take a seat so that I could enjoy the view while having a snack.
Including my scramble up to the peak, we were at the top of the mountain for about 40 minutes or so before we started the return hike. The trip down was easy and allowed us to continue to enjoy the views in all directions. The number of hikers coming up the trail had dramatically increased since this morning. The clouds had also increased as well, and they had a darker look to them. It did not look like a storm was really brewing but still I was glad to be heading down instead of up under that sky.
We made pretty good time back down the trail arriving back at the parking lot at 1:30. Great hike! Tough, yes, but well worth the effort to see those views and just to be able to say you were at the top of a volcano. The hike took us just under 4:30 covering 4.9 miles, about 2:15 to get to the top and 1:20 for the return trip. We were huffing and puffing going up, but the return trip was easy. But we were quite tired by the time we returned to the trailhead. Our next stop was at the Manzanita Lake camp store for some well-deserved ice cream.
Made this hike on August 10, 2016; reviewed February 20, 2017 See this review on Trip Advisor.
Hiking to the summit of Mount Lassen (Lassen Peak) is a challenge but it is very rewarding as we had wonderful views along every step of the trail. Plus when we made the hike we were treated to dazzling displays of wildflowers and a few animal sightings along the trail. We completed several hikes during our trip that also included Redwood and Crater Lake National Parks, but the hike to the top of Mount Lassen was near the top of the list.
We made the hike in early August (the 10th). “We” is my wife, her sister and me. We are all in our early 50s and in good shape. Hiking is our main activity when traveling as we spend a lot of time in the National Parks. We had a lovely day for this hike, but cloud cover rolled in as the day progressed. The weather is something to be aware of when making this hike as you do NOT want to be on this exposed mountain side in the event of a storm. But for us the clouds provided no threat, rather they just added to the beauty of the vistas.
The trailhead parking is about a 45 minute drive from the Manzanita Lake entrance of the park and is situated right off the main park road. We arrived in the parking lot about 8:45 and found the lot to only be about a quarter full. There are outhouses nearby and it is a good idea to visit the little houses before we started the climb as there is absolutely no place to take a break along the trail.
The trailhead is at about 8,400 feet above sea level. The trail climbs right at 2000 feet over about 2.5 miles to the top of Mount Lassen, which measures in at 10,463 feet. It is uphill all the way along long grades and switchbacks. Due to the altitude and the elevation change, we spent yesterday on flatter trails (Bumpass Hell then Cold Boiling Lake) to get acclimated. We figured we would be setting a slow pace with many breaks as our Ohio lungs would not be used to these conditions.
The trail starts with an uphill grade and never really lets up all the way to the top. There is a scar from an old social trail that extends from the official trail and goes straight up the side of the mountain. The scar was created by hikers who felt that the trail was not for them and decided to make their own route up the slope. Years of this disregard by these thoughtless folks had created the scar which will take decades to heal, provided that future hikers stick to the maintained trail. There is a sign at the turn in the trail where the social trails begins and shows a Photoshopped image of the mountain side sans scar. The message on the sign also indicated that “future of this trail is in our hands” as the Park Service will close the trail to all but guided hikes to ensure there will be no further damage. That would be a shame, but if that is what is necessary to protect the fragile landscape then so be it. The message also encouraged visitors to politely ask hikers who were off the trail to return to it and to report any flagrant abuse of the trails. In addition to the informational sign there was an “Area Closed” sign and a low wall built between the official and social trail, so someone would have to blatantly ignore a set of warnings to take that trail, but there are plenty of folks out there who think the rules don’t apply to them. But the good news was that we saw no one attempting this steep climb today.
Once through the initial switchbacks, we got a short break as the trail climbed gently through a couple meadows and some sparse trees. Then the serious uphill hike started as we worked steadily upward through a seemingly never ending series of switchbacks. But as we climbed we were rewarded with wonderful views of big vistas as well as interesting scenes right along the trail plus more nuggets of information from the signs scattered along the trail.
