. This waterfall usually runs year round with more impressive flows in spring when the snow begins…read moreto melt and Mill Creek swells. The trailhead is at the end of the only paved road to the wilderness boundary. Approximately 45 minutes from Alturas via Likely and Jess Valley, Mill Creek Falls Campground also serves as the trailhead. There is ample parking for day hikers and backpackers in addition to campsites at a reasonable fee. The falls overlook is approximately 1/4 mile uphill from the campground. Backtrack a few hundred feet to the south fork of the trail and continue on up the trail and visit Clear Lake in the South Warner Wilderness. The best time to photograph the falls is late morning to just after noon when the sun is overhead and casts fewer shadows. ( info from fd)

We really loved this wild life refuge! They have an auto tour where you can see a lot of birds,…read moredeer, and more. I would like to return at a better time of year and preferably at sunset. It would be even better. We were there mid-day in 90+ degree summer weather. We enjoyed seeing geese, Sand Hill Cranes, sea gulls, ducks, and deer. You can also hike on a trail and just sit and watch, but it was too hot for us yesterday. You can enjoy all of this for no charge.

Great wildlife refuge located just outside of downtown Alturas. It is one of the most productive…read morewildlife refuges I have been to for waterfowl. There is a nice auto tour and visitor center but only one main trail for hiking.

This is a six mile paved motor trail. One way. Once you get on it there is no turning around. No…read moreneed to...this drive is beautiful. Speed limit is 10 mph and you will need to heed the speed as it is a narrow road meandering up and down thru the deep forest. Historic farmsteads along the route that you can pull over and wander in. We went at days end so our time was limited as it was getting dark. I would love to return during the day, I regretted all of the photos I missed taking due to loss of daylight! Drive takes approximately an hour at the posted speed limit. No restrooms along the way, but lots of lovely places to stop and enjoy a little piece of the Smoky's.

I too drove this road at the end of the day and started getting a little worried about losing…read morelight. Believe me, you DON'T want to be on this road after dark, and there is no turning around. Some incredible sights can be seen along this road as it climbs and climbs and climbs up the mountainside. There is a large area where you can park and meander around at the peak. We saw a bear while walking around up there. The bear was down the side of the mountain and we were in no danger. Be fore-warned that if you have a large pickup truck like I do, it will barely fit on some of the bridges and through some of the turns...very hairy!

I've been to where lava flows were before but never have I walked/climbed through where lava tubes…read moreactually are before. This was definitely an experience if you haven't done it! $15.00-25.00 to bring your horse, bicycle, motorcycle cycle, car or RV into the park. Doesn't matter how warm outside as the caves are cool to freezing with ice depending on which cave and how far down it goes. Headlamps/flashlights are needed but headlamps easiest so you can use both your hands. The fantastic Park Rangers will not only give you expert advice on what caves are best suited for you but the history about this amazing park. Skull Cave before you get to the visitors center was my first cave. After descending the short rock staircase then a rock floor then to a metal landing and down the metal staircase lower and lower into the cold dark earth. At the bottom is a Skull, bones and ice. The hand rails were freezing. Wish I would have brought my gloves. The visitors center can help with what caves are where and offer helmets, flashlights and other needs via borrow, rent or buy. Closed shoes, knee pads, etc for tight caves recommended. The others I tried weren't near that cold but still really incredible in different ways. To see all the melting of rock and burn scars through these tubes is spectacular. Our earth is alive and so amazing. There are some bathrooms at some of the sites but not all so take advantage. Also, make sure to wear clothing you've never worn in other caves. Transfer of biologicals is real and could very negatively effect the bats in here. An awe experience and I highly recommend it. Some spaces also might be a bit small in case you're claustrophobic. Many are not tight but pitch black. Better than any Halloween haunted house with the creep jumping out at you. A park experience not to miss!

Most Californians don't even know this place exists, and that's a genuine shame. Lava Beds sits…read morenear the Oregon border and holds over 800 lava tube caves -- some small enough to belly-crawl through, others you can walk through upright. Above ground, the Schonchin Butte Trail (1.8 mi) climbs to a fire lookout with massive panoramic views of the high desert. There's also Native American rock art at Petroglyph Point! Spring wildflowers fill the basalt fields, and the dark skies here at night are about as good as it gets in the state.

This is one of my favorite spots around lassen county. Great spots to hike and beautiful lakes. You…read morehave to come check it out, it's a beauty you must see for yourself. I went swimming here during summer and the dogs as well. Very cold water, but what do you expect in higher elevations with wind! So worth the drive and hike.

