Explore Lassen Volcanic National Park

Hike to Lassen’s Lakes with The Trailmaster

From Summit Lake to Upper Twin Lake is 6.4 miles round trip; loop is 11.2 miles round trip with 800-foot elevation gain; loop via Horseshoe Lake is 14.5 miles round trip

This hike tours Lassen’s “Lake District” gentler country than the nearby lava lands. The lakes are popular destinations for backpackers and day trippers.

Depending on your time and stamina, you can visit one, two or even a half-dozen lakes in day. Largest of the lot on this loop is Horseshoe Lake, where there’s a ranger station and camping.

Another highlight of the area are the meadows, sprinkled in season with lupine, blue penstemon, Indian paint brush and many more wildflowers. King of the meadows is three-mile long Grassy Swale. A swale is a quaint British word for a wet, marshy hollow; it’s a particularly fitting way to describe this meadow.

Directions to trailhead: Summit Lake North (Ranger station, campground) is located on Highway 89 about in the middle of the park, some 13 miles from the visitor center and the junction with Highway 44. Park near Summit Lake’s north shore.

The hike: From Summit Lake’s north shore, cross the wooden footbridge over Hat Creek and begin a moderate ascent through a mixed forest of hemlock, lodgepole pine, red and white fir. Best views are behind you: Chaos Crags over your left shoulder, Lassen Peak over your right.

A mile out, pass a left forking trail that leads to Little Bear and Big Bear lakes. A modest 0.8-mile descent takes you to Echo Lake. Skirting the north shore, the trail soon leaves the lake behind and travels through meadows and past green ponds to Upper Twin Lake, 3.2 miles from the trailhead.

The path meanders past the lake’s campsites 0.8 mile to a signed junction. The left branch travels the west shore of Lower Twin Lake. Bear right on the short connector trail leading to the Pacific Crest Trail, which you join, heading south.

You’ll soon pass Swan Lake just east of the trail; it’s your basic little backcountry lake and offers limited camping. The path climbs a low divide and reaches a junction.

Those opting for a longer hiker will leave the PCT here bound for Horseshoe Lake. On the way to the lake you’ll spot 7,267-foot Crater Butte (climb it, if so motivated) rising some 500 feet above you to the southeast. The crater features a little lake inside.

A three-quarter mile descent brings you to another junction. Bear left and continue an easy mile to Horseshoe Lake.

After enjoying the lake’s many charms, double-back a mile to the trail junction and fork left, following the creekside trail a short half-mile back to the PCT. Head south again, descending Grassy Swale alongside Grassy Swale Creek. Clouds of mosquitoes have been known to swarm along this stretch of trail, distracting hikers from the lovely meadow and wildflowers.

After a mile, PCT crosses the creek, passing through the southern part of the swale, wet meadows and a forest of red fir. The trail reaches a confluence of creeks--Grassy Swale and Summit. After the merger, the two creeks continue their partnership under a new name--Kings Creek, which flows southeast. Cross Kings Creek (often a wet proposition, though you might find a log bridging its east and west banks. At some inviting west bank campsites, you bid adieu to Corral Camp and the PCT then join the signed trail heading to Summit Lake.

Ascend fairly steeply at first, then more moderately. After two creek crossings, you’ll reach a junction, three-quarters of a mile from Corral Camp. Bear right.

Two more miles of modest ascent takes you from forest to meadow to the Summit Lake Campground road. Head north to the lake, then follow either the east or west shore trails back to the north shore trailhead