Kings Creek Falls - Lassen Volcanic National Park

It took two attempts to actually complete the 3.0 mile round-trip hike to Kings Creek Falls.  Our first attempt was cut short by thunder.  The trail starts at a roadside pullout on California 89 about twelve miles north of the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center.  The trail follows Kings Creek through a forested area and skirts a meadow before reaching the first trail junction in one-half mile.  The junction is well marked, but understates the remaining distance to the falls.  Keep left to head to the falls, turning right will lead to Sifford Lakes.  

Roadside parking at the trailhead

The trail is wide, but has several tripping hazards

Kings Creek approaches the trail

The creek meanders through the nearly flat terrain

Lower Kings Creek Meadow

Walking less than a quarter-mile past the Sifford Lakes trail junction leads to another trail junction with the easier descent to the left on the horse trail and the creek side descent to the right.  The right trail was closed and obviously had been for quite a while.  A well-worn sign states:

The Cascades section of the Kings creek Falls Trail has been closed due to extremely hazardous hiking conditions.  For your safety, please use the horse loop to access Kings Creek Falls.

Another sign states that the falls are visible in only one-half mile using the closed trail or in 0.8 miles using the horse trail.  We obviously used the horse trail.

This portion of the trail is wide and smooth

The Cascades section of the trail is closed

From this junction, the horse trail is rather hard to follow as it seems to split into a number of tracks across a rock outcropping and down a drainage area before becoming defined again as a switchback down the hillside.

One of the trails approached the edge of the gorge...

...providing this view of  Saddle Mountain and  Mount Harkness...

...as well as this view of Kings Creek looking upstream...

...and this view of Kings Creek looking downstream

The trail climbs through open forest and low ground cover

Storm clouds gathering

At this point on our first attempt to hike to the falls, thunder forced us to hastily retrace our route back to the trailhead.  On our second attempt, we continued as the trail utilizes switchbacks to descend several hundred feet across an open slope before crossing a muddy section just before the junction with the main trail.  At this junction, turn left to downstream toward the falls.  Before arriving at the falls, another trail branches off to Bench Lake and Sifford Lakes before looping back to the main trail near the parking area.  Keep left again to head to the falls.  The trail once again splits into numerous paths as it approaches the falls.  Just watch your step and head toward the roar of the water hitting the rocks.  Although only 46 feet high, Kings Creek Falls is reportedly the largest falls in the park by volume of water.

Horse trail

Six foot cascade beside the trail

Kings Creek Falls from the fenced overlook

Since we had seen pictures of the falls from a lower elevation, we searched for a trail down to the creek.  The first trail we explored returned to the horse trail and away from the creek.  The second trail was more of a mountain goat path, but it did drop down to the creek.  Unfortunately, we were too far downstream to see or even hear the falls, but it was an excellent location for our picnic lunch.

Kings Creek below the falls

Our picnic view of the creek

Returning to the falls, I climbed down several rock ledges to a large landing where I could remove my backpack and set up a tripod and cameras.

Kings Creek Falls from the "landing"

The falls and the surrounding rock walls

Climbing back to the top proved easier than climbing down to the landing.  We explored the creek as we hiked back up toward the horse trail.  At the horse trail sign, someone had left a note stating that 100 feet up the creek was a beautiful view.  Since the trail was in obviously good shape and the park service had made no effort to fence off the trail at this end nor to remove the note, we walked up the creekside to a beautiful series of cascades before returning via the horse trail.  From an elevation of about 6800 feet near the falls, the trail climbs over 700 feet back to California 89 with most of the climb in the first half mile.

Looking downstream toward the falls

Looking upstream under the Bench Lake trail bridge

A small cascade by the trail

A series of cascades just above the trail junction

View of Warner Valley and Mount Harkness

A $10 vehicle pass is valid for seven consecutive days.  Another option is to purchase the America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass valid for one year for $80.

The park website is http://www.nps.gov/lavo/index.htm.