Overview
The Mill Creek Trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park provides a diverse and rewarding hiking experience through captivating natural landscapes for those seeking a less congested path. Depending on the specific segment chosen, hikers can traverse open meadows carpeted with wildflowers in the summer months, meander through serene coniferous forests with towering pines and firs.
The trail’s terrain is far from monotonous. It presents a dynamic journey that shifts between relatively level stretches ideal for strolls and moderately inclined sections that offer a gentle cardiovascular challenge and often lead to enhanced vantage points.
Opportunities to observe wildlife and wildflowers abound on the trail. Bears have been spotted, and a mountain lion has been sighted in the past. Bear and mountain lion awareness.
The Mill Creek Falls waterfall is the highest in Lassen Park, with a 75-foot drop; it is well worth seeing. Kings Creek Falls is also a great waterfall hike, about halfway through the main park road.
This trail opens first for hiking in the spring and is also used by snowshoers in the winter.
Early summer, the mule ears are in full bloom with bright yellow blossoms, and the blue and white stickseed is another common wildflower found along the trail.
You can continue past Mill Creek Falls to Crumbaaugh Lake, Cold Boiling Lake, and the Kings Creek picnic area. You can also hike from Cold Boiling Lake to Bumpass Hell. If traveling with two vehicles, it is recommended that you leave one vehicle at the visitor center, Bumpas Hell parking area, or Kings Creek picnic area and start from another trailhead to make it a one-way hike.
