| Since 2001 | June 24, 2006 | ***** |
One of the best things to do around the lake is to sit around and kick back and enjoy the surroundings. Why, you may ask? Well, its not like there's a heck of a lot of things going on that part of the state -- part of its charm but also a drag if you are go-go-go.
Fortunately for us, if you're up for the wedding you'll only be there a day or three so if you're the type who likes to go-go-go, there's a couple of good destinations and activities to bide your time.
See The Volcano
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| Bumpass Hell |
Along The Way -- The Sulfur Works: If you've got a "real" destination in mind I'd suggest you get to it but along the way you'll come across the sulfur works. If you're headed to Bumpass, drive through the steam and keep going -- you'll see better later. Otherwise avail yourself of the fine parking situation and take a quick jaunt up the boardwalk to see the (minor) thermal action.
Bumpass Hell: By far my favorite destination in the park is Bumpass Hell. Its a fairly easy 1.5 mile trail out to the thermal activity which is not entirely world class, but if you haven't seen such things before its pretty neat: mud pots, fumaroles, steaming streams and boiling lakes. Its a pretty hike and one with a fairly hairy history -- its named for Kendall Vanhook Bumpass, a mountain man who fell through the thin crust here in 1864 and so scalded his leg that it required amputation. (note: this may be apocryphal)
Lassen Peak: While at 10,457 feet not among the highest in the state, Mt. Lassen is far and away the tallest point in these parts and also one the easiest peaks to reach. This doesn't mean its built for flip-flops either, but the reasonably fit can make this 10-mile round trip (+/-2000' elevation) without much difficulty. The views from the top are excellent -- on a clear day you can see way out to Shasta. Bring a lunch and picnic on the top.
Getting there: MapQuest. From Chester, drive back west along HWY 36 about twenty miles or so until you reach the park entrance, clearly labeled on the right. From there its another 10 miles to the park gate where they'll gladly exchange $10 of your dirty American dollars for a crisp good-7-day receipt.
Links
Ride a pony: Plumas Pines Riding Stables offers hour and two-hour (Tu/Th/Sa 5pm only) rides through the brush and pines around the lake. Its been a million years since I've been up there so I can't say much about it other than its awfully pretty country to ride through on horseback and I was always certain that the horse would fall over going down the steep part at the end. 530.259.5170. $25/hr, $45/2 hr. Reservations suggested for 1hr, required for 2. Getting there: Drive west from Chester on HWY 36 until you reach HWY 89 south, just out of town. Drive south approx. 4 miles until you come across Almanor Drive West on your left. The stables are at 3000 Almanor Drive West.
Do some fishin': Alamnor has been a fishing destination since before it was a lake and while the fishing in past years hasn't been excellent, just this past summer I saw an angler come excitedly in to Lassen View Resort to have his picture taken with the "limit rack". I think the best I've ever managed in a day is maybe two rainbows but some monster bass (German browns) are also known to lurk these waters. The best fishing is by boat (tinboat rentals available) but the Hamilton Branch is fairly easily accessible by foot and is a much sought-after location by both boaters and bankers alike. Fishing Report. Getting there: Get yourself a map and a boat at Little Norway (directions below) or else take HWY 36 east from Chester until you reach Plumas A13, a right-hand turn - signed "East Shore" and/or "Peninsula". As you near the junction with CA 147 there will be a fisherman's area off to your right with restrooms and relatively easy riverbank and lake access.
Hike the flume and watch for trains: The lake exists because of the loging-induced electricity boom. You can hike the trail leading to the top of the flume that serves the Hamilton Branch powerhouse in a relatively easly mile-ish hike up a graded road with great views of the lake from above. See the above instructions on how to get to Hamilton Branch and park in the same lot. There are foot paths leading from the parking lot on the left-hand side towards the flume road, though you may want to follow CA 147 on foot to the small dirt road leading off to your left. The road is ominously signed as a private PG&E road and private property, though I've never had any problems on it. The train tracks are about a half-mile up. You can drive this road pretty easily too, though don't tell anybody I told you.
Tear Up The Lake: It was a long-standing family tradition to rent one of the boats at our now-gone campground and tool about the lake a bit. In recent years my brother and I have taken to loading up a big powerboat and zipping about it at great speed and I'll tell you as a guy whose ridden on both this and Lake Como in a six month period -- Almanor is better. Okay, just only "maybe", but still. Let your inner redneck out at Little Norway on the Peninsula where you can rent anything from a tin fishing boat to a ski boat to a plush 24-foot pontoon boat. 530.596.3225 Website Getting there: Take HWY 36 East out of Chester about eight miles until you see the sign pointing right labeled "Peninsula". They make it easy for you out here, don't they? Follow the road around and Little Norway will be about mile and a half or so on your right. Be sure to bring your camera as Rob is a fair Kenny Rodgers impersonator. **FLASH**: In reading the "News" section of the Big Meadows website it appears that they are ALSO selling (damn, is there going to be anyone on the lake next year?) I don't know if there will be somebody taking over the marina duties or if its all gone bye-bye, but we'll keep you updated here.
They should call them "U-seeums": I can say I know of no one who has actually gone to these "museums" as they are called. As far as I know they may amount to the cultural equivalent of a 6th grade science project, but for the sake of completion, I'll list them here in case you're puttering around Chester. The Chester-Lake Almanor Museum (200 First Ave -- 530.258.2742 -- Monday-Saturday ) is said to house a photographic history of the Lake Almanor Basin as well as Maidu Indian baskets and artifacts. Some of the latter might have even been legitimately gained.
Collins Pine Museum is located 1t 500 Main Street in Chester and is part of the PR wing of (surprise) Collins Pine Co, located adjacent the museum. It apparently features a whopping EIGHT pieces of equipment AND a pond boat. Can you stand the excitement? Perhaps you'd be better off poking through Ayoobs instead? One neat thing is displayed prominently on the lawn in front of Collins Pine along the main drag: Dinky, the miniature locomotive once sunk at the bottom of Butt Reservoir, having been used to construct the dam and found during dam repairs.
Still not satisfied: Events, golf details and other tidbits can be found at The Chester-Lake Almanor Chamber of Commerce website.