145. Lassen Volcanic National Park - Reflection Lake & Cinder Cone Trail

We are starting to discover why a random stranger told us Lassen Volcanic was their favorite park last year. Last year we came too early in the season so most of the park was closed and so we left it to be continued.

For our first evening in town, Jordan insisted on going for a hike so we popped over to the visitor center parking lot for a quick loop around Reflection lake just before sunset. Jordan loved the GIANT pinecones. We saw some cool colors in the sky on the way home.

We headed out for our longest hike ever without the baby carrying backpack (though we still have the kangaroo pouch). Cinder cone trail looked amazing online and it lived up to our expectations. It was 4-5 miles with a steep climb up the cone. Jordan walked some of the forest part along the lava beds at the beginning and then Bruce carried her about 75% of the way up. Anjuli then realized we dropped Jordan's sunglasses a short but significant distance down the trail so her and Jordan got an extra break while Bruce ran down. Jordan then insisted on climbing the rest of the way up herself and she destroyed it. Not only was the whole way up super steep, but it was deep sand/gravel that made it killer.

Once we got to the top, it was completely amazing. 360 degree views from all around the top rim. We had some snacks and then took a bunch of photos and wandered around the rim. Every time we moved further around, we saw even more incredible scenery. The inside of the cinder cone, the fantastic lava bed (actual name), snow covered mountains, trees, lakes, and the painted dunes. The ring-like photos above are all within the cinder cone.

Jordan took a handful of photos with the big camera so she had to get used to the weight of it without the tripod on this hike.

Jordan started the steep descent herself but then got tired and got carried down until she eventually passed out and got a nice nap in the pouch. Yes, we got a ton of sand in our shoes, but Anjuli's high socks kept it from getting inside her socks.

This was definitely a top hike of ours. Anjuli would put it up there with Larch Valley in the Fall in Banff, which was also unbelievable. There was so much different cool terrain to see on this hike. We will have to return again when the park road is fully open and the other cool trails with geothermal features are open, but this national park is quickly rising on our favorite list.