TRAILS WEST -- MARKERS OF THE CALIFORNIA TRAIL

LASSEN TRAIL PHOTOS

Here is a small collection of photos taken along the Lassen Trail.  This segment of the emigrant trail branches off the Applegate Trail north of present day Davis Creek, California. That is where the Applegate Trail turns west and then north on its way to southern Oregon.  From Davis Creek, the Lassen Trail heads in a generally southwest direction to its end at Lassen's ranch in vina which is located between Chico and Red Bluff, California. Much of this trail can be driven on paved or bladed roads in more-or-less populated country.  Several segments of it, however, go through some heavily forested country where you will essentially be by yourself.  Four wheel drive is generally not necessary although there are several parts of the route where such would be helpful. Now for some of the photos taken along the Lassen Trail. ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° °

EASY TRAVELING The traveling was easy after leaving the Applegate Trail.  This easy travel would disappear, however, when the trail reached the Pit River Canyon.  Photo by Dick Brock.

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CONICAL ROCKS The trail passed by a cluster of rocks some of which reach 30 feet high.  These became known as the "Conical Rocks."  Photo by Dick Brock.

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CHIMNEY ROCK Photo by Dick Brock.

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WARM SPRINGS VALLEY After reaching the North Fork of the Pit River, the emigrants headed southwest through a series of valleys.  This fairly easy travel lasted until the Pit River Canyon was reached a few miles west of Warm Springs Valley.  The Marker is L-7.  Photo by Bob Black.

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RATTLESNAKE BUTTE An isolated butte located in Warm Springs Valley a short distance north of the Pit River became known as "Rattlesnake Butte."   An emigrant camping areas was located to the southeast of this location.   Photo by Dick Brock.

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PIT RIVER CROSSING The Pit River, seen in back of the Marker, is deep but fairly narrow at this point.   When looking at it, one is in awe wondering how the emigrants crossed it.  The location is just east of where the narrow Pit River Canyon starts.  The Marker is L-10 located just west of the Canby Bridge on Hwy 299.  Photo by Bob Black

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THE PIT RIVER CANYON The Pit River got its name from the pits the local Indians dug along its banks to live in and to trap game.  The pits made travel along the river bank dangerous.  Photo by Bob Black.

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OUT OF THE CANYON When the emigrants completed their trek through the canyon, they found feed for their stock.   Photo by Dick Brock.

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JUNCTION Near here is where the Lassen Trail and the Burnett Cutoff from Oregon intersected.  The Lassen Trail is now headed south into present-day Big Valley.  A GPS reading is being recorded at Marker L-13 for use in Trails West's Lassen Trail Guidebook.  That's Bob Black's SUV parked on the road.   Photo by Bob Black

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MT. SHASTA A view of a swale (center of photo) on the east branch of the Lassen Trail as it crosses the present-day Thompson Ranch.  As the trail leaves Big Valley it spits into two branches to bypass another canyon on the Pit River.  Mt. Shasta is shown in the background.  Photo by Alison Portello.

You have now seen 10 photos taken along the Lassen Trail.  Do you want to continue your tour of this trail, or would you like to go to some other page? Continue on the Tour Go to A Different Trail Tour Go to a Different Page