The trail was steep but an easy one to walk, well, most of the way, as there were no roots to trip over and for most of the way the trail surface was pretty well packed. There were only a couple places where stairs had been build, I bet there were less than 100 stair steps the whole way. So this was a strenuous hike but an easy trail, if you know what I mean. This was also a very friendly trail. I think trails should have a friendliness rating and this one would get high marks. Folks were chugging along at whatever pace they could manage but there was a lot of friendly banter and encouraging words along the trail. Maybe part of it was knowing we were all working toward the same goal, I don't know, but it just made for a more pleasant day. Perhaps a quick stop to chat with our fellow hikers just gave us all an excuse for a breather.
Speaking of opportunities to pause, the Park Service gave us plenty. When not pausing to look at the vistas or watch the varmints, there were also several signs, mostly at the switchback turns. They described the mountain, the volcanic activity of the area, and the critters. They also had the distance to the top so we could track our progress up Mount Lassen. The only problem with this was that the numbers indicating the distance remaining just did not seem to get smaller fast enough!
We took 2:24 to get to the “top” of the mountain. The point where the trail dumps out is almost at the top and has a few more interpretive signs and affords wonderful views. But it is not the high point. To reach the official summit, there is a snow field to traverse and a final scramble to the peak. DW and SIL opted out of this last little climb but I had to give it a go. This final stretch was short but steep and rocky. The route was just a goat trail, really. But I made it easily. There were a dozen or so other intrepid folks up here as well. I found a nice place to take a seat so that I could enjoy the view while having a snack.
Including my scramble up to the peak, we were at the top of the mountain for about 40 minutes or so before we started the return hike. The trip down was easy and allowed us to continue to enjoy the views in all directions. The number of hikers coming up the trail had dramatically increased since this morning. The clouds had also increased as well, and they had a darker look to them. It did not look like a storm was really brewing but still I was glad to be heading down instead of up under that sky.
We made pretty good time back down the trail arriving back at the parking lot at 1:30. Great hike! Tough, yes, but well worth the effort to see those views and just to be able to say you were at the top of a volcano. The hike took us just under 4:30 covering 4.9 miles, about 2:15 to get to the top and 1:20 for the return trip. We were huffing and puffing going up, but the return trip was easy. But we were quite tired by the time we returned to the trailhead. Our next stop was at the Manzanita Lake camp store for some well-deserved ice cream.
Bumpass Hell, Lassen Volcanic National Park, CA: Wonderful hike to a fascinating thermal area.
Made this hike on August 9, 2016; reviewed February 20, 2017 See this review on Trip Advisor.
While planning out trip to Lassen Volcanic National Park, there were two trails that I really wanted to hike, Bumpass Hell and Mount Lassen. We (my wife, her sister and me; all in our early 50s and in good shape) completed both hikes and this combination really provided a wonderful overview of the park. We had two full days to explore the park so we did Bumpass Hell on the first day so that we could acclimate a bit to the elevation before trying the hike up Mount Lassen.
The drive time from the entrance gate at Manzanita Lake to the Bumpass Hell trailhead parking lot was about 35 minutes, maybe a little longer. Wonderful drive. Very scenic. The drive was basically uphill from Manzanita Lake to the Bumpass Hell trailhead, along a winding park road. We arrived at the trailhead parking about 8:45. It was a large parking area, and it was staring to fill up, but there was still plenty of room at present. I took a few minutes and enjoyed the views of the surrounding ridges from the edge of the parking lot before getting my gear in order and hitting the trail.
We were on the trail just a couple minutes past 0900. This was a great hike from the moment we left the parking lot. I thought it might be sort of a ho-hum walk to the thermal area, but the views along every yard of the trail are magnificent. We immediately spotted a few critters along the initial section of the trail. First a Clark’s Nutcracker perched in the top of an evergreen tree. These guys are all over the place as we saw several along this trail as well as our other hikes in the park. Next was a Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel in the rocks right above the trail, putting on his best cuteness act, hoping for a handout. Sorry, buddy, we don’t feed the wildlife. Shortly after leaving the parking lot we were treated to views of Lake Helen, its dark blue water was nearly mirror smooth and provided reflections of the trees around its shore as well as Mount Lassen towering nearby.
