The hike to Ridge Lakes is a good primer for hiking Lassen Peak/Kurt Repanshek

Thinking about tackling Lassen Volcanic National Park'™s iconic trail, the Lassen Peak Trail? Test your stamina with the much shorter Ridge Lakes Trail not far from the Kohn Ya-mah-nee Visitor Center just inside the park'™s Southwest Entrance.

The trail is just 1.1 miles long (one way), but climbs an impressive 1,000 feet over that short distance. From the parking area near the Sulphur Works, the path immediately launches into a steep uphill grade. After a quick glimpse down into a drainage that leads to the Sulphur Works, and which still features some steaming fumaroles, the path takes you quickly through a forest of white pine and red fir. A break in the trees allows the trail to cross a meadow of Silverleaf lupine that erupts in purple from July into September. Time your visit right and look carefully and you might find patches of Leopard lilies.

The final push up the steep grade pops you out on a small rise that overlooks the two lakes -- which in early summer might appear as one, with the snowmelt having raised the water level enough to cover a stretch of cobbles that separates the two later in summer.

Just to the south above the lakes is the rim of prehistoric Mount Tehama, today known as Brokeoff Mountain. From the shores you also have nice views of both Diamond Peak to the east and Mount Diller just to the north. If you're comfortable with scrambling, you might hike up to The Ridge that ties together Brokeoff Mountain and Mount Diller for even greater views, though that's not recommended for the unexperienced. If you do head higher than the lakes, keep an eye on the weather as you'd be fully exposed to thunderstorms.

Wildlife can be difficult to spot in Lassen Volcanic, though we did encounter a browsing deer crossing the trail. If you find yourself resting fairly often on this short hike, it might be wise to reconsider the much longer, and steeper, hike up Lassen Peak.