We stopped at Old Station on our long drive today for 2 short hikes in Lassen National Forest. The first was the Spatter Cone Nature Trail, a 2 mile hike with a large loop. There were many small lava tubes along the trail.
We enjoyed the pine forest on the 0.2 mile segment to and from the loop.
The trail crosses the Pacific Crest Trail before splitting into the loop.
There were many interesting features, including columnar jointing of the lava as it cooled thousands of years ago.
a lava dome
an old lava tube
Logan Mountain, Wilcox Peak and Sugarloaf Peak to the west, with a bare cinder cone in front of Wilcox Peak.
A large spatter cone, Lassen Peak in the far distance
a volcanic vent
Another view of Lassen Peak
A deep spatter cone with Lassen Peak in the far distance
zoom of Lassen Peak
More views along the trail:
This pine tree is scarred by lightening
More spatter tubes
Cool lava formation
lizard
some of the wildflowers seen along the trail this morning:
Our second hike in Lassen National Forest near Old Station CA was the 1 mile loop hike which includes Subway Cave, a 0.7 mile long lava tube.
Entrance to Subway Cave
a side opening near the entrance
Entering the lava tube, soon after this, headlamps were needed.
Views inside the lava tube
texture on the ceiling of the lava tube
more views inside the lava tube
remnants of a collapse near the end of the lava tube
end of the lava tube
some of the old collapse
near the exit, looking back into the lava tube
exit from the lava tube
The remainder of the loop trail was through the pine forest back to the parking area.
