Cinder Cone — Local services in Chester

Cinder cones are scattered all around you at Lassen Volcanic National Park. Some are in plain sight and others are overgrown and hidden by forest, but none are more recent and more spectacular than the Cinder Cone that created the Fantastic Lava Beds and the colorful Painted Dunes eleven miles north east of Lassen Peak.

Sometime around the middle of the seventeenth century a volcanic vent in this area began to expel small chunks of lava, which cooled in mid-air and fell back to earth to collect into a cone some 700 feet in height. Activity finally ceased when larger amounts of lava flowed up to the surface and eventually blocked the vent.

The hike from Butte Lake campground takes a route along the side of the lava beds and through a thin forest of evergreens before ascending the cinder cone. Although the route up the north face of the cone is well used, the ground underfoot is still loose, feeling much like walking along a mile of sandy beach .. at a thirty degree angle. From the summit you should take the time marvel at the Fantastic Lava Beds and Painted Dunes below you and the great mountain views of Lassen, Brokeoff and Chaos Crags.

Though only eleven miles from Lassen Peak, driving to the trailhead of this hike requires a 40 mile drive or 32 miles from the north park entrance and includes 7 miles of dirt road driving. Despite the distance the scenery en route is well worth experiencing, and the unpaved road is entirely accessible even in a two-wheel drive car with relatively low ground clearance. The exit off Feather Lake Road (CA-44) and onto the unpaved Butte Lake Road (NF32N21) is located here. Note that driving directions using Google Maps will not work when the road is closed in winter.

We have more on this trail and many other Lassen area hikes over at Trailspotting.com if...

Starts at around 6000 ft in elevation and tops out at around 6835. It is a little over a mile hike on nice flat ground along a lava field on one side and a nice forest on the other. This part is super easy, but don’t let that fool you. Once you start to climb the cinder cone it is a total bear. The best way to the top is making zigzag switch backs on the trail up the cinder cone which is about 6-8 feet wide. For every step you take you’ll sink back about one third the distance of your stride due to the cinders. It is pretty steep (about 600 feet elevation change over approximately a third of a mile). You should definitely make the effort, even if it takes you hours. (It took me about forty minutes with a heavy camera bag and 5 months pregnant). The views at the top are completely worth it and totally breathtaking. On about a third of the perimeter you’ll see the painted dunes with a lake in the distance. These would be best at sunrise or about an hour before sunset. On the west side you have a view of Lassen Peak behind a dense forest. The center of the cinder cone is totally deceptive because from the ground it looks pointed but in fact there is a large crater in the center that you could even hike down into about 200-300 feet. I didn’t bother with that though since the view wouldn’t be as spectacular as the rim and then you’d have to hike back out of it. Highly...

Be forewarned - this hike is difficult! However, if you take plenty of rest breaks, everyone can make it to the top of the cindercone. I would highly recommend this hike - not only is it fascinating from a geological standpoint but the views are probably some of the best in the entire park. The hike to the cindercone has some small dips and rises, but is relatively flat and easy enough for everyone. It follows the edge of the lava field that came from the cindercone so feel free to go up to it. At the beginning of the trail some trail guides are available for 50 cents - although it seems the common practice is to borrow and return them when you are done with your hike. If you don't want to climb to the top, simply doing the first part of the trail can be a good little hike with a nice view of the cindercone at the end. But, I HIGHLY recommend you try to make it to the top. It IS definitely worth completing what I believe is one of the most grueling sections of a hike I have ever encountered in my 20 years of visiting national parks. It is all soft scoria (loose volcanic rock) so every step results in you sliding back - making progress seem futile. You'll make it to the top though! And it will be incredible! You can also go down into the crater, although I refrained due to my legs being exhausted from...