Hat Creek Viewpoint overlooks a spring-fed meadow on the Lassen park highway, one of the park's better spots for fall color. The meadow sits where eruptions of Lassen Peak once dammed Hat Creek to form Hat Lake.
Details
- Type
- Meadow
- Accessibility
- Limited accessibility
Overview
Eruptions of Lassen Peak dammed Hat Creek and created Hat Lake. American beavers maintained the lake for decades; after they left, for reasons that are not known, the lake gradually filled in and spring water now flows through the resulting meadow. Water from a year-round spring keeps the area green through the heat of summer, and the meadow turns to fall color in autumn. Quaking aspen and willow grow in the nutrient-rich former lakebed.
Know Before You Go
There is no trail through the meadow; it should be viewed from the edges, since walking on it compacts the soil and damages plant roots. The site has parking and a trash receptacle.