BEST
I had initially wanted to go for a hike in Lassen Volcanic National Park but when I arrived at the park in the early morning hours I found that my trail was closed. Even though their website indicated that it would be open. Good thing I had a plan B.
Plan B however was back outside the park. So after using the park facilities (TMI) I drove back out. On the way to the trailhead I saw my first bear of the season. And it was a big one. It scampered up into the woods when it saw me coming. My daughter said what’s so exciting about that??!!?? Well, she has a good point. It would have been much more exciting to see one while I was hiking. Ah well I was still very happy. They are my favorite land animal and I don’t get to see them very often.
I continued on to the trailhead. Or I tried to. Until I came to a gate with a big huge no trespassing sign blocking my way. What the heck? This was the last thing I expected to see here. This is supposed to be public national forest land I had thought. But I was not to be outdone. I did some quick thinking. There must be a way around this. How about the other side of the creek? That seemed like a good plan. I crossed the creek and followed it, winding its way this way and that way through Brokeoff Meadow. I found an old logging road and followed it for awhile. When it ended I continued through the woods. Considering that it is a short easy hike to this waterfall I was actually surprised not to find any trail here. I am also surprised that no one knows about these waterfalls. Two awesome waterfalls quite easy to reach and no one has ever heard of them before? Well now you know about them. Courtesy of waterfallswest.com.
I was in a hurry. After my initial foray into the park and then the private property detour I was running late. I thought that these waterfalls would get very early sun, especially the upper one. I reached the lower falls, which was still quite well in the shade. It is a big long cascade 122 ft high and quite impressive. I took some quick shots and climbed to the top of the falls. I had to cross the creek and managed to drop my hiking boot in the creek when I took it off. Oh how nice. At least it didn’t float downstream over the falls.
Once across the creek it is an easy trek up to the waterfall. And it is a beauty, an awesome waterfall dropping through a narrow crack in the rock, fanning out wide in a huge 67 ft drop, then cascading for another 21 ft. It is perhaps the best new waterfall I have seen this year. Although it is spectacular it is very difficult to photograph because the top part is hidden behind the rocks. However, you can get right up to the base of the upper section, and this is where I took this photograph here. It was a bit misty.
I still had a lot of time before I had to meet my family for lunch so I continued to the top of the falls and upstream. I knew there was nothing else up there but it was fun to explore. I believe I crossed into Lassen Natl Park. The waterfall is right at the outside edge of the park but not quite in the park, so once you get to the top you will be in the park. It sure was a great hike out in the Lassen wilderness.