Crater Lake National Park, the Rogue River , and the Umpqua River

There are some beautiful roads in North Central California and into Oregon.  We follow Interstate 5 north from Mt. Shasta into Oregon and the Valley of the Rogue State Park.  A very scenic park right on the Rogue River with a number of loops for all sized RVs.  Also right in the park is a connection to the Rogue River Greenway bike trail.  Eventually a 30 mile plus trail, we enjoyed a nice ride from the park to the City of Rogue River.

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All along are great views of the Rogue and this view of the bridge.  Rogue River is a very small city.

At the bridge is a small park and at least two families of geese.  Fun to watch, but don't get too close!!

Also, right here, was a great little Mexican restaurant. Jan and I took a break for some tacos, tamale, and an ice cold Mexican Pacifica beer in a frozen mug.

From the state park, we head back on Route 5 for a short distance to Route 234 and then Route 62 north to the west entrance of Crater Lake National Park. The road is good and we are able to stop at the Steel Visitors Center and then up to the Rim Village.  On the road you realize that you really cannot see the lake until you are on top of the old crater.

When you look over the edge, your jaw drops.  An amazing view!!  7,700 years ago this volcano erupted with such heat and force that the edges of the mountain fell into the center.  Wizard Island you see in the lake was from later eruptions.  This is the deepest lake in North America at 1,943 feet.  There are no rivers in or out of the lake.  All the water has formed from rain and snow melt.  it is the clearest and cleanest body of water on earth.  There are no streams to pollute the lake.  The blue you see here is the color we saw on this day.  There was still snow on the roads here in May with the elevation of 7,132 feet.

The road around the rim was still closed, but we could walk for a little more than a mile to Discovery Point. Some college age men were hiking with full backpacks and tents.  We believe they were doing a weekend hike around the rim.  That would be 35 miles. The lake itself is about 6 miles in diameter.

Just in case you thought we were using stock photos, Jan and I thought we should show you that we were really there!







At the foot of the mountain, back on Route 62 is Farewell Bend Campground.  We were pleasantly surprised to find a National Forest campground open.  Actually, the hosts indicated they had just arrived and it had just opened.

There are a number of campgrounds all along the Rogue River.  This one is beautiful!  Dry camping with no threaded water faucets and no dump station, many of the sites are right on the river, such as ours.
They are well separated and large.

This was the view from our site with the fast moving river and the tall Douglas firs.  The host indicated that the river is well stocked with trout.  He also told a story about a newspaper article recently. A local fisherman was fishing for trout on a 10 pound line and caught instead a 35 pound salmon.  Took quite a while to bring it in.

Some interesting flowers in the campground.












The blossoms remind us of bleeding heart or orchid.

Scattered among the tall pine trees are a number of Dogwood trees.  The flowers jump out in contrast to the dark shade of the trees.

A nice hike from the campground brings us to the Rogue Gorge.  All of the water is forced through a narrow slice of volcanic rock.

Along the way are a number of rocks that remind us of the Potholes in Shelburne Falls, Massachussetts, near the Bridge of Flowers.

No ,Eustis. That is not a deer or an elk.
Leaving Farewell Bend, we follow Route 62 to Route 230 north around the west end of Crater Lake and north to Route 138.

All scenic. In thick forest.  Being national forest, there are no private homes.  Also, no gas stations, so plan ahead!!  Like in Texas, this is free range for cattle.  And these were two that we had to slow down for as they crossed the road.

North and west on Route 138. we are treated to spectacular view of Mt. Thielsen. Mt. Shasta, Lassen, Mt Mazama(Crater Lake), Mt. Thielsen, and also Mt. Bailey remind you how active this area was many years ago with volcanos.  Mt. Thielsen is also known as a super lightning rod of the Cascade Mountain Range. Hikers can find lightning strike scars.

Looking one way at Diamond Lake, you see Mt. Bailey. Turn around and you can see Mt. Thielsen.  Hard to believe, but no homes or camps because this lake is in national forest land.  There are campgrounds around the lake , but very few people at the beginning of May.

Following Route 138, Jan and I are happy to discover some national forest campgrounds that are open.  We are now following the Umpqua River. The Umpqua, like the Rogue, flows from the Crater Lake hillsides to the Pacific Ocean.

