Crags Lake Trail

Crags Lake is a 4-mile out-and-back from Chaos Crags Trailhead: forest along Manzanita Creek, a sustained climb through open manzanita and volcanic rock, then the crater rim and a short rocky drop to the lake. Allow about 2½ to 3 hours for roughly 800 to 1,000 feet of climbing. Most of the route is sun exposed, and the footing gets rougher as the trees thin. It is a worthwhile half-day hike for the Chaos Crags scenery, but this is a steady climb rather than a lakeside stroll.

The lower trail stays among firs above Manzanita Creek; the stream lies down a steep bank, so you hear or glimpse a creek corridor rather than walking beside the water. Farther up, the forest thins into western white pine, pinemat manzanita and volcanic rubble. The route climbs in stages, with a brief easier stretch before the steeper upper slope. Expect the tread to change from dirt under the trees to rough, broken rock in the open.

At roughly two miles, the rocky rim above the basin is the main viewpoint. Chaos Crags rise over the lake, while the view opens across Chaos Jumbles and toward Hat Creek Valley and the northern ranges. From the rim, a short rocky descent reaches the shore; leave time to look around before retracing the same trail. The lake can shrink substantially or dry by late summer, so the payoff may be the basin and pale cliffs rather than open water. For photos, include both the lake and the broad scree slope; a tight frame of water loses the scale of the crater setting.

Chaos Crags are young volcanic domes that rose about 1,100 years ago. At least 300 years ago, fast rock avalanches from their north side spread across the slopes below, forming Chaos Jumbles and damming Manzanita Creek to create Manzanita Lake. From the upper trail, the pale debris field and sparse trees make that history visible: the forest gives way to broken rock where the avalanche swept through.

Use the signed Chaos Crags Trailhead parking area on the Manzanita Lake Campground road, about 150 yards after turning in; the trailhead sign can be easy to miss. The 4-mile figure starts here. Loomis Plaza is about a mile away and belongs to a different winter approach, so starting there changes the outing. No drinking water was confirmed along the trail; bring what you need. Most of the climb is exposed, and the final approach is rocky. Pets are prohibited on all park hiking trails. Check NPS road and trail conditions before setting out, especially when snow can affect access.