01
Classic park walk
Manzanita Lake Loop, Lassen Volcanic National Park
South Of Little Valley Near The Manzanita Lake Entrance • Alpine National Park Lakeshore Trail • Best Overall Pick
A gentle loop around a glassy lake with constant views of Lassen Peak and easy access from the park’s northwest entrance.
If you only have time for one hike near Little Valley, this is the crowd-pleasing choice. The mostly flat lakeshore path makes it easy to bring kids, visiting relatives, or a camera and wander at your own pace. Go early or near sunset for calmer water, fewer people, and reflections of the volcano that make the short drive feel more than worth it.
02
Quick lava-tube adventure
Subway Cave Lava Tube & Trail
Near Old Station Along Highway 89 • Short Volcanic Cave Walk • Most Unique Geology
A cool half-hour walk through a pitch-dark lava tube paired with a short forest loop that shows off the Hat Creek lava fields.
Subway Cave is the spot locals suggest when summer heat hits and you still want to move your legs. After a brief walk from the parking area you drop into a broad lava tube where the temperature plunges and the only light is from your headlamp. It is short, but pairing the cave with the signed surface trail makes for an easy, educational outing that works well with families or as a stop on a longer day of exploring.
03
Iconic waterfall stop
McArthur–Burney Falls Loop, McArthur–Burney Falls Memorial State Park
West Of Little Valley Near Burney • State Park Waterfall Circuit • Best Waterfall Hike
A short but dramatic loop that circles one of Northern California’s most photographed waterfalls with side trails along the creek.
Burney Falls is a bit of a drive from Little Valley, but it is the kind of place you plan a whole day around. The main loop drops from the overlook down to the pool, then follows the creek before climbing back up, giving you changing angles on the curtain of water the whole way. Arrive early on summer weekends for easier parking, then linger in the cool mist at the base before exploring a longer creekside stretch if you want extra miles.
04
Off-the-beaten-path outing
Tamarack Lake Trail, Thousand Lakes Wilderness
Backcountry West Of Little Valley • Remote Wilderness Lake Hike • Best For Solitude
A moderate forest and meadow climb into a small wilderness basin where a quiet lake replaces the highway noise you left behind.
For hikers who do not mind rougher forest roads and a less-developed trail, the Tamarack Lake route offers a true sense of escape. The path winds steadily upward through mixed conifer forest, breaking out into open patches with glimpses of the surrounding volcanic high country. Once you reach the lake, it is easy to find a log or granite slab to yourself and settle in for a long, quiet lunch before heading back the way you came.
05
Long-view ridge walk
Hat Creek Rim Section, Pacific Crest Trail
Overlook South Of Old Station • Rim And Canyon Viewpoint Trail • Best Big-View Trek
An exposed stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail along the Hat Creek Rim with wide views toward Lassen Peak and the distant Cascades.
This section of the PCT trades shade for sweeping vistas, so it is best tackled in cooler weather or early in the day. From trail access points near the rim, you quickly step out onto open basalt with long looks over the Hat Creek valley and back toward the snowy cone of Lassen. Bring plenty of water, sun protection, and a willingness to wander as far as your legs and the heat allow before retracing your steps along the edge of the plateau.