Sight · Lassen Volcanic National Park
A stream threads a high meadow beneath a rocky glacial bowl.
Overview
Paradise Meadows is a high-country wet meadow tucked into a cliff-ringed basin at the end of a short spur from the Hat Lake trail corridor. Its stream, flowered grasses and rocky backdrop make it a worthwhile destination on a 2.8-mile round trip from Hat Lake; allow about two hours and expect 700 feet of elevation change.
Parkwolf’s verdictA meadow worth the walkMap
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Lassen Volcanic Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Lassen Volcanic National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Lassen Volcanic audio tourRecorded for this place
Hat Creek: Where Hat Lake Became Meadow“Hat Creek Viewpoint is ahead, an easy roadside look at the meadow that used to be Hat Lake. Lassen Peak’s eruptions dammed the creek to form the lake, and beavers kept it going for decades.”
Plays as you drive up to Paradise Meadows in the Parkwolf Lassen Volcanic Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
The trail starts across the road from the Hat Lake parking area and follows a creek past small falls before climbing more steeply through a ravine. At the junction, take the short spur to the meadow; the footbridge route continues toward Terrace Lake. The meadow lies about a tenth of a mile beyond the junction, so it is easy to miss if you keep going on the through-route.
The meadow occupies a glacial cirque, a rounded hollow carved by ice. Thick grasses are dotted with paintbrush, clover, lupine and gentian. The enclosing cliffs frame Mount Conard and Lassen Peak, which appear just above the rim. Peak bloom dates are not established, so the flowers should be treated as seasonal, not guaranteed.
From the meadow edge, use the winding stream as a foreground line and keep some of the cliffs and open basin in the frame. That gives the picture the setting that makes this more than a patch of grasses; the best view takes the full hike from Hat Lake.
Bring water and snacks for the walk: potable water is not available at the Hat Lake trailhead. Pets are not allowed on park trails. The park highway follows a snow-dependent seasonal schedule, so its opening and closing dates vary from year to year.
Wildlife
103 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
44 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
348 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
17 sightingsSandhill CraneMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
47 sightingsGreat Blue HeronMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
12 sightingsGreat EgretMost seen around 7 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Lassen Volcanic. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ModerateTerrace, Shadow, and Cliff Lakes Trail3.4 mi · 3 hr · 1.2 mi awayThree alpine lakes, a steep return, and Lassen Peak views.
ModerateShadow Lake Shuttle Trail3.7 mi · 2.5 hr · 1.2 mi awayThree lakes, then a mostly downhill walk to Summit LakeModerateHat Lake to Paradise Meadows Trail2.8 mi · 2 hr · 1.3 mi awayA shaded creek climb to a meadow beneath Lassen’s rocky cliffs.ChallengingHat Creek Headwaters Trail6.1 mi · 5 hr · 1.3 mi awayA shuttle hike from creekside falls to meadow and lake country.
ModerateNobles Emigrant Trail: Hat Lake to Butte Lake13 mi · 5.5 hr · 1.4 mi awayA historic forest traverse opens onto Cinder Cone’s volcanic landscape.
EasyDevastated Area Interpretive Trail0.3 mi · 20 min · 1.7 mi awayA quick accessible loop among the rocks left by Lassen's 1915 eruption.
ChallengingCluster Lakes Loop11.9 mi · 7 hr · 2.1 mi awayEight lakes, volcanic views, and a stretch that demands route finding.ModerateUpper and Lower Twin Lakes Trail8.8 mi · 4.8 hr · 2.1 mi awayA ridge climb links Echo Lake with two forested Twin Lakes
Scenic pullout · 1.3 mi awayHat Creek ViewpointA former lake is becoming meadow, still fed by spring water.
Sight · 1.7 mi awayDevastated AreaA short accessible loop through Lassen’s 1915 eruption story.
Sight · 2 mi awayLassen PeakA strenuous summit climb on one of the world’s largest plug domes.
Sight · 2.1 mi awaySummit Lake Ranger StationA 1926 log cabin at the start of the Echo Lake hike.
Scenic pullout · 2.2 mi awayKings Creek Meadow ViewpointA winding creek crosses a seasonal meadow beneath Lassen Peak.
Campground · 2.2 mi awaySummit Lake South CampgroundA short lake walk and dark skies define this tent campground.
Picnic area · 2.2 mi awayKings Creek Picnic AreaA shaded picnic stop with a short walk to a bubbling lake.
Campground · 2.2 mi awaySummit Lake North CampgroundHigh-country camping with Summit Lake and hikes close at hand.Parkwolf’s Lassen Volcanic ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