We stopped at Toketee Lake Campground.

This lake was formed by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company.  To our right is a hydroelectric power plant. One of eight that are located along the Umpqua.

It seems that these western states have taken good advantage of river power to create electric energy.

A five to six mile hike takes us to the Toketee Falls.

There are a number of falls along the Umpqua River and this is one of the nicest.
The trail follows above the river which cuts through the volcanic rock.  The trail is well maintained with stairs and this great platform for viewing.

The falls drop twice once for 40 feet and then for 80 feet.  The pool below is quite deep and clear.

Nice try Bruce.
A little Dutch boy, plugging the hole in the dike, you are not!

The power company has many ways of moving water from lakes and rivers to the power generators.
This 12 foot diameter water pipe was constructed in 1949 from redwood staves.  Still works great with a few leaks here and there.

Heck, I'm a bit older than that and I have a few leaks here and there too!

Our site at Toketee Camground is also dry camping.  In this case, there is no water at all at the campground as well as no dump station.

A very nice, if quiet, campground.  This was $5 per night for us old folks.

McArthur-Burney Falls State Park and Mount Shasta

We leave the north entrance for Lassen National Park and head north on Route 89.

Another all beautiful woods drive.

A number of campers had told us about McArthur-Burney Falls State Park.  Are we glad we listened!

A large park with miles of trails and wonderful camping.

Snow from the mountains melts and travels down into underground springs.  About one mile above the falls the springs come above ground to create the force for these 129 foot high falls.  Not all the springs come above ground above the falls. You see many spots here where the water forces its way through the volcanic rock. 100 million gallons of water flows over these falls each day and there is a 20 foot deep pool at the foot. Water temperature stays a great 48 degrees making for a very cool change of air nearby.

This is a very popular fishing spot.  There are many spots along the creek with good access for fishing as well as on Lake Britton.

Where Burney Creek comes out and meets Pit River there is this great little camp called Camp Britton.

It is for Pacific Gas and Electric employees and retirees.  We met some on the trails. They were staying here a week and had rented 6 cabins for 7 days for about a total of $150.(Yep, that's the total for everything and everybody)  Of course, we know that many of you have the same perks where you work. Right?

Jan is looking at this ancient wall along the creek trail.
About 5 million years ago this wall was under water. Hard-shelled algae called diatoms lived here. When they died they sank and formed this layer of white rock.

We are always telling you about Civilian Conservation Corps constructions from the 1930's all across the U.S., especially in state parks.

This is a Diablo Stove.  Many were built here and many still remain.  A very efficient camp stove with easy access for removing old coals, good ventilation, and a good, large grate for cooking with an additional solid grate for frying or other.

On of the great hikes meets up with the Pacific Crest Trail.

Note the distances to Mexico and Canada.

Bruce was insisting we wait for Reese Witherspoon(the movie Wild).  But, Jan was sure she was not going to be here.

The views from above the falls are also quite enjoyable.

Often, you come across some fellow tourists who would like their picture taken together at some great viewing spot.  Then, you reverse and ask them if they might also take your picture.

Actually, you can have some great conversations this way.



We could have stayed longer at the state park. However, there was absolutely no cell phone coverage, wifi, or even a signal for our weather radio

But, off we go on Route 89 again.  Over to Route 5 and then south for about 12 miles to Castle Crags State Park.  A little questionable at first because it is so close to the interstate.  But indeed a very enjoyable park.

Our first hike takes us under the interstate and under the train tracks and then over this suspension walkway over the Sacramento River.

It then continues for a few miles along the river.

You understand that this park was here before the interstate.

Along the nature trail is another example of CCC construction from the 1930's.

Unfortunately, the building of the interstate destroyed a number of CCC buildings.

Almost everything here is on a hill.  Jan and I hike up a very steep road to a vista.  One view is of Castle Crags.   Can you find that great face on one of the walls?  These granite walls rise to more that 6500 feet.

At the same vista, Jan has a great view of Mount Shasta.

What a great example of how a 14,162 foot mountain can force moisture filled air up one side and create clouds.

There are many roads that will give you a mountain view.