We turned south away from the lake and the big mountain and as we did our view changed as well. The trail was clinging to the side of the hill on our right (east) and opened up with grand views of the Mount Tehama caldera. From the trail we could see down a couple hundred feet to the meadows and stands of pine below us, but the depths of the valley were not really visible from the trail due to the contours of the land around us (we were hiking along at roughly 8300 feet above sea level and the valley floor is at 7000 feet). The valley looked to be very green and lush with several creeks running down the slopes into the valley. We were in the forest at this point but there were plenty of openings in the trees along this section of the trail to provide an almost continuous panoramic view out over the valley and the peaks of the old caldera rim. Those big vistas were amazing and the colors were just so vibrant in the morning light. There was a range of greens, from the lighter colored grasses to deep forest green on the pines, coming up from the valley, the darker green trees climbing into the grey rocks of the surrounding peaks then the brilliant blue of the sky with an assortment of fluffy white clouds to top it all off. And at many points along the trail these big views were augmented with splashes of purple, dark pink and yellow wildflowers. Yeah, not exactly what I was expecting, but so pleased with the wonderful surprise!
After about 0.7 miles, we came to an overlook that was just a few paces of the trail, which provided a very nice view of the remains of Mount Tehama and had a large educational panel showing what the massive volcano might have looked like in its prime. There were also two Sooty Grouse walking along the rocks at the edge of the view point, just taking their time and apparently not concerned with us at all. After leaving the overlook there was still a quarter mile or so of trail to climb to get to the high point of the hike (so a mile from leaving the trailhead). This is where we crossed the ridge line and got our first glimpse of steaming thermal features of Bumpass Hell down in a little naked bowl at the base of the ridge. At this point we started about a half-mile descent into Bumpass Hell. That sounds sort of ominous, but trust me it was a pleasant walk downhill through more clumps of wildflowers and surrounded by rocky ridges. The big vistas are behind us now, blocked by the ridgeline we just crossed but the featured attraction for this hike is now coming into view as we zig-zagged down the switchbacks to the boardwalk access for the thermal area. The sulphur smell got stronger as we approached. It was not an overbearing odor but it was definitely there! Sure, it is not a pleasant smell, but I don’t think it is as bad folks make it out to be. We heard so many people complain about the “rotten egg” smell in the thermal areas of Yellowstone, but I never thought it was that bad. In fact, the smell here was a little stronger, I thought.
The trail split just before we reached the boardwalk. We took the left-hand branch first which took us up on top of a little rocky mound that provided a nice view out over the thermal area and gave us a good overview of the entire layout of the boardwalks. The views of the western end of the area were excellent from this elevated perch as it let us see the colors of the mineral deposits on the rocks as well as nice looks into a couple of the murky blue pools. This end of the thermal area is on a slope running down into the main basin. Yellow was the dominant color on the rocks, but it seemed that the entire spectrum was covered. The more I studied the area the more colors I saw. There were subtle patches of red, pink, orange and purple scattered about this end, plus green mixed in the little streams that crossed the area. At the base of the slope a pool or turquoise water lends itself to the collage of colors. The bonus to the geologic wonders was another critter sighting as we spotted a mule deer doe on the opposite hillside working her way through the boulders.
After taking in the view at the elevated vantage point we retraced our steps to the point where the trial spit and took the branch leading out to the boardwalk. The boardwalk provides excellent access to the thermal features. There is a main walk that traverses across the entire area as well as a spur that extends out into the middle of the thermal and allows for additional up-close views of some of the features as well as nice overall perspectives of the area in general. This is not a huge area, certainly not as big as the main thermal areas in Yellowstone, but it is still impressive. The moniker “Hell” that Mr. Bumpass tied to the place is appropriate with the steaming pools, bubbling mud pots, the rumbling and grumbling from the thermal features and of course the sulphurous odor. But at the same time, Bumpass Hell has a beauty to it. The colors in the pools and on the rocks are quite striking, particularly when contrasted with the green of the surrounding trees and the brilliant blue sky.
Bumpass Hell brings all the senses into play. I’ve talked about the colors and the odors, but there was also lot of noise, with the hissing, gurgling, coughing and burping of the various thermal features. It is not a loud area, but it is certainly part of the character of the place. As for feel, we get that as well when we made it to the far end of the boardwalk. Lynn and I were standing there alone, leaning on the railing and we could feel the vibrations caused by the subterranean hydrothermal activity. It really is an amazing place. It is as if it were alive, and I reckon it sort of is.
