Manzanita Creek Trail

Manzanita Creek Trail is a 7-mile out-and-back from the Manzanita Lake Campground D-Loop access to a marshy meadow along the upper creek. The mapped corridor is 3.46 miles one way; route descriptions give round trips from 6.6 to 7.4 miles, so plan around 7 miles and roughly four hours. The climb builds through forest to the meadow, then returns on the same tread. For a shorter outing nearby, the 1.8-mile Manzanita Lake Loop circles the lake rather than following the creek.

The trail starts on sandy tread among greenleaf manzanita, Jeffrey pine and white fir. Openings frame Chaos Crags and Lassen Peak through the trees. Red fir and staghorn lichen appear in the first mile; around mile 1 the path briefly levels before a steeper rise and then an easier climb. Much of the approach is shaded, with the volcano views opening and closing as you walk.

At about two miles, a footbridge crosses Manzanita Creek. Look down at the water and along the banks for mountain alder and flowering plants. Beyond the bridge, the path runs through red fir forest with occasional level clearings. Around mile 2.4, Loomis Peak comes into view, its serrated crest and bands of colored cliffs rising above the creek corridor.

A smaller open meadow appears around mile 2.8, with a little stream; about half a mile farther, the trail reaches a broader, marshy meadow. In mid to late summer the wet ground is bright with flowers, and the view opens toward Loomis Peak, surrounding ridges and Thousand Lakes Wilderness. The route ends here: small faint tracks spread around the meadow, so make the main open area your turnaround instead of following side paths.