Got to say, this sudden vision as we head back north to the city of Mt. Shasta is spectacular.

A quick stop at the visitor's information and we learn that we can drive Lady Blue up the mountain road. Not only that, but we can park overnight at Bunny Flat where the road is currently blocked for the winter.
Jan is enjoying the view from our new camping spot for one night at 6950 feet.

We were not alone. But all of the other 30 or so vehicles were here to hike or to ski.  We saw so many who put on large backpacks with skis attached and started out to the peak wearing ski boots!

One said he got up very early and hiked all the way to the peak.  He said the skiing was fantastic.

This is the view from Lady Blue's rear side window at sunset.  The sun still shines beautifully on the peaks.

It is very difficult to leave such a great area.

So, after some shopping in town, we go a little west of town to Lake Siskiyou Camp Resort.  Some 300 plus campsites, but only a handful were being used this early in the season.

This is heading down to the boat launch.  Two men are cleaning a cooler full of fish and, of course,there is a beautiful view of Mount Shasta.

From the marina.  There is a 7 plus mile hike around the lake that appears to be very well used.  The workers here indicated that this campground will be totally full on July 4th.  You can probably understand why.

Lassen Volcanic National Park

Jan and I knew we had to disappear from Gansner Bar Campground in the Plumas National Forest on the Feather River Scenic Byway.

Why?

Because trout season was opening!!
We head back east on Route 70 and then north on Route 89 towards Lake Almanor. A quick stop at the lake and we have our first view of Mt. Lassen.

There are still some great peeks at the mountain along the highway.

Can you believe that this is an area of low population?

Very few places to access Lake Almanor too.

Lassen required a little planning on our part.
Route 36/89 west to the Southwestern Entrance.
Route 89 through Lassen, however, was not open all the way( waiting for snow clearance).

But the new visitor's center was open and we could camp in the parking lot!

All of the four kinds of volcanos are represented in this park.

The mountain peaks that we can see are remains of  the edges of one of the largest.

Lassen is the least visited of the national parks.
Maybe because it is in an out of the way location.

The road is open for one mile past the visitor's center, so Lady Blue says "Let's go!!!"


Jan and I thought our New England friends would appreciate that we are finally seeing some snow in late April.

From the end of the open section of the road, we hike up another mile or so.

Actually, as you can imagine, I was not terribly sad to miss driving Lady Blue on this road.  Love the steep drop offs.

Part of our walk goes past the site of an old sulpher works.  The hydrothermal areas are still steaming with bubbling mud pots, boiling water, and a distinct sulpher smell.

Like other parts of California, Lassen is only seeing about 25 per cent of the usual 12 feet of snow. If they had the usual amount, we would not be walking here.







Lady blue would be happy to know she missed another one of these.

They love hairpin turns around here.

Around a few more corners and up several hundred feet and there is Lassen Peak.

The next morning we saw a young man gear up from his van with a large backpack and skis tied on the back.  He was going to hike about five miles and then ski??????















From the Southwestern entrance, we backtrack and continue on Route 36  to Susanville for an overnight.
The next day, we head north on Route 44 to the Northern Entrance of Lassen. On the way, a vista gives us this view of Lassen.  Also visible is a large area of forest fire damage from about 2009.  There was also fire damage from a fire in 2014.

Lady Blue is happy that the fires are not visible here in Lassen.  The North Entrance is even less visited than the Southwest Entrance.
The roads are beautiful to drive and there are many more views of Lassen Peak.

Jan and I enjoy the informative signs that give pictures from the 1914 eruptions of Mt. Lassen.
Also easy to see the boulders that were sent down here about 3 miles from the peak of the volcano.

It seems everywhere we turn, we see examples of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's.

Some of the work in stone and wood is impressive to see 80 years later.








Not sure that a national park would add some of these artistic flairs today.

Jan first saw the Momma bear as we were leaving Lassen.  By the time I had my camera ready, Momma had disappeared over the hill.  But---right in front of us was Baby bear.  We didn't believe this was a black bear, but the rangers told us this is a cinnamon colored black bear.  We were happy that we were not between the Momma and the Baby!!!  By the way, Lassen is still considered a potentially active volcano.