Hiking to Kings Creek Falls in Lassen Volcanic National Park

Looking for more fun things to do in Lassen Volcanic National Park?
Check out my Lassen Volcanic National Park Guide. For another great hike, follow the trail to Terrace, Cliff and Shadow Lakes, and top it off with a relaxing swim at Summit Lake.

WE HIKED IT

August 2020, a little less than 3 hours, including a picnic lunch

CURRENT INFO

For information and updates about day hiking in Lassen Volcanic National Park, visit Lassen’s hiking webpage. For trail reports, you can view the Kings Creek Falls Trail posting on AllTrails.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Because the Kings Creek Falls Trail is within Lassen Volcanic National Park, you will need a valid National Parks Pass, such as the America the Beautiful Pass, or you can pay the $30 entrance fee. It’s well worth purchasing a pass if you plan to visit other national parks or monuments, or do much hiking in national forest lands. The standard annual pass costs $80. Check to see if you qualify for a free or less expensive pass. For example, fourth graders can get a free pass to use together with their families. Seniors can purchase a one-time lifelong pass.
• This is one of the most popular trails in the park, so arrive early if you want to avoid crowds.
• Parking spots are available along both sides of the road by the trailhead.
• No restrooms or vault toilets are available at the trailhead.
• Pets are not allowed on any hiking trails in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
• Because of its high elevation, the Kings Creek Falls Trail is closed due to snow much of the year. Depending on snowmelt, the trail usually opens in June or July, and closes again when snow starts to accumulate in the fall. Please check the Lassen Volcanic National Park webpage for current status info.

HIGHLIGHTS

Kings Creek Falls is gorgeous, no doubt, but the hike itself is also a joy. I especially enjoyed the hike back up the stone stairs alongside the cascading creek.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

This is a fun hike, with a variety of scenery, multiple waterfalls, and a cool stone stairway. It is pretty steep for little legs in a few spots. I think my kids were a little disappointed that they couldn’t get closer to Kings Creek Falls, but there are a couple other spots along the route where kids can safely access the shallow creek.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

Since Kings Creek Falls lies within Lassen Volcanic National Park, there is no shortage of places to explore! Avid hikers may want to take the full five mile loop trail to Kings Creek Falls rather than this shorter option. Or, try another nearby trail, such as the hike to Terrace, Shadow, and Cliff Lakes.

We enjoyed a swim in Summit Lake following our hike to Kings Creek Falls. For our home base, se stayed at Manzanita Lake Campground, located near beautiful Manzanita Lake, which offers more swimming, paddling, and Hiking opportunities. Spending a few days in Lassen Volcanic National Park? Be sure to check out Bumpass Hell at the south end of the park. Just outside the park near the north entrance, Subway Cave is another fun place to explore.

Our first hike in Lassen Volcanic National Park, which took us to Terrace, Shadow, and Cliff Lakes, whetted my appetite for more adventures in this pristine landscape. Pristine other than the smokey skies, that is. We awoke to more smoke overhead at Manzanita Lake Campground, but were hopeful that we could once again escape the worst of it by hiking elsewhere in the park.

This time, our goal was Kings Creek Falls, one of the most popular trails in Lassen, so we decided to head out early. For us, that meant leaving the campground around 9am. No kidding — the boys in my family are not early risers. I try not to push it too often.

Fortunately, it was a weekday, and there were plenty of available parking spots when we arrived at the trailhead a little before 10am. Before heading down the trail, we took a look at the sign posted prominently at the starting point. A helpful map outlined several possible routes. Since we hoped to spend part of the afternoon at Summit Lake, we chose the most direct option, following the horse trail on the way out, and the creek edge on the way back.

The trail starts off with a leisurely descent to a charming meadow. The path continues into the forest, leading you on an easy, breezy walk in the woods. But once you reach the turn off for the horse trail, it’s time to put those hiking boots to use. After a short climb, the trees thin out, providing views into the valley below. Don’t get too distracted, however; the loose, sandy path demands some careful footwork to avoid slipping as the trail descends to Kings Creek. We don’t have trekking poles, but they could come in handy here.

We made it down the hill without any tumbles. The clear water of Kings Creek sparkled in the sunlight. Before long, the sound of rushing water could be heard in the distance, and we knew we were nearly there.

Kings Creek Falls pours through a narrow stone chasm with dramatic flair. The overlook gives you the view from the top. It’s an eye-catching peek, but it’s hard not to want to get closer. Rocky outcroppings provide a way down for a better look, but be careful that you don’t go too far. Michael and I felt comfortable venturing part way down, but I recommend stopping before you find it necessary to start climbing. The steep rock walls surrounding the falls make this a precarious spot, and swimming here isn’t advisable. We kept the kids well away from the edge.

Even above the falls, the land here is sloped, which made picnicking a little awkward. Still, we found a shady lunch spot that fit our needs. Refueled, we started on the return trip. It was getting noticeably more crowded, so we put on our masks and stepped aside to allow others to pass on their way to the falls. I was glad to reach the turnoff for the creek edge trail, knowing this would take us on a one-way path.

And what a path it was! Frothing white water tumbled over boulders that seemed to go on forever. Perhaps it may not be a waterfall in the strictest sense, but I was awed by the beauty of this unexpected cascade. It didn’t come without a price, however; as Kings Creek made its way down the mountainside, we made our way up. Hundreds of stone steps were fixed into the hillside, somewhat easing the climb. I say hundreds, but in truth I didn’t count them. It certainly felt like hundreds to four-year-old T, who was less enthralled by the rushing stream and more concerned about the fact that he was expected to walk up all these stairs. It was too much, he concluded. His legs were too tired. His feet could not go on.

Since T is my child, I’m pretty familiar with these concerns. If you know any four-year-olds, you might be, too. I can sympathize with the fact that the hike truly was harder on his little legs than mine, but I also knew he would come out on top. We let Michael and J go on ahead, stopped for several breaks, and I encouraged him with the promise of a treat once we met our goal.

I’m pleased to say we made it. T was much happier to be back on flat land, and all of us were feeling pretty good about our latest trek. I only wish that we could have done the longer loop to Bench Lake, perhaps even gone all the way to Sifford Lakes. Kings Creek Falls, I felt, had been just a taste of the wonders on offer. But I’m okay with that. After all, it means we’ll simply have to plan another trip to Lassen in the future, and who could argue with that?