Mill Creek Falls in Lassen Volcanic National Park
After spending some time exploring near Mammoth Lakes, June Lake and Bridgeport we continued northwest to Lassen National Forest. We’ve been looking forward to the opportunity to explore one of America’s least visited national parks, Lassen Volcanic National Park. We didn’t do much research or make many plans because we wanted to go in unknowing – discovering and learning as we go. No expectations, only surprises. We found a nice, convenient dispersed camp spot not far from the southwest entrance to the park. So on our first day going into Lassen Volcanic National Park we stopped at the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center. That’s when we found that there was a trailhead that left from the parking lot to Mill Creek Falls. So from there, we headed off on our first hike in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Hike Information
Directions: From SR-36, turn north onto Lassen National Park Highway (SR-89) for 6 miles. Park at the visitor center parking lot. The trail begins behind the Kohm Yah-mah-nee amphitheater.
Distance: 3.2 miles roundtrip
Difficulty: moderate, some steep areas
Trailhead Amenities: Vault toilets or in the Visitor Center there are flush toilets and a water fountain.
Our Experience Hiking to Mill Creek Falls
The trail to Mill Creek Falls begins behind the amphitheater by the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center. At first the trail descends a bit to a nice wooden boardwalk bridge. This is where we first noticed the milky tint to the water in the creek.
From here, the trail passes a beautiful open section through drying fall like plants. The trail is predominantly an easy to follow single track dirt path.
Next the trail enters the red fir forest. It rises and falls, crossing the hillside and eventually reaching an overlook.
Down below, Mill Creek Falls is just gorgeous as it tumbles over the rocks and drops into a middle pool before pouring into the bottom pool. The color of the plant life on the rock wall seemed very telling of autumn just around the corner. The height and water flow were impressive! It was surprising to hike to a beautiful waterfall in a national park and have it all to yourself!
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From the overlook, the trail continues to the wooden bridge at the top of the waterfall. The bridge is built over Mill Creek just before it plummets. It was a cool view!
On our way back to the parking area we spotted this cool lizard near the trail.
Mill Creek Falls was a telltale sign of the solitude that can be found in Lassen Volcanic National Park! And it was just the beginning of what we hope to experience as we get to know the national park. So much to see and so much to be excited about. Our next adventure in the park is Bumpass Hell + Cold Boiling Lake and Crumbaugh Lake.
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