Hiking the Reflection Lake Trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park
Distance: 0.7 miles / 1.1 km
The Reflection Lake Trail, also called the Reflection Lake Loop Trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park, is a beautiful day hike on the north side of the park that, like the Manzanita Lake Loop Trail across the road, has panoramic views of Lassen Peak in the distance!
This is what makes the short Reflection Lake Trail one of my favorite easy adventures in Lassen Volcanic, similar to the Summit Lake Loop Trail just a few miles up the road.
On a different note, many often wonder whether the Reflection Lake Loop Trail or the adjacent Lily Pond Loop Trail is worth the effort more, and in my opinion, Reflection Lake is the better choice because the stunning views of Lassen Peak simply cannot be beat!
Reflection Lake Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Reflection Lake Trail is located at the Loomis Ranger Station and Museum, about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) up the road from the Manzanita Lake Entrance Station.
This is the same parking lot that serves all the trails around Manzanita Lake.
Google Maps Directions: Reflection Lake Trailhead (Loomis Ranger Station)
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 Reflection Lake Trail
The Reflection Lake Trail is located across Lassen Peak Highway from the parking area outside the Loomis Ranger Station, which is also the same trailhead for the loop around Lily Pond.
That said, I don’t think it makes much of a difference which direction you choose to hike, but on this day, I chose to go right in the counterclockwise direction around the loop.
South Reflection Lake-Lily Pond Junction
Shortly after beginning the Reflection Lake Loop in the counterclockwise direction, the trail reaches the first of two junctions for the Lily Pond Trail.
To continue hiking around Reflection Lake, go straight to stay along the water.
Read My Separate Post: Lily Pond Trail
North Reflection Lake-Lily Pond Junction
Just before the Reflection Lake Trail reaches the 0.2-mile (0.3 km) mark, the Lily Pond Loop branches away for the second time.
Once again, go straight (left) to continue hiking the remaining 0.5 miles (0.8 km) around Reflection Lake.
Read My Separate Post: Lily Pond Trail
This is where the views of Lassen Peak start to open up to the south for the first time!
The northwest side of Reflection Lake is the best side of the loop to see Lassen Peak in the distance, which can make for a great spot to capture photos at sunset, similar to the west side of Manzanita Lake just across the road.
This is where the loop begins to wrap around the far western side of Reflection Lake.
The one unfortunate thing about the loop around Reflection Lake, compared to the loop around Manzanita Lake, is that the views of Lassen Peak here are much more limited.
In comparison, the views of Lassen Peak on the Manzanita Lake Trail continue for quite some distance on the west side, offering hikers and photographers numerous unique vantage points for taking beautiful photos of the lake and the peak!
At about the halfway mark on the south side of Reflection Lake, the trail leaves the shoreline to head up toward the road for a very short stretch before heading back down to the water.
This is the very short section along the highway, as the Reflection Lake Trail drops back down immediately after reaching this point.
After the section along the road, the Reflection Lake Loop will parallel the water for the rest of the hike back to the beginning.
This is the view looking north across Reflection Lake.
Reflection Lake Trailhead
After just 0.7 miles (1.1 km), the Reflection Lake Loop Trail returns to the trailhead off Lassen Peak Highway.
From here, hikers either have the option to cross back over the road to return to the parking area, or continue around the loop for a short distance to begin hiking the Lily Pond Trail, creating a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) hike in total.
To learn more, all the details about Lily Pond can be found in my separate article linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Lily Pond Trail
