Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
At the junction with Rte. 44, turn toward the east on the first leg of the scenic byway.
This superb route passes myriad volcanic remnants and provides access to many trails,
which lead to lakes and fine views of the forest.
The soil in this region supports a variety of different trees. A list of the various species
includes ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, red fir, white fir, and Douglas fir. Aspens also
grow here, surviving in areas that have relatively high amounts of moisture, such as creek
banks and along the fringes of open meadows. Scattered about the forest floor, an array of
colorful wildflowers sprout late in the spring, chasing the melting snows up the slopes.
At Rte. 36 a turn to the west leads to Lake Almanor. There, the dome of nearby Lassen
Peak reflects on the water's often mirrorlike surface. Since lake temperatures are fairly
mildinthesummer,swimmersdelightinturningthemountain'simageintounrecognizable
ripples.
Lake Helen, located in Lassen Volcanic National Park, is named after Helen Tanner Brodt, who in 1864 became the first
woman to reach the summit of Lassen Peak.
13.
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Few national parks can illustrate with as much clarity the fact that the Earth's surface is
forever changing. Rte. 89—which leads to the visitor center and viewing areas—snakes
through skirting steam vents, boiling mudpots, gaseous fumaroles, and cone-shaped moun-
tains of cinder and ash. Boardwalks lead to many of the sites, and visitors are advised to
stay on the trail, because parts of this region where the Earth's molten interior escapes to
the surface have been known to collapse. A shining example of nature's power is Lassen
Peak, which last erupted for seven years beginning in 1914 and is the park's tallest vol-
cano, cresting at 10,457 feet—yet another showstopper in a national park that, despite its
Search WWH ::
Custom Search