Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [259]
17 miles one-way. Moderate. Access: Warner Valley Rd., or long hike from Hat Lake.
This is a small section of the famed Pacific Crest Trail, which runs some 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada. The most scenic section of the trail in the park is the 5-mile segment south of Drakesbad that leads toward the park's boundary past Boiling Springs Lake. For information on the entire Pacific Crest Trail, contact the Pacific Crest Trail Association, 5325 Elkhorn Blvd., PMB 256, Sacramento, CA 95842 (☎ 916/ 349-2109; www.pcta.org).
Paradise Meadow
3.5 miles RT. Moderate. Access: Hat Lake parking area, off Calif. 89 between Emigrant Pass and Summit Lake campgrounds.
This hike rises at a steady grade along a creek, eventually coming to a series of small waterfalls and a picture-perfect meadow with outstanding wildflower displays during midsummer.
Summit Lake Trail
1.5 miles RT. Easy. Access: Either Summit Lake campground.
This is a walk around a pristine alpine lake that's often frequented by deer in the evening.
Summit Lake to Echo and Twin Lakes
8 miles RT. Moderate. Access: From midpoint of the Summit Lake Trail (see above).
A popular day or overnight hike, this trek passes several pretty lakes and wildflower-filled meadows on the way to Lower Twin Lake. After you pass the first moderately steep crest, the rest of the hike is less strenuous. Backcountry camping is allowed at Twin Lakes but not at Echo Lake; a wilderness pernit is required.
Other Summer Sports & Activities
Canoeing & Kayaking. Paddlers can take canoes, rowboats, and kayaks on any of the park lakes except Reflection, Emerald, Helen, and Boiling Springs. Motors, including electric motors, are prohibited on all park waters. Lakes accessible from the Park Road include Manzanita and Summit. You can get to Butte Lake, in the northeast section of the park, on a gravel road from Calif. 44. Juniper Lake is accessible from a gravel road in the southeast section of the park.
Winter Sports & Activities
The Park Road usually closes to cars in November due to snow, and most years it doesn't open until June, so winter recreationists have their run of the area. Snowmobiles are forbidden.
Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing. Trails of all skill levels leave from the nortwest and southwest entrances. Heated bathrooms and running water are available at Loomis Plaza at Manzanita Lake and will be in the new visitor facility at the southwest entrance when it opens in 2007. Popular trips are the trails to Sulphur Works. More advanced skiers and snowshoers can make the trek to Lake Helen.
You can also ski the popular 30-mile course of the Park Road, but doing this overnight trek involves a long car shuttle. For safety reasons, the park requires all skiers to register at the southwest entrance or Loomis Ranger Station before heading into the backcountry, even for a day trip. A free wilderness permit is required for overnight camping.
Sledding. During winter, heavy snows close the Park Road, but roads going into both the southwest entrance and northwest entrances are kept open for a mile or two. On weekends, you can bring the family, snow toys, and picnic baskets to enjoy the slopes.
Camping
Car campers have their choice of eight park campgrounds with over 400 sites. Reservations for Manzanita Lake, Summit Lake, and Butte Lake campgrounds are available through the National Recreation Reservation Service (☎ 877/444-6777; www.reserveusa.com). Sites do fill up on weekends, so if you don't have a reservation, your best bet is to get to the park early Friday to secure a spot. There are no RV hookups at the park, but you'll find them at nearby private campgrounds, as well as Hat Creek Resort and Lassen Mineral Lodge (see "Where to Stay," below).
By far the most "civilized" campground in the park is at Manzanita Lake, where you'll find flush toilets and a camper store. There is also the Crags Campground, about 5 miles away, which is much more basic, with vault toilets. Farther into the park