SoCal Trail RunningOutside SoCalLassen Volcanic National Park

Ridge Lakes Trail

5/11/22  There wasn't much open in the National Park given the time of year, so we decided to try the Ridge Lakes Trail. It turned out to be the longest 2.2mi round trip trail on Earth!
We arrive at the Kohm Yah-Mah-Nee Visitor Center to find at least a couple feet of fresh snow. Definitely gives a different look to an otherwise fairly barren volcanic mountain.
1 A couple hours east of Redding we get to the park entrance and the visitor center. We arrive at the Kohm Yah-Mah-Nee Visitor Center to find at least a couple feet of fresh snow. Definitely gives a different look to an otherwise fairly barren volcanic mountain.
 We head into the Visitor Center to see what trails are still accessible in the snow.
2 We head into the Visitor Center to see what trails are still accessible in the snow.
 We decide to head up the road at least to the Sulphur Works, one of the few mud pots in the park that's visible year round. You can smell the sulphur all the way from the Visitor Center. The entire walk up the road, I thought someone was farting really bad!
3 We decide to head up the road at least to the Sulphur Works, one of the few mud pots in the park that's visible year round. You can smell the sulphur all the way from the Visitor Center. The entire walk up the road, I thought someone was farting really bad!
 Magma deep in the earth heats water as it rises to the surface forming these boiling pools of muddy water.
4 Magma deep in the earth heats water as it rises to the surface forming these boiling pools of muddy water.
Video of the Sulphur Works mud pot.
5 Video of the Sulphur Works mud pot.
 Looking down the other side of the road, you can see the fascinating pattern of melted boiling areas and frozen snow.
6 Looking down the other side of the road, you can see the fascinating pattern of melted boiling areas and frozen snow.
 We decide to give the Ridge Lakes trail a try. Snowshoes were recommended, but we only had our YakTrax, so those would have to do.
7 We decide to give the Ridge Lakes trail a try. Snowshoes were recommended, but we only had our YakTrax, so those would have to do.
 More contrast of snow and melted areas. And more sulphur smell.
8 More contrast of snow and melted areas. And more sulphur smell.
The trail starts climbing fast. It was only supposed to be 2.2 miles round trip. That was definitely a bogus number!
9 The trail starts climbing fast. It was only supposed to be 2.2 miles round trip. That was definitely a bogus number!
 Conditions were perfect. Snow still in the trees, a couple feet of untouched snow on the ground, cold but comfortable temps, and mostly clear skies.
10 Conditions were perfect. Snow still in the trees, a couple feet of untouched snow on the ground, cold but comfortable temps, and mostly clear skies.
 Some snowshoers had already broken trail for us, otherwise we wouldn't have made it very far.
11 Some snowshoers had already broken trail for us, otherwise we wouldn't have made it very far.
 The trail starts getting quite steep. The lakes must be getting close!?
12 The trail starts getting quite steep. The lakes must be getting close!?
Perfect snow trekking conditions.
13 Perfect snow trekking conditions.
 Dad's photo of me on the way up.
14 Clear and sunny all day, temps in the 30s. Dad's photo of me on the way up.
 Steep but almost there. This is way more than a mile!
15 Steep but almost there. This is way more than a mile!
 One last traverse. Where the heck are the lakes??
16 One last traverse. Where the heck are the lakes??
At last we finally reach Ridge Lakes and... they're not there! Completely frozen over with a thick layer of snow on top. Not quite the view we were anticipating, but beautiful nonetheless.
17 At last we finally reach Ridge Lakes and... they're not there! Completely frozen over with a thick layer of snow on top. Not quite the view we were anticipating, but beautiful nonetheless.
 Abominable Snowdad approaching the frozen lakes.
18 Abominable Snowdad approaching the frozen lakes.
 Panorama of the frozen Ridge Lakes.
19 Panorama of the frozen Ridge Lakes.
 We only saw a few other people all day, and one of them was fortunately on top just in time to snap a photo for us.
20 We only saw a few other people all day, and one of them was fortunately on top just in time to snap a photo for us.
360 view of our turnaround spot at the lakes.
21 360 view of our turnaround spot at the lakes.
 Time to start heading back down now. We could quite literally follow in our own footsteps the whole way down.
22 Time to start heading back down now. We could quite literally follow in our own footsteps the whole way down.
 Almost back down to the trailhead.
23 Almost back down to the trailhead.
 Made it back down to Sulphur Works and then down the road to the Visitor's Center. Here I pose next to our beast of a rental car, a Hemi-V8 Dodge Ram. Definitely the smoothest rental ride I've ever had. Now it's time to head back to Redding for the night.
24 A great snow hike! Now into our Ram 1500-HEMI truck for the ride down to Redding. Made it back down to Sulphur Works and then down the road to the Visitor's Center. Here I pose next to our beast of a rental car, a Hemi-V8 Dodge Ram. Definitely the smoothest rental ride I've ever had. Now it's time to head back to Redding for the night.
22 images   ·   2 videos   ·   Help