Inspiration Point Trail, Lassen Volcanic National Park

The Inspiration Point Trail is a key attraction for hikers in the Juniper Lake area of Lassen Volcanic National Park.

The hike to Inspiration Point certainly gets the heart pumping. But considering that the trail travels a modest 0.7 mile and ends at a relatively low final elevation, Inspiration Point offers surprisingly good views of nearby Juniper Lake plus many of Lassen Volcanic National Park’s other lakes and peaks.

View from Inspiration Point by Juniper Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park: Snag Lake, Fantastic Lava Beds, Cinder Cone, and Prospect Peak. — View of Snag Lake, Fantastic Lava Beds, Cinder Cone, and Prospect Peak from Inspiration Point. (Photo courtesy of Steve Lewis)

Inspiration Point Trail Key Data

Distance: 1.4 miles round trip
Difficulty: Moderate
Type: Day hike
Elevation gain: 400 feet
High point: 7202 feet
Season: late June through mid-October
Contact: Lassen Volcanic National Park
Maps: USGS 7.5′ Mount Harkness, Lassen Volcanic National Park brochure
Nearest campground: Juniper Lake Campground
Inspiration Point Trailhead GPS coordinates: N 40 28.001 W 121 18.469
Notes: dogs prohibited

Inspiration Point Trailhead Directions

On Highway 36 in Chester, go 100 feet east of the North Fork Feather River Bridge and turn north on Feather River Drive. Bear right after 0.7 mile. The pavement lasts another 5.5 miles; the road runs rough the rest of the way (too rough for trailers). Reach trailhead parking near Juniper Lake’s north shore 13.4 miles from Highway 36. The hike begins just east of the parking area.

Trail map for hiking to Inspiration Point near Juniper Lake in eastern Lassen Volcanic National Park. — Inspiration Point trail map

Hiking the Inspiration Trail

The hike starts nearly level as it leaves Juniper Lake behind and travels through a forest of lodgepole pine, western white pine, and red fir that shades an understory of pinemat manzanita and grasses. However, the way soon steepens as the forest opens. Look 100 feet to the left at 0.3 mile for a large, weather-battered Jeffrey pine; then, just before the top, see greenleaf manzanita and a small thicket of bush chinquapin.

Reaching Inspiration Point

Crest the top of Inspiration Point at 0.6 mile. From here, the trail goes another 200 yards along a ridge populated by white firs and the previously encountered tree species. When you look beyond the immediate surroundings to the encircling mountainous tableau, you’ll agree that Inspiration Point deserves its name.

To the south, Crystal Cliffs guards the broad expanse of Juniper Lake, with Mount Harkness just beyond and the northern Sierra Nevada stretching off into a gauze of haze. Swinging westward, Saddle Mountain, Pilot Mountain, and Mount Conard lead to the dominating range anchored by Brokeoff Peak and Chaos Crags and centered by Lassen Peak.

Inspiration Point above Juniper Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park. View of distant Lassen Peak. — View of Lassen Peak from Inspiration Point. (Photo courtesy of Steve Lewis)

To the northwest rise Magee Peak and distant Mount Shasta, while more due north are Prospect Peak and West Prospect Peak, Cinder Cone, Fantastic Lava Beds, Snag Lake, and Mount Hoffman. To the east, forested slopes stretch into the Caribou Wilderness.

Want more nearby hiking? Do the short Crystal Lake Trail.

More Lassen Volcanic National Park Hiking Trails

I’ve written two books that have all the best trails in Lassen Volcanic National Park. Day Hiking: Mount Shasta, Lassen & Trinity Alps Regions has 16 hikes in the park, while 100 Classic Hikes: Northern California, fourth edition, has 10 hikes. Both are available at many bookstores in Northern California, always from Amazon here and here, and frequently at the two visitor centers in Lassen Volcanic National Park.