Around 10:15, give or take, we left Bumpass Hell and retraced route back to the trailhead. Returning on the same trail but facing the opposite direction gave us an opportunity to see things that we missed in the inward hike or just provides a new perspective on a view that we did take in (different lighting later in the morning or a new viewing angle). It was a pleasant return. The sky was still bright blue and still held a collection of cumulus clouds, just fluffy white cotton balls with no threat of rain.
What a great hike! Wonderful views along the trail then the other worldly spectacle of Bumpass Hell at the end of the trail. This one gets very high marks. It took us right at 2 hours to complete the 3-mile hike, so we were back at the trailhead a little after 11:00.
I recommend putting this hike at the top of your list when visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Made this hike on August 9, 2016; reviewed February 20, 2017 See this review on Trip Advisor.
While planning out trip to Lassen Volcanic National Park, there were two trails that I really wanted to hike, Bumpass Hell and Mount Lassen. We (my wife, her sister and me; all in our early 50s and in good shape) completed both hikes and this combination really provided a wonderful overview of the park. We had two full days to explore the park so we did Bumpass Hell on the first day so that we could acclimate a bit to the elevation before trying the hike up Mount Lassen.
The drive time from the entrance gate at Manzanita Lake to the Bumpass Hell trailhead parking lot was about 35 minutes, maybe a little longer. Wonderful drive. Very scenic. The drive was basically uphill from Manzanita Lake to the Bumpass Hell trailhead, along a winding park road. We arrived at the trailhead parking about 8:45. It was a large parking area, and it was staring to fill up, but there was still plenty of room at present. I took a few minutes and enjoyed the views of the surrounding ridges from the edge of the parking lot before getting my gear in order and hitting the trail.
We were on the trail just a couple minutes past 0900. This was a great hike from the moment we left the parking lot. I thought it might be sort of a ho-hum walk to the thermal area, but the views along every yard of the trail are magnificent. We immediately spotted a few critters along the initial section of the trail. First a Clark’s Nutcracker perched in the top of an evergreen tree. These guys are all over the place as we saw several along this trail as well as our other hikes in the park. Next was a Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel in the rocks right above the trail, putting on his best cuteness act, hoping for a handout. Sorry, buddy, we don’t feed the wildlife. Shortly after leaving the parking lot we were treated to views of Lake Helen, its dark blue water was nearly mirror smooth and provided reflections of the trees around its shore as well as Mount Lassen towering nearby.
We turned south away from the lake and the big mountain and as we did our view changed as well. The trail was clinging to the side of the hill on our right (east) and opened up with grand views of the Mount Tehama caldera. From the trail we could see down a couple hundred feet to the meadows and stands of pine below us, but the depths of the valley were not really visible from the trail due to the contours of the land around us (we were hiking along at roughly 8300 feet above sea level and the valley floor is at 7000 feet). The valley looked to be very green and lush with several creeks running down the slopes into the valley. We were in the forest at this point but there were plenty of openings in the trees along this section of the trail to provide an almost continuous panoramic view out over the valley and the peaks of the old caldera rim. Those big vistas were amazing and the colors were just so vibrant in the morning light. There was a range of greens, from the lighter colored grasses to deep forest green on the pines, coming up from the valley, the darker green trees climbing into the grey rocks of the surrounding peaks then the brilliant blue of the sky with an assortment of fluffy white clouds to top it all off. And at many points along the trail these big views were augmented with splashes of purple, dark pink and yellow wildflowers. Yeah, not exactly what I was expecting, but so pleased with the wonderful surprise!
After about 0.7 miles, we came to an overlook that was just a few paces of the trail, which provided a very nice view of the remains of Mount Tehama and had a large educational panel showing what the massive volcano might have looked like in its prime. There were also two Sooty Grouse walking along the rocks at the edge of the view point, just taking their time and apparently not concerned with us at all. After leaving the overlook there was still a quarter mile or so of trail to climb to get to the high point of the hike (so a mile from leaving the trailhead). This is where we crossed the ridge line and got our first glimpse of steaming thermal features of Bumpass Hell down in a little naked bowl at the base of the ridge. At this point we started about a half-mile descent into Bumpass Hell. That sounds sort of ominous, but trust me it was a pleasant walk downhill through more clumps of wildflowers and surrounded by rocky ridges. The big vistas are behind us now, blocked by the ridgeline we just crossed but the featured attraction for this hike is now coming into view as we zig-zagged down the switchbacks to the boardwalk access for the thermal area. The sulphur smell got stronger as we approached. It was not an overbearing odor but it was definitely there! Sure, it is not a pleasant smell, but I don’t think it is as bad folks make it out to be. We heard so many people complain about the “rotten egg” smell in the thermal areas of Yellowstone, but I never thought it was that bad. In fact, the smell here was a little stronger, I thought.
