Highlighted Areas
Locherman Canyon is a one-mile interpretive trail and outdoor classroom with an amphitheater. Call the Almanor Ranger District office at 530-258-2141 for more information.
Day use area near Aspen campground. Great for family fun, sandcastles, sunbathing, and swimming. No lifeguard on duty.
Alpine meadows, tall timber, and flowing creeks await on the Spencer Meadow Trail. Stretching six miles, Spencer Meadow is registered as a National Recreation Trail. See www.americantrails.org for more information on National Recreation Trail designation.
Campground 1.75 miles off Highway 44. Fee. 11 sites. Hand pumped water. Maximum length of 25 feet. Dump station 27 miles away.
Roadside rest stop off Highway 44. No fee. No camping or overnight parking. Restrooms. Piped water. Near snowmobile trailheads.
Christie Campground is part of the Eagle Lake Recreation Area. Firewood is for sale at the campgrounds. All restrooms at Eagle Lake have flush toilets and electricity for razors, blowdryers, etc. All sites include a picnic table, fire ring and grill, and limited parking. The Eagle Lake Marina is close to all campgrounds at Eagle Lake (within 5 miles) and provides boat rentals and slips, hot showers, laundry, and a convenience store. Elevation is approximately 5100 feet.
Day use area on the south end of Eagle Lake. Camping is not allowed.
Campground seven miles up steep rough road. Motor homes and large trailers not recommended. 17 sites near beautiful lake. Hand pumped water. No gas motors on boats. Dump station 34 miles away.
Dow Butte Lookout is a former fire lookout now available for the public to tour and enjoy the view.
Aspen Grove Campground is part of the Eagle Lake Recreation Area. Tent camping only. Piped water. All sites include a picnic table, fire ring and grill, and limited parking. The Eagle Lake Marina is close to all campgrounds at Eagle Lake (within 5 miles) and provides boat rentals and slips, hot showers, laundry, and a convenience store. Elevation is approximately 5100 feet. Please call for information from November thru April (530)257-6952 and from May thru October (530)825-3212. Year Round Fax: (530)257-3067.
The Pacific Crest Trail, or the PCT, is arguably the most famous of the nation's designated National Scenic Trails. Winding its way through spectacular vistas from Mexico to Canada, the PCT stretches 2,650 miles through California, Oregon, and Washington. The Almanor Ranger District is home to 66 miles of the trail (including the 1,325 mile halfway point!) and provides multiple trailheads and access points.
The PCT is a non-motorized trail designed for hiking and equestrian use. Portions of the trail are covered by snow in the winter months, but snowshoeing is encouraged.
Currently, the snow level is 5,200' and above; please plan your trip accordingly.
McCarthy Point Lookout will soon be available for reservation for the 2011 season.
Located within a state wildlife refuge, McCarthy Point Lookout was constructed in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps for use in spotting wildfires. Now used as a recreational facility, the lookout is available to rent for a minimum of 2 nights; advance reservations are required.
McCarthy Point is perched on the southern end of Mill Creek rim overlooking Mill Creek Canyon and the Ishi Wilderness. The facility includes a kitchen, a bedroom with two sleeping platforms and 180 degree views, and a propane grill. Potable water is unavailable, so bring your own drinking water.
Please contact the Almanor Ranger District office at 530-258-2141 for more information.
Located at Eagle Lake, the Gallatin Marina offers boat and fishing equipment rentals, open boat storage, slip rentals, boat fuel, showers, laundry, and fish cleaning facilities. Fishing licenses, fishing supplies, camping supplies, ice, clothing, and food are for sale at the Marina store.
A non-motorized National Recreation Trail ideal for hiking and equestrian use, the Heart Lake trail is 4.7 miles along Martin creek with scenic views of Lassen Peak and Brokeoff Mountain.
This trail is an easy to moderate 19 mile round trip opportunity. Park at the junction of Highway 89 and forest road 27N52 to begin. Users may also access the trail from numerous points along Highway 89 for shorter 4 to 5 mile round trips. The trail winds through a mixed conifer forest with spectacular views of Lake Almanor, Dyer Mountain, and Lassen Peak. Watch for wildlife as you may see bald eagles, osprey, and goshawk. The Lake Almanor Recreation Trail is closed to all motorized vehicles.
The Old Station Visitor Information Center is the hub of the Hat Creek recreation area. Here you can view interpretive displays including a living trout exhibit (seasonal) and delightful gardens. It is a pleasant stop to get answers to your forest questions. Maps, wood cutting permits, Christmas tree permits (Nov- Dec) nature books and interpretive items are available for sale.
Located within the southern portion of the Cascade Mountain Range is 16,335 acres of contrasting topography. Thousand Lakes Wilderness is midway between the town of Burney and Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Volcanic and glacial formations, rocky ravines, mountain slopes, open meadows, and stands of lodgepole pine and red fir define the Wilderness. It is dominated by 8,677 foot Crater Peak, the highest point on the Lassen National Forest, and is a reminder of the glacial action that eroded Thousand Lakes Volcano and created the many small lakes and ponds scattered throughout. The lowest point in the Wilderness occurs at the base of the volcano at 5,546 feet.
The seven major lakes that lie within the Wilderness valley contain trout. Several species of wildlife make their home in the Wilderness. With a little luck and a good pair of binoculars you might spot some the more permanent residents; black-tailed deer, black bear, pika, pine marten, northern goshawk, spotted owl, pileated woodpecker, and Clark's nutcracker. Even elk have been known to visit occasionally.
