We last saw our intrepid and rather breathless heroine taking a breather at the top of the trail, more or less. This jagged pile of gunpowder gray ex-lava provides a handy place to do just that before continuing to the second half of the trail. This sand is actually fine pumice and ash from an [...]

Just past Lassen National Park is a vista point with wonderful views of the volcano, a nature trail and plaques. Beyond there are campgrounds with varying degrees of development.

It went up a gravel embankment that could either have been a levee or an old railroad track. I’m really not sure, but I suspect the former. The orchard belongs to the nearby monastery.

Just up from the picnic area was a gate, but a trail clearly led off through it. I went exploring some more.

Then, after a little while, it popped back out at the river.

There were several “unofficial” trails in the area, so I took one of them. They were narrow and overgrown, with pretty shadows and lighting.

I took the other branch of the path this time, and ended up beside the river. Many trees had fallen over in recent storms, and were cluttering it. In fact, one of the trails was closed off entirely because of this.

We stayed at Woodson Bridge SRA back in April, and I found my way back to the nature trail to do the second half. It stretched alluringly through the deliciously green trees.