Geog 312 Landforms field trip to Lassen Volcanic National Park

Geog 312 field trip: Lassen Volcanic National Park

(Most of the) Photography by Jeff Kapellas (312 F'96)

Field Trip Schedule: Lassen Volcanic National Park

All vehicles arrive full of gas.
Meet at 7 am at Lot 2 (by the Admin bldg off Holloway, near 19th)
I-280 to I-80 to I-505 (Vacaville) N to I-5 near Dunnigan. Recommend: Stop at first rest area.
I-5 to Red Bluff. Take exit 649 for Antelope Blvd/CA-36. Stop at first gas station; all vehicles should gas up.
Continue on 36 E (watch for a left turn early) to Hwy 89 east of Mineral
L on Hwy 89 N to Lassen Volcanic National Park
Show ranger entrance waiver at SW Entrance
Continue to Bumpass Hell Parking Lot.

Lunch and Hike to Bumpass Hell
Continue N on Hwy 89 to Kings Creek Meadow. Possible stop.
Continue N on Hwy 89, with various stops, including Hot Rock.
Exit park and continue on Hwy 89 to Old Station
R on Hwy 44 E just past Old Station
R on road to Butte Lake, then 2 miles on dirt road to Butte Creek (USFS) campground on left. Do not go past to Butte Lake NPS campground, which is closed. Should arrive ~6 pm.

Up at 6:30 am. Break camp by 7:45 am, and drive 3 miles to Butte Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Hike to and over Cinder Cone, and Fantastic Lava Beds. Carry water and an energy snack. Cameras recommended. Wear sturdy boots, preferably high top to keep cinders out.
Lunch at the Butte Lake picnic tables. Leave by 1 pm.

Drive out to Hwy 44, then left 11 miles to intersection with Hwy 89. At about 9-10 miles, watch for unmarked pullout on right for Hat Creek valley - Hat Creek Lava Flow overlook.
Hwy 89 N: drive short distance north to Subway Cave lava tube. Explore lava tube -- need flashlights. Fill water containers for camping. Other stops may include Spatter Cone Nature Trail across from entrance to Hat Creek Campground (USFS) south of Old Station.
Hwy 89 S: drive 13 miles S to Lassen Volcanic National Park entrance, on Hwy 89. If it's hot, we'll stop for ice cream S of Old Station.

Hwy 89 S: at entrance station, show entrance permit. Continue about 2 miles to Chaos Jumbles (0.5 miles past Manzanita Lake campground entrance). Pull out on right (very narrow pullouts -- watch for traffic), then walk up on jumbles for view of Chaos Crags & Chaos Jumbles rockfall avalanche.
Hwy 89 S: See Road Guide for various sights as we pass through park.
Continue to Lost Creek Group campground.

Up at 6:30, break camp by 7:45 am, and drive summit and park to in Lassen Peak trailhead parking area.

Hike to top of Lassen Peak. Carry snack and water. Someone should bring a copy of Through Vulcan's Eye for a reading. We'll need motivated performers to play the parts. Hike around the crater. See dacite lava flows, ice/snow layers. Need a capable volunteer to be sweep hiker, but otherwise we'll stay together.
Lunch and possibly (very chilly) dip in Lake Helen.
If we missed Sulfur Works the day before, we'll briefly stop here before heading home.
Drive home: Hwy 89 S to Hwy 36 W to Red Bluff. I-5, I-505, I-80 home.
Unless we're delayed, we should be home by 8 pm.