Another critter worth mentioning is the mosquito. At times they are thick and hungry. It would be advisable to carry insect repellent in your pack.
The summer use period is approximately June 15 to October 15, although early spring could open up the lower areas by Memorial Day. Your experience will be enhanced and impacts will lessened by avoiding weekends and holidays, and heavily used areas.
The Caribou Wilderness is a gentle, rolling, forested plateau dotted with glacial lakes. Reminders of volcanic and glacial origin are apparent throughout this remote, unpopulated area. Crater peaks, cinder cones, and numerous large and small depressions have resulted in the formation of the crystalline lakes that are scattered throughout the plateau.
Caribou Peaks, Black Cinder Rock, and Red Cinder are points of interest. The average elevation is 6,900 feet. The highest point, Red Cinder, is 8,370 feet. From here there are majestic views of the lofty mountains that surround this primitive wilderness. Located on the eastern slopes of what was once Mount Tehama, this area is surrounded by the volcanic peaks of Swain Mountain, Bogard Buttes, Prospect Peak, Ash Butte, Red Cinder Cone and Mount Harkness.
The Forest cover is mostly lodgepole pine with a mixture of jeffrey pine, white and red fir, western white pine, and hemlock. In early summer, wildflowers brighten the trail and water lilies cluster in ponds.
The headwaters of the Susan River originate in the Caribou. This water percolates up through the porous volcanic aquifer and is a major year around water source for the east slope of the Cascades. While scouting out a route to bring wagon trains through, early day hunting parties also ventured into the Caribou area to find game for survival. Today, their route is known as the Lassen Trail.
The larger lakes that are deep enough to support fish are home to brook and rainbow trout. Some familiar birds that make their home in the Caribou are the bald eagle, osprey, common merganser, eared grebe, and many types of ducks.
The summer use period is approximately June 15 to October 15, although early spring could open up the lower areas by Memorial Day. Hypothermia can be a problem in spring and fall seasons with cold rains. Check our Current Conditions page for weather conditions.
In the southern Cascade foothills, approximately twenty miles east of Red Bluff, California, lies the Ishi Wilderness, a unique 41,000 acre, low-elevation wilderness. This is a land incised by wind and water, dotted with basaltic outcroppings, caves, and bizarre pillar lava formations. This is up and down country, a series of east-west running ridges framed by rugged river canyons.
The Ishi is named for a Yahi Yana Indian who was the last survivor of his tribe, who lived in the area for over three thousand years. Shortly after 1850, the white settlers killed all but a handful of the Yahi. Ishi (the Yahi word for man) and a few others escaped and lived quietly for decades in this harsh, wild country.
When visiting the Wilderness, please respect this cultural heritage. Remember that all archaeological and historical sites and artifacts are protected by federal law and should not be disturbed.
The Tehama deer herd, the largest migratory herd in California, winters in the area. Other wildlife include wild hog, mountain lion, black bear, coyote, bobcat and rabbit. Most of the Ishi Wilderness is also a State Game Refuge where hunting is not permitted.
Deer and Mill Creeks are home to many types of fish. However, special fishing regulations are in effect for these streams. Please check the State of California's Fishing Regulations before fishing. A valid California fishing license is required.
Rock cliffs provide nesting sites for a variety of raptors including hawks, eagles, falcons, and owls. Other common sightings include wild turkey, quail, mourning doves, canyon wrens, band-tailed pigeons, and myriad songbirds.
Take a journey through 1/3 mile of a winding lava tube. You will need to furnish your own flashlight in order to find your way and to read the reflective interpretive signs (rentals available nearby).
The floor is rough and jagged so wear sturdy shoes. A light jacket will ward off the chill as the cave remains a cool 46 degrees F. Neither hardhats nor crawling is required!
Goumaz campground is between Highways 36 and 44. Drinking water is available at the five unimproved campsites for small equipment. A dump station is 18 miles away.
Merrill Campground provides family camping sites rated for 8 people maximum. Firewood is for sale at the campground. All restrooms include flush toilets and electrical outlets for blowdryers, razors, etc. All sites include a picnic table, fire ring and grill, and limited parking. The Eagle Lake Marina is close to all campgrounds at Eagle Lake (within 5 miles) and provides boat rentals and slips, hot showers, laundry, and a convenience store. Elevation is approximately 5100 feet. Please call for information from October thru April (530) 257-3067 and from May thru September (530) 825-3212. Year Round Fax: (530) 257-3067.
Off Highway 36, Roxie Peconom Campgrounds have ten free sites. Parking is central in a lot and campers walk to sites. Water is hand pumped. The dump station is 7 miles away.
Accesses the southern boundary of the Caribou Wilderness. Ample parking available for vehicles and trailers; popular equestrian staging location.
Eagle Campground provides family camping sites rated for 8 people and small group sites rated for 16 people maximum. Firewood is for sale at the campground. All restrooms include flush toilets and electrical outlets for blowdryers, razors, etc. All sites include a picnic table, fire ring and grill, and limited parking. The Eagle Lake Marina is close to all campgrounds at Eagle Lake (within 5 miles) and provides boat rentals and slips, hot showers, laundry, and a convenience store. Elevation is approximately 5100 feet.
Fredonyer Parking area provides a great launch spot for all winter activities including snowshoeing, crosscountry skiing and snowmobiling.
Explore the underground world of a lava tube. The self-guided trail is approximately 1/3 mile long and the cave is completely dark, so don't forget to bring a flashlight.
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