Starting Point: Guide Marker 27
Distances: 2.8 miles, one way
Topography: Downhill, 1,600 feet, descending rapidly in places
Time: 2½ hours, one way
Features: Flowers, forests, scenic views, stream
[Illustration: Trail map]
Starting where Trails No. 8 and 9 start, 0.2 mile from the road the left
trail fork is followed, and the trail passes through forests and other
natural features similar to No. 8 and 9. A number of good views of
Lassen Peak can be seen along the way. For wildflowers it is one of the
best in the park for variety, with lupine, scarlet gilia, red and blue
penstemon, monkshood, columbine, and many others.
After separating from the Terrace Lake trail it goes through open
forests, then descends rapidly before crossing the east fork of Hat
Creek. Just past this crossing the Paradise Meadows trail turns to the
right (south) while the Hat Creek trail turns to the left. The short
trip to Paradise Meadows is well worth the time, for here you can find
one of the outstanding wildflower displays of the park. The Hat Creek
trail descends through the forests to the Devastated Area and Hat Lake,
reaching the park road at guide marker 42. By arranging transportation
at Hat Lake, the hike is an easy one, taking about 2½ hours. The round
trip will require 6 or 7 hours.
11. COLD BOILING AND CRUMBAUGH LAKES, CONARD MEADOWS, MILL CREEK FALLS,
AND SULPHUR WORKS CAMPGROUND
Starting Point: Kings Creek Campground
Distances: Cold Boiling Lake, 0.8 mile; Crumbaugh Lake, 1.3;
Conard Meadows, 2.2; Mill Creek Falls, 3; Sulphur
Works Campground 5.3; all distances one way
Topography: Downhill 800 feet to campground
Time: Cold Boiling Lake, ¾ hour; Crumbaugh Lake 1½ hours;
Conard Meadows, 2 hours; Sulphur Works Campground, 4
hours. For round trips times should be at least
doubled
Features: Forests, flowers, waterfalls, lakes, scenic views,
streams
[Illustration: Trail map]
This little-traveled area is excellent for birds, wildflowers, and deer.
Cold Boiling Lake is so named because gas bubbles are continually rising
at some points near the shore. The meadow by Crumbaugh Lake has a
variety of wildflowers and Conard Meadows is ideal for wildlife. There
are no fish in either lake, as they will not live when introduced.
The trail is fairly level to Cold Boiling Lake, and then descends to
Crumbaugh Lake. It is level to Conard Meadows, and from there to Mill
Creek Falls descends by a steep grade (see Mill Creek Falls trail). A
one-way trip to the Sulphur Works campground, arranging for
transportation at the lower end, makes an ideal, easy, half-day hike.