01
Best close-to-town escape
Ash Creek Wildlife Area
East Of Bieber Along Highway 299 • Wide-Open Wetland And Meadow Hikes • Best For Quiet Walks And Wildlife Watching
A sprawling wildlife area just east of town with easy levee routes, big-sky views, and year-round birdlife.
Ash Creek is the go-to option when you want to stretch your legs without a long drive, offering miles of mostly flat roads and dikes that work well as informal walking routes. Expect huge horizons, seasonal ponds, and flocks of waterfowl, cranes, and raptors, especially in spring and fall. Bring boots in wet months and insect repellent in summer, as the wetlands can be muddy and buggy.
02
Iconic waterfall hike
McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park
Southwest Of Bieber Near Burney • Forest Trails And Lakefront Waterfall Loops • Best For First-Time Visitors
A short but memorable network of trails that loop around one of California’s most photogenic waterfalls and along the shores of Lake Britton.
The main Burney Falls loop drops you quickly to the base of the falls, where cool mist and a turquoise pool feel especially good on hot summer days, before climbing back out through shaded forest. Side paths and the Rim Trail add mileage and quieter viewpoints, and you can easily pair a hike with a lakeside picnic or paddle. Arrive early on summer weekends when parking and the main overlook get busy.
03
Most dramatic volcanic climb
Cinder Cone and Butte Lake – Lassen Volcanic National Park
Southwest Of Bieber In Lassen Volcanic’S Butte Lake Area • Steep Volcanic Summit Hike Through Lava Fields • Best For Strong Hikers Chasing Views
A stout climb up loose cinders rewards you with sweeping views over the Painted Dunes, lava flows, and distant Lassen peaks.
From the quiet Butte Lake trailhead, the route crosses black lava and soft pumice before switchbacking sharply up the cone, where every step feels like walking on ball bearings. At the top, you can peer into the crater and circle the rim for different vantage points over the mosaic of red and black pumice hills below. This hike is exposed and sandy, so start early, pack extra water, and be ready for a sustained grind on the way up.
04
Geothermal boardwalk adventure
Bumpass Hell Trail – Lassen Volcanic National Park
Higher Elevations Of Lassen Volcanic National Park • Alpine Trail To Steaming Vents And Mudpots • Best For Curious Families And Geology Fans
A moderate, high-elevation walk that leads to boardwalks weaving through steaming vents, bubbling mudpots, and pastel mineral pools.
The Bumpass Hell trail starts near the highway but quickly opens to sweeping views of ridges and lakes before dropping into the active hydrothermal basin. Once you reach the boardwalk, you can wander safely among hissing fumaroles and boiling pools while learning about the park’s volcanic history from interpretive signs. Snow can linger well into summer, so check seasonal access and pack layers for cooler alpine weather.
05
Most unique cave hiking
Lava Beds National Monument
North Of Bieber On The Modoc Plateau • Lava-Tube Exploring And High-Desert Trails • Best For Adventurous Explorers
A maze of lava-tube caves and short surface trails that turn a day hike into a choose-your-own underground adventure.
At Lava Beds you can mix mellow rim walks with self-guided cave explorations, choosing from easy, well-lit tubes to more challenging routes that demand scrambling and careful route-finding. Above ground, short trails cross open sage and old lava flows with big views toward Medicine Lake Highlands and the Klamath Basin. Bring sturdy shoes, multiple light sources, and a hard hat or bump cap if you plan to spend much time underground.