Hiking the Boiling Springs Lake Trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park
Distance: 2.8 miles / 4.5 km
The Boiling Springs Lake Trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park is an incredibly unique day hike that leads to a large, turquoise-blue geothermal lake unlike any other in the park!
In fact, I would go as far as to say that Boiling Springs Lake is the most beautiful geothermal feature anywhere in Lassen Volcanic National Park—not to mention that there are beautiful views of Lassen Peak from the south side of the lake!
That said, the Boiling Springs Lake Trail and the Terminal Geyser Trail are, more often than not, treated as one adventure—which is how I recommend thinking of the two, because the Terminal Geyser Trail is truly just an extension of the hike to Boiling Springs Lake.
Boiling Springs Lake Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Boiling Springs Lake Trail is located at the Warner Valley Trailhead, just before Drakesbad Guest Ranch, which is the same trailhead used for every day hike that begins in Warner Valley.
Before arriving, know that entrance fees are still required to park and hike within Warner Valley, which is why it’s important to leave your entrance receipt or federal recreation pass visible in your vehicle before setting off—or, you risk receiving a citation upon return.
Google Maps Directions: Boiling Springs Lake Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Lassen Volcanic
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
That said, bear spray is purposefully excluded from this list because, while the park is home to Black Bears, bear spray is not allowed in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Hiking the Boiling Springs Lake Trail
The Boiling Springs Lake Trail begins on a short connector that leads to the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), located a short distance up the road.
To skip ahead to the Boiling Springs Lake-Devil’s Kitchen Junction, click here.
Boiling Springs Lake-Warner Valley Campground Junction
After just 0.1 miles (0.2 km), the Boiling Springs Lake Trail reaches the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).
Here, the PCT continues in both directions, with the path to the right leading to the Warner Valley Campground and the path to the left leading to all the day hikes further up Warner Valley.
That said, go left at this junction to continue hiking to Boiling Springs Lake.
If you look closely, you can see some Mule Deer in the photo below!
Once the Boiling Springs Lake Trail meets the PCT, the two share the same path for roughly 0.8 miles (1.3 km) until they go their separate ways just before Boiling Springs Lake.
The one thing that becomes pretty apparent when visiting Warner Valley today is just how severe the impacts of the 2021 Dixie Fire were in this area, as Warner Valley was one of the hardest-hit areas in all of Lassen Volcanic National Park!
To learn more, keep reading, as I have more thoughts on this below.
This is the first and only time the Boiling Springs Lake Trail crosses Hot Springs Creek.
After crossing Hot Springs Creek, the Boiling Springs Lake Trail crosses a number of very small, unnamed creeks that tend to make this section fairly muddy—especially when the ground is already much more saturated in the early summer season from seasonal snowmelt!
What are Locals Saying About the 2021 Dixie Fire?
This is where the Drakesbad Guest Ranch can clearly be seen from the Boiling Springs Lake Trail for the first time.
That said, I learned a lot when I last visited the Guest Ranch in Warner Valley, Chester, and Lake Almanor about the fire and how the locals are responding in its wake.
To keep it short, it seems pretty safe to say that many of the residents who live south of Lassen Peak were pretty upset with the federal government’s handling of the fire, given how severe the devastation was!
Some would have liked to see a better effort to maintain the forests and reduce fuel buildup; others are upset that the firefighting efforts couldn’t have done more to save more. But of all there is to complain about, the source of the fire was man-made, which is what’s truly the most upsetting to everyone who call this area home!
Boiling Springs Lake-Devil’s Kitchen Junction
The next time the Boiling Springs Lake Trail splits is where it, along with the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), meets the Devil’s Kitchen Trail—the most popular day hike out of Warner Valley.
Once here, go left at this split to continue hiking toward Boiling Springs Lake and the Terminal Geyser beyond.
Read My Separate Post: Devil’s Kitchen Trail
Boiling Springs Lake-Drake Lake Junction
Just 0.1 miles (0.2 km) after leaving the Devil’s Kitchen Trail behind, the Boiling Springs Lake Trail passes the junction for Drake Lake.
Here, go left to stay on the much more obvious Boiling Springs Lake Trail.
Following the Drake Lake junction, the Boiling Springs Lake Trail continues south with the PCT for the next 0.25 miles (0.4 km), until the two go their separate ways.
Boiling Springs Lake-Pacific Crest (PCT) Junction
This is where the Boiling Springs Lake Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail split from one another.
That said, go right at the junction to continue hiking toward Boiling Springs Lake.
After the PCT junction, there is only 0.25 miles (0.4 km) left to hike before the trail reaches the start of the loop around Boiling Springs Lake.
One reason to consider wearing pants on both the Boiling Springs Lake and Terminal Geyser Trail is because of Buckbrush, which has fairly large thorns!
In my experience, the Buckbrush wasn’t as bad on the Boiling Springs Lake Trail compared to the Terminal Geyser Trail, largely due to the fact that Boiling Springs Lake is a much more popular day hike.
Boiling Springs Lake Loop Trail
With just 0.1 miles (0.2 km) left before Boiling Springs Lake, the trail splits into a loop around either side.
Personally, I don’t think it makes too much of a difference which direction you decide to go, but know that the best views are on the southeast side of the lake—at least in my opinion.
I chose to go right in the counterclockwise direction around Boiling Springs Lake.
Boiling Springs Lake
This is the start of Boiling Springs Lake, a strikingly beautiful turquoise-blue lake heated by geothermal activity and fed by acidic hot springs and groundwater.
According to the National Park Service, Boiling Springs Lake averages around 125°F (51.6°C) year-round, with mudpots and steam vents along parts of the shoreline.
In total, the loop around Boiling Springs Lake is only 0.6 miles (1.0 km).
This is where I think the views start to get better as the trail climbs higher!
Boiling Springs Lake Loop-Terminal Geyser Junction
At the far southern end of the loop, the Terminal Geyser Trail splits from the Boiling Springs Lake Trail.
That said, I personally recommend combining both trails into one longer adventure, which can be seen in detail using the link below. However, I also suggest continuing farther around the Boiling Springs Lake Loop, as the best views of the lake with Lassen Peak in the distance are just a short way ahead.
All that to say, go left here to continue around the Boiling Springs Lake Loop Trail.
Read My Separate Post: Terminal Geyser Trail (Coming Soon)
This is where the best views of Boiling Springs Lake and Lassen Peak can be seen for the first time!
After the best viewpoints, the Boiling Springs Lake Trail simply works its way back toward the beginning, with the trail passing the PCT junction first, followed by the start of the loop.
Boiling Springs Lake Loop-Pacific Crest (PCT) Junction
This is where the Boiling Springs Lake Trail once again meets the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).
Once here, go left, and the beginning of the loop will end just 0.1 miles (0.2 km) ahead.
Boiling Springs Lake Loop Junction
This is where the loop around Boiling Springs Lake returns to the beginning.
If you decide to complete the full loop but also want to hike back to the Terminal Geyser, go left to continue toward the back of the loop, about 0.3 miles (0.5 km) away; or go right to return to the Warner Valley Trailhead, roughly 1.1 miles (1.8 km) away.
With regard to whatever you decide, don’t forget to wear a hooded sun shirt when hiking in Warner Valley, as one is more important now than ever following the devastating fire!