The trail split just before we reached the boardwalk. We took the left-hand branch first which took us up on top of a little rocky mound that provided a nice view out over the thermal area and gave us a good overview of the entire layout of the boardwalks. The views of the western end of the area were excellent from this elevated perch as it let us see the colors of the mineral deposits on the rocks as well as nice looks into a couple of the murky blue pools. This end of the thermal area is on a slope running down into the main basin. Yellow was the dominant color on the rocks, but it seemed that the entire spectrum was covered. The more I studied the area the more colors I saw. There were subtle patches of red, pink, orange and purple scattered about this end, plus green mixed in the little streams that crossed the area. At the base of the slope a pool or turquoise water lends itself to the collage of colors. The bonus to the geologic wonders was another critter sighting as we spotted a mule deer doe on the opposite hillside working her way through the boulders.
After taking in the view at the elevated vantage point we retraced our steps to the point where the trial spit and took the branch leading out to the boardwalk. The boardwalk provides excellent access to the thermal features. There is a main walk that traverses across the entire area as well as a spur that extends out into the middle of the thermal and allows for additional up-close views of some of the features as well as nice overall perspectives of the area in general. This is not a huge area, certainly not as big as the main thermal areas in Yellowstone, but it is still impressive. The moniker “Hell” that Mr. Bumpass tied to the place is appropriate with the steaming pools, bubbling mud pots, the rumbling and grumbling from the thermal features and of course the sulphurous odor. But at the same time, Bumpass Hell has a beauty to it. The colors in the pools and on the rocks are quite striking, particularly when contrasted with the green of the surrounding trees and the brilliant blue sky.
Bumpass Hell brings all the senses into play. I’ve talked about the colors and the odors, but there was also lot of noise, with the hissing, gurgling, coughing and burping of the various thermal features. It is not a loud area, but it is certainly part of the character of the place. As for feel, we get that as well when we made it to the far end of the boardwalk. Lynn and I were standing there alone, leaning on the railing and we could feel the vibrations caused by the subterranean hydrothermal activity. It really is an amazing place. It is as if it were alive, and I reckon it sort of is.
Around 10:15, give or take, we left Bumpass Hell and retraced route back to the trailhead. Returning on the same trail but facing the opposite direction gave us an opportunity to see things that we missed in the inward hike or just provides a new perspective on a view that we did take in (different lighting later in the morning or a new viewing angle). It was a pleasant return. The sky was still bright blue and still held a collection of cumulus clouds, just fluffy white cotton balls with no threat of rain.
What a great hike! Wonderful views along the trail then the other worldly spectacle of Bumpass Hell at the end of the trail. This one gets very high marks. It took us right at 2 hours to complete the 3-mile hike, so we were back at the trailhead a little after 11:00.
I recommend putting this hike at the top of your list when visiting Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Cold Boiling Lake and Crumbaugh Lake, Lassen Volcanic National Park, CA: Nice walk to two scenic lakes.
Hiked on August 9, 2016, reviewed February 20, 2017 See this review on Trip Advisor.
Following our morning hike to Bumpass Hell, my wife, her sister and I decided to try another short walk as we drove to the Kings Creek Picnic Area for the Cold Boiling Lake trailhead. We arrived about 12:30. The joint was jumping as the lot was pretty much full but there were a few parking slots remaining at the upper end of the lot. Based on the number of folks we would see on the trail (less than ten) most of these folks were actually here to picnic.
