![\"View](\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/inspiration-point-snag-lake-prospect-peak-lassen-park.jpg\")
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2021 Dixie Fire Update for Lassen Volcanic National Park Trails, including Inspiration Point and Juniper Lake<\/h2>\n
Much of the eastern portion of Lassen Volcanic National Park has burned in the 2021 Dixie Fire. Most or all of the hiking trails will be closed in the area until at least the summer of 2022, including trails at and near Inspiration Point and Juniper Lake. Get details from the park here.<\/a><\/p>\n Distance: 1.4 miles round trip 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\u2019s north shore 13.4 miles from Highway 36. The hike begins just east of the parking area.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Buy it on Amazon<\/a> 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\u2019ll agree that Inspiration Point deserves its name.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n To the northwest rise Magee Peak<\/a> and distant Mount Shasta, while more due north are Prospect Peak and West Prospect Peak, Cinder Cone, Fantastic Lava Beds, Snag Lake<\/a>, and Mount Hoffman. To the east, forested slopes stretch into the Caribou Wilderness.<\/p>\n Want more nearby hiking? Do the short Crystal Lake Trail<\/a>.<\/p>\n I’ve written two books that have all the best trails in Lassen Volcanic National Park. Day Hiking: Mount Shasta, Lassen & Trinity Alps Regions<\/em><\/a> has 16 hikes in the park, while 100 Classic Hikes: Northern California<\/em><\/a>, fourth edition, has 10 hikes. Both are available at many bookstores in Northern California, always from Amazon here<\/a> and here<\/a>, and frequently at the two visitor centers in Lassen Volcanic National Park.<\/p>\n Includes trailhead directions and detailed maps and trail descriptions<\/p>\n Buy it:<\/strong> on Amazon<\/a> | on Bookshop.org<\/a> Questions? Comments? Share them below…<\/p>\nInspiration Point Trail Key Data<\/h2>\n
\nDifficulty: Moderate
\nType: Day hike
\nElevation gain: 400 feet
\nHigh point: 7202 feet
\nSeason: late June through mid-October
\nContact: Lassen Volcanic National Park<\/a>
\nMaps: USGS 7.5′ Mount Harkness, Lassen Volcanic National Park brochure
\nNearest campground: Juniper Lake Campground
\nInspiration Point Trailhead GPS coordinates: N 40 28.001 W 121 18.469
\nNotes: dogs prohibited<\/p>\nInspiration Point Trailhead Directions<\/h2>\n
![\"Trail](\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/inspiration-point-trail-map-lassen-park.jpg\")
Hiking the Inspiration Trail<\/h2>\n
Camp for Free in California National Forests<\/h4>\n
![\"Camp](\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/dispersed-camping-boondocking-camp-free-300.jpg\")
California’s national forests and BLM lands have thousands of miles of dirt roads with lots of spots for dispersed camping (boondocking).<\/strong> My book provides all the info you need to get started (but is not a guide to specific sites):<\/p>\n\n
\nBuy it on Apple, Kobo, and Nook<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nReaching Inspiration Point<\/h2>\n
![\"Inspiration](\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/inspiration-point-juniper-lake-lassen-volcanic-national-park.jpg\")
More Lassen Volcanic National Park Hiking Trails<\/h2>\n
Best Day Hiking Trails in Upper California<\/h4>\n
![\"Day](\"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/day-hiking-shasta-lassen-trinity-trails-300-214x300.jpg\")
<\/a>My<\/strong> compact guidebook has the 125 best day hikes:
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\nOften available at bookstores<\/strong> and outdoor stores <\/strong>(call first!)<\/p>\n<\/div>\nYour Take<\/h2>\n
Subscribe to the Northern California Hiking Trails Blog<\/h2>\n