If your idea of a good time is to stroll through the forest past pretty lake after pretty lake and…read moreto see no other people, head up to the Caribou Wilderness on the eastern edge of Lassen Volcanic National Park near Chester. Hubby and I recently spent an October Saturday there, hiking a seven mile loop from the Hay Meadow trailhead. Reaching the trailhead itself is something of an adventure, requiring a twelve mile drive on forest service roads. Fortunately, most of the route is paved and in decent condition; the last couple of miles are gravel, and if it's rained could be a problem. We crawled down the last bumpy downhill stretch in our sedan to see a large gravel lot with nary a car in it. There is a restroom, but it was locked. Hay Meadow on the southern edge of the wilderness, where the trail starts, is large and picturesque; I imagine that it is gorgeous in mid-summer with the wildflowers. We hiked in a counterclockwise direction, taking the Indian Meadow, Hidden Lakes, Posey-Beauty, and Cone-Hay Meadows trails. There's an early climb of some few hundred feet, but after that nothing taxing. Much of the hike is relatively flat, and the range in elevation is from 6500 to 7000 feet. About 1.5 miles in you start to see what you came for: the lakes. The essence of this hike is the pleasure of woods and lakes. And plenty of lakes there are. In our seven miles, we passed at least 15 lakes, and that doesn't count the small ponds. The largest was Long Lake, about mid-way through the hike, and the most beautiful was Evelyn Lake, set among rocky ledges, on the return trip. The Caribou Wilderness is typically open mid-June to mid-October. There is no entrance fee nor backpacking fee. While there are no campgrounds near Hay Meadow, there are two campgrounds at the Caribou Lake entrance on the east side of the wilderness. Mosquitoes can be bad in June and July, but we didn't see any in October.

Moderate hike with a view worth the hike. It's 4.2 miles round-trip, but the trail is relatively…read moreflat throughout. You'll be walking through a beautiful, flat meadow then slowly going slightly uphill the rest of the way. I was lucky enough to catch a bear sighting along the way and watched a bear ripping up tree bark to forage for bugs. You can choose to ride a horse on the trail, but it will only get you to a certain point; you'll still need to hike maybe half a mile to reach the final end point: Devils Kitchen. The end has great up-close views of Lassen's steam vents and boiling springs. You'll have to cross over small sections of the sulfur springs, so watch your step! There's still some work being done at Devils Kitchen and I saw park crew members carrying up logs to the trail to build more fences, so respect the park signs and stay on trail. Parking is somewhat difficult near the trailhead since there's no clear parking lot, but there's more parking available if you're willing to walk a bit more.

Decent hike moderate to beginner level 2.1 miles each way, approximately 1.75hr hike. Devils…read morekitchen is at the end of the hike well worth the effort.

I just got back from a second annual camping trip to Juniper Lake campground. You do need to bring…read moreyour own potable water, and there are only vault toilets. But if you can tolerate that, you will be rewarded with access to a delightful lake that has many wonderful hikes around it, beautiful trees, and amazing sunsets. There are sizeable bear boxes to store your food in, lots of room for a tent or three, fire rings, and picnic tables. Most sites have amazing shade and all are any easy walk to the lake, if not right on it. Note that the last 6-7 miles of road are gravel & rutted in places. Just allow extra time & be willing to drive very slowly at times. It's worth it! Try to make time to hike up to Crystal Lake. It's steep, but there are lots of shady places to rest on the way, and the lake is blissful for swimming in. There are about 18 campsites, most of which have great privacy and shade, and none of which are far from the comfort station. :) and at $12 a night, this campground is a jewel! Come early in the week (and day) to get the most selection. It can fill up, and only the group sites are reservable.

If you're segment hiking the PCT and find yourself wondering if you should shuttle or backpack the…read moreWathum Lake to Lost Lake section, I encourage you to check out the Buck Peak offshoot trail. Quarter mile off the PCT and you'll find an established campsite complete with sufficient space for a tent, a small fire ring, and a spring within a half mile. As a bonus, you can go the half mile up the Buck Peak trail to the official summit. The view of Mount Hood from that spot is worth all of the mosquito bites you'll collect at camp.

The trail to Mill Creek Falls begins right off to the side of the new Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor…read moreCenter in the Southwest parking area. The trail is somewhat easy-moderate, depending how fit you are of course. It has a round trip distance of 4.6 miles with various areas of inclining slopes. The path was not smooth and in many spots there was snow blocking the way (but this was a few weeks ago and it may have melted by now). Hiking poles were very useful here. This trail isn't for those looking for an easy stroll. Keep a close eye on the trail too because it wasn't clearly marked and there are areas were you can get off the main path. With that being said, the hike and the actual falls were beautiful. Along the way there were open areas that offered lovely views of various mountain peaks, as well as areas with towering trees that loomed overhead and offered much leafy shade. There was one part of the trail that brought us to a hillside covered with bushes of yellow wildflowers, which was absolutely beautiful. The Mill Creek Falls itself was stunning. You can walk across a bridge that runs above its cascading waters and also across a second little bridge further up from the first. The bridge gives you a spectacular view of the canyon between the two hills. Be careful though because the wooden bridges do not have railings. It's hard to put into words the beauty and majesty of a natural waterfall. You just have to see it for yourself.