Our hike this afternoon was completely different in character from the morning trek to Bumpass Hell. First of all, this was a fairly level trail. There was a short, steep start to the hike but after that it was basically flat to Cold Boiling Lake. There was some elevation change as we went on to Crumbaugh Lake with a gradual descent to the lake and then the unavoidable climb back, but that was only about 200 feet over the 0.6 mile between the two lakes. The other major difference was this morning we were on the side of the mountain with big vista views across on into the adjoining valley. This afternoon we were hiking through meadows and along creeks and looking up at the ridge line to the north and west. This actually made for a nice, complimentary pair of hikes. We were also at lower elevation on our lake hike compared to the trail to Bumpass Hell, about a thousand feet lower. That difference in elevation changed the types of flowers we were seeing. It also seemed drier here as well, as some of the fields we hiked by were not very lush and the flowers had gone to seed, although there were other areas closer to the creeks that were very green. The trail was well marked as there were several signs that pointed us in the right direction as gave the distances to each destination.
We arrived at Cold Boiling Lake in after about 20 minutes at a leisurely pace. A very nice setting with the small lake nestled in a curve of the surrounding ridge. So why the name, Cold Boiling Lake? The water is not hot, but it looks like it is boiling due to the bubbles seen near the surface of the lake. The bubbles are formed by cold gases that bubble up through the water giving the appearance that the water is boiling.
We continued on to Crumbaugh Lake. The trail works downhill through a wooded area then levels out again and opens up in meadows around the lake. We stopped at Crumbaugh Lake, pausing long enough to enjoy the views of the meadows and the surrounding ridge. We then reversed our heading and started back up the trail. Uneventful return trip. No critters and only a couple other hikers. We just enjoyed the views and the wildflowers on the way back to the trailhead. We were back at the trailhead a little after 2:00.
Overall, this was a nice hike, but nothing special. I think it is easy enough for about anyone to do, particularly the short walk to Cold Boiling Lake. If your time in the park is short, you can skip this hike. I think that the trail to Bumpass Hell, while longer and more strenuous is a better option.
Hiked on August 9, 2016, reviewed February 20, 2017 See this review on Trip Advisor.
Following our morning hike to Bumpass Hell, my wife, her sister and I decided to try another short walk as we drove to the Kings Creek Picnic Area for the Cold Boiling Lake trailhead. We arrived about 12:30. The joint was jumping as the lot was pretty much full but there were a few parking slots remaining at the upper end of the lot. Based on the number of folks we would see on the trail (less than ten) most of these folks were actually here to picnic.
Our hike this afternoon was completely different in character from the morning trek to Bumpass Hell. First of all, this was a fairly level trail. There was a short, steep start to the hike but after that it was basically flat to Cold Boiling Lake. There was some elevation change as we went on to Crumbaugh Lake with a gradual descent to the lake and then the unavoidable climb back, but that was only about 200 feet over the 0.6 mile between the two lakes. The other major difference was this morning we were on the side of the mountain with big vista views across on into the adjoining valley. This afternoon we were hiking through meadows and along creeks and looking up at the ridge line to the north and west. This actually made for a nice, complimentary pair of hikes. We were also at lower elevation on our lake hike compared to the trail to Bumpass Hell, about a thousand feet lower. That difference in elevation changed the types of flowers we were seeing. It also seemed drier here as well, as some of the fields we hiked by were not very lush and the flowers had gone to seed, although there were other areas closer to the creeks that were very green. The trail was well marked as there were several signs that pointed us in the right direction as gave the distances to each destination.
We arrived at Cold Boiling Lake in after about 20 minutes at a leisurely pace. A very nice setting with the small lake nestled in a curve of the surrounding ridge. So why the name, Cold Boiling Lake? The water is not hot, but it looks like it is boiling due to the bubbles seen near the surface of the lake. The bubbles are formed by cold gases that bubble up through the water giving the appearance that the water is boiling.
We continued on to Crumbaugh Lake. The trail works downhill through a wooded area then levels out again and opens up in meadows around the lake. We stopped at Crumbaugh Lake, pausing long enough to enjoy the views of the meadows and the surrounding ridge. We then reversed our heading and started back up the trail. Uneventful return trip. No critters and only a couple other hikers. We just enjoyed the views and the wildflowers on the way back to the trailhead. We were back at the trailhead a little after 2:00.
Overall, this was a nice hike, but nothing special. I think it is easy enough for about anyone to do, particularly the short walk to Cold Boiling Lake. If your time in the park is short, you can skip this hike. I think that the trail to Bumpass Hell, while longer and more strenuous is a better option.