For our final day, we decided to explore our surroundings on foot. Our campsite is located next to Manzanita Lake so we began our day with a stroll around its 1.6 mile shoreline.
On a calm day, Lassen Peak is reflected in the lake, but today started off blustery.
We had hoped to explore the Loomis Museum, built by Benjamin Franklin Loomis in 1927. Loomis was a local homesteader and photographer who documented the 1915 eruptions of Lassen Peak (one image is below), and was instrumental in the 1916 establishment of the national park. In 1929, Loomis donated the museum and 40 acres of surrounding lands to the National Park Service, which since then has used the structure as an interpretational facility (pre-COVID).
I loved this adjacent building which houses a seismograph. The station was built by the Loomises in 1926. It features three large windows that allow visitors to view the seismographic equipment within. Up until 2006, displays of this helpful tool were offered by the Forest Service. How cool is that?
After a picnic lunch by Reflection Lake we headed to the Lily Pond Interpretive Trail.
What a leisurely way to be in nature!
It was also an opportunity to see more of the park's fauna.
We ended our Lassen sojourn parked on a bench, overlooking Manzanita Lake. A man was fly-fishing, birds were singing, and all was good. Time on a lake is always a good time.
I love this description, "Here, summer is a time of awakening—lakes thaw, wildflowers bloom in emerald meadows, and the bustle of life returns as forests shed their winter mantle." Maybe next time, we'll see what Autumn has to offer. What a great, albeit brief, explore.
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1 comments:
We went to the Loomis museum last year when in Lassen, but I didn't blog about it. There was too much going on, I had to focus. I like your focus on Lassen flora. It is so beautiful. I am so glad this land is protected. Congrats on day two of Lassen National park!! You went from never have gone to going twice. ;)
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