When we were here, last month, there were things we vowed to do next time. Guess what... it's next time already!

Today, we entered from the north and Steve saw this old entrance sign, somewhat hidden in the brush. This stone monument, built in 1935, stands at the historic north entrance to Lassen Volcanic National Park from Lassen National Forest. Before the highway intersection was rerouted to its current location, visitors drove past this monument into the park.
The Park road is one of the first built in national parks designated to “lay lightly on land.” The road blends in with the surrounding environment and provides views of the most scenic and geological interest. Road construction by the National Park Service and Bureau of Public Roads began in 1925 through 1931. The Civilian Conservation Corps continued this work from 1933 to 1941.
This is the view out our camper at our parking spot for the hike we planned for today. King's Creek and its meadows are breathtaking.
Our hike today was to two unique lakes: Cold Boiling Lake and Crumbaugh Lake - both small but scenic, bordered by pine forest and long grass meadows.
Cold Boiling Lake is part of Lassen's hydrothermal field. It is famous for the numerous carbon dioxide seeps in the lake floor. Carbon dioxide seeps in cold water lakes are quite common in volcanic areas as cooling magma will release the volcanic gas, which will then percolate to the surface, sometimes using pre-existing crustal lineaments or cracks as preferential pathways. This could be why the seeps are concentrated under Cold Boiling Lake. So dang cool.


I love this image of the moon peeking out from behind a massive snag.

Crumbaugh Lake (elev. 7204 ft) was the ideal picnic spot.

We found a plethora of beauty, everywhere we looked.





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. What a difference three weeks makes. Lake Helen (above) was frozen solid when we were here last.