snag lake

We stopped by Snag Lake for a night on a recent backpacking trip, but it would be a fantastic picnicking location on a day hike. We hiked from Butte Lake and arrived first at the northeast corner of the lake. We stopped for lunch on a big sandy beach lined with Aspens. There were geese in the glassy water and chipmunks frolicking in snags behind us. Then we hiked around the lake to the western shore to make camp for the night. Although it is pretty flat terrain around the lake, the number of downed logs makes this mile-and-half somewhat difficult. It was beautiful and fun, but a bit like a steeple chase, going over, under and around logs and managing a couple of somewhat tricky creek crossings. Along the way were gorgeous views of Cinder Cone and Fantastic Lava beds. We made camp at the edge of the woods and a meadow on the west side. It was one of the loveliest places I have ever camped. There are killdeer, sandpipers, geese, and deer everywhere. The lake is big and smooth and reflects the beautiful mountains and forest all around. The deer grazed very close to us both in the day and in the night. In the morning we discovered that nearby was nest of Mountain Bluebirds. The mother and the father spent the morning bringing grasshoppers to the cheeping chicks. Then we discovered that the sandpiper we saw scurrying about had a nest nearby. We saw no one else the entire time we were at Snag Lake. We tried to swim in the southwest corner where we were camped, but it is very shallow for a long time and the ash from nearby Cinder Cone makes for a silty bottom that I found unpleasant. Perhaps if we had tried to swim from the peninsula it would have been better?Snag Lake can be a stopping place for a peaceful, reflective moment in the middle of hike, a picnic, an afternoon spent exploring or as a wonderful backpacking destination.

Snag Lake will be too long for a dayhike for many folks but is worth the trip, especially if you take a dip in the cool waters. The minimum trip would be over 9 miles out and back from the Butte Lake trailhead. Add another 5 if you wish to traverse around the lake. The other option is at least 13 miles round trip out and back from Summit Lake trailhead. That is the option we took as we camped overnight at Snag Lake (free backcountry permit req'd) so we could hike up Cinder Cone the next morning. There are several nice sites on the peninsula on the lake's west side. From here you have an excellent view of the Fantastic Lava Beds that end on the north side and you can even see Cinder Cone peeking over the top. This was a nice lake for swimming with plenty of easy access on the west side, including some sandy beaches.The only downsides to this attraction are there aren't any sweeping mountain vistas though the lava beds sort of make up for that and the fact that a forest fire had wiped out most of the trees on the western side (but not on that peninsula).

Snag Lake is an easy hike in Lassen National Park. It is quite beautiful and worth a day trip. It is an easy hike for kids.