Reflection Lake Loop

Reflection Lake Loop is an easy 0.6-mile circuit around Reflection Lake in the Manzanita Lake area. The National Park Service lists it as a half-mile; the verified mapped path measures 0.62 miles, so this record rounds the route to 0.6. Allow about 15 to 30 minutes. The north and west shores open to Chaos Crags and Lassen Peak, often mirrored in the water. This is a quick, worthwhile leg-stretcher when you want the view without a longer hike.

The clearest look toward Chaos Crags and Lassen Peak opens from the western shore, with another good view on the north side. When the water is still, leave room in the frame for the reflection as well as the peaks; that is the reason to walk around instead of treating this as only a roadside stop.

Most of the walk is flat, with a few small hills and narrow sections. Expect dirt, exposed roots and rock, with spots that can be soft or wet. A short, shallow wet crossing can show up in spring and early summer. The route is not a good fit for strollers or wheelchairs.

The lake was once called Mud Lake, when its water sat lower and it looked more like a pond. In the late 1800s, a channel brought water from Manzanita Creek into the lake; trout were stocked, and fishing access was once sold by the landowner. Benjamin Franklin Loomis bought the 40 acres around the lake in 1926 and photographed Lassen Peak's eruptions here between 1914 and 1945. He and Estella Loomis donated the land, Loomis Museum and nearby seismograph building to the park in 1929.

Native tui chub live in the warmer lake water. Fish stocking ended in the early 1990s as the park worked to preserve natural riparian ecosystems. Canada geese, great blue herons, snowy egrets and kingfishers are among the birds drawn to the lake; coots and mallards are often on the water too.