Photos and text by Larry Bloemker
Hiking the Cinder Cone at Lassen Volcanic National Park is a journey that is part alpine and part alien. It’s an environment that can be as jarring and harsh as the forces that created it, but Cinder Cone offers hikers a singular opportunity to explore a place that is both barren and stunning.
Rising out of the land transformed by the repeated volcanic eruptions, the Cinder Cone reaches over seven hundred feet, with an elevation of 6,907 ft. The round trip on the trail is four miles, with a total of 846 ft of elevation change.
The trail is marked and numbered with points of interest that are explained by a leaflet available at the trailhead and the Visitor’s Center. The trail starts out in loose, sandy soil and slowly climbs through pines, until it branches off and winds up the side of the Cinder Cone.
Going up the cone is far more challenging than its elevation gain would suggest. You would do well to take a break in the shade offered by the last of the pines that are near the trail before starting you trek to the top of Cinder Cone. There’s no shade and no cover from the wind on your way up. There were gusts over 20 mph at the top on the day of our hike.
The Cone is made up of Scoria, a low-density rock full of air pockets. It supports very little vegetation, making the land around Cinder Cone an area that dramatically demonstrates the effects of repeated volcanic activity.
The Scoria is as kind to hikers as it is to plants. It gives way, and you sink in or slide back with almost every step you make, as the trail that climbs steadily to the top of the cone. With almost nothing to serve as a reference point, it can seem like you aren’t making any progress at all. A steady pace and adjusting for the surface will help you on your way up.
After pushing your way to the top, Cinder Cone rewards you with panoramic views of the alpine beauty of Lassen Peak, Prospect Peak and Snag Lake. As you turn, you see the other worldly effects created by the volcanic activity in the form of the Fantastic Lava Beds and Painted Dunes.
While the views from the top would be reward enough for the effort, Cinder Cone still has one more surreal surprise for those that make it to the top.
Below the rim of is another trail leads down about 200 feet into the middle of the cone for a completely different and unexpected chance to experience Cinder Cone from a new perspective.
Cinder Cone is a great day hike. It’s as rewarding as it is unique. Take your time, be sure and bring sun screen and a hat, and give yourself enough time at the top to take in stunning views and take advantage of fantastic photo opportunities.