Hiking the Brokeoff Mountain Trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park
Distance: 7.4 miles / 11.9 km
Elevation Gain: 2,580 ft. (786 m)
The Brokeoff Mountain Trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park is a beautiful day hike and one of my favorite adventures off Lassen Peak Highway, because the summit of Brokeoff Mountain is the best place in the entire park to see all of Lassen Peak from a distance!
This is what I personally think sets Brokeoff Mountain apart from other day hikes in Lassen Volcanic, and its location on the west side of Lassen Peak makes the summit the best place to watch the golden light on Lassen Peak at sunset—so long as you feel comfortable with the hike back down as it’s getting dark.
All this to say, Brokeoff Mountain is a fun and stunning day hike from the trailhead to the top, as beautiful views and wildflowers can be found throughout the trail—not to mention that far fewer visitors choose to hike Brokeoff Mountain compared to the much more well-known Lassen Peak Trail.
Brokeoff Mountain Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Brokeoff Mountain Trail is located directly off Lassen Peak Highway, just before the entrance station when driving into Lassen Volcanic National Park from the south.
That said, entrance fees are still required to park and hike Brokeoff Mountain, 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: Brokeoff Mountain 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 Brokeoff Mountain Trail
The Brokeoff Mountain Trail begins directly across Lassen Peak Highway from the parking area.
Immediately after crossing the highway to begin the hike, the Brokeoff Mountain Trail begins climbing—which it will do almost constantly from the trailhead to the summit—gaining roughly 2,580 ft. (786 m) in all.
When the snow melts away, stream crossings like this one in the beginning are great places to see wildflowers in Lassen Volcanic—much like the Castle Crest Wildflower Trail in Crater Lake National Park.
After coming around the first bend, the Brokeoff Mountain Trail levels out compared to the beginning, with the steepest sections located in the final 1.0 mile (1.6 km) leading up to the summit.
Since hiking the Brokeoff Mountain Trail is so exposed—even with the trees below tree line—I highly recommend wearing a hooded sun shirt for the longer adventure.
One will certainly be useful here and for adventures across Lassen Volcanic, especially in the burn zones!
This is where the Brokeoff Mountain Trail again recrosses the same set of streams from the beginning, which I mention because it is another great spot to look out for different wildflowers in Lassen Volcanic.
It’s worth noting that the plant species shown here is highly toxic to both humans and animals and should be avoided wherever it’s found—typically in wet, marshy areas like this and along other day hikes across Lassen Volcanic National Park.
For those interested, these middle elevations are a great place to look for Black Bears on the Brokeoff Mountain Trail, though Lassen Volcanic National Park does not have nearly the same density of bears as Sequoia and Kings Canyon or Yosemite National Park in the Sierras.
This is where the summit of Brokeoff Mountain becomes visible for the first time through the trees!
This stream crossing can be as low or lower than it is here, or much higher depending on the time of year, with June and early July seeing the most snowmelt across Lassen Volcanic.
Either way, some hikers may prefer to carry trekking poles, which can also be useful on the steepest sections closer to the peak ahead.
After the stream crossing, before Forest Lake, the Brokeoff Mountain Trail becomes noticeably steeper than at the beginning, as it climbs toward the west side of the mountain and the final ascent.
These steeper sections on the south side of Brokeoff Mountain are where the views start to get better and better as the trail climbs above the surrounding Lodgepole–Hemlock forest that dominates much of Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Look out for Lupine blooming along the rocky slopes of Brokeoff Mountain!
This turn on the hike up Brokeoff Mountain is where the trail begins to make its way up toward the west side of the peak.
Once again, I could not recommend a hooded sun shirt more—especially for the upper elevations of Brokeoff Mountain, as the trees begin to thin.
Brokeoff Mountain Trail
Brokeoff Mountain Trail
From this point, there is roughly 1.0 mile (1.6 km) left before the Brokeoff Mountain Trail reaches the summit!
The beginning of this long, straight section is a nice sign that the Brokeoff Mountain Trail is starting its final ascent to the summit, with only one more switchback before reaching the top!
Early in the summer season, these steeper, exposed sections may require micro-spikes and trekking poles to ascend Brokeoff Mountain safely, which would almost certainly be necessary for most ascents in June and possibly early July, depending on how much snow Lassen received over the prior winter.
The plant shown here is one of three varieties of this beautiful species, one of which, in the southwestern U.S., is listed as threatened.
That said, this variety in Lassen Volcanic National Park is much more common to come across.
This is the final switchback on the Brokeoff Mountain Trail before the summit!
The peak in the distance is the summit of Brokeoff Mountain!
Just below the summit, Lassen Peak can be seen to the east for the first time!
Brokeoff Mountain
According to the National Park Service, the summit of Brokeoff Mountain stands at 9,235 ft. (2,815 m), about 1,222 ft. (372 m) below the summit of Lassen Peak.
That said, this unique vantage point—looking directly to the east at Lassen Peak—is what makes Brokeoff Mountain one of the best sunset hikes in Lassen Volcanic National Park—that is, if you’re prepared for the roughly 3.7-mile (6.0 km) hike back down in the dark.
Now, personally, I wouldn’t say the distance is all that bad, given that the vast majority of the hike back is downhill. I think the hike back could be completed in an hour and 20 - 30 minutes—or faster for the quickest hikers—but obviously, I can’t speak to everyone’s ability.
All this aside, Brokeoff Mountain is a beautiful adventure at any time of day, but if you want the best reward for your effort, start a little later, come prepared with a good headlamp, and I can almost guarantee you’ll be thankful you did—so long as the weather is clear!
