Northern CA Question

I'm thinking of taking a week off at the end of the month to explore the Owens Valley, Alabama Hills and that general area. I'll be driving down from Portland; it's a fairly long drive, so I thought I'd ask about your thoughts on a quiet, scenic mid-way point to spend a night. Lassen Volcanic National Park looks like its in about the right spot. (I'm embarrassed to say that I had no idea that it was a national park). Has anyone been here? Is it worth stopping in for sunset or sunrise?

I sleep in the back of my truck, so I'm pretty flexible about where I can setup for the night. Are there any places you'd recommend in that general area? I looked at Shasta Lake, but it looks like a pretty touristy spot in general.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Lassen is very beautiful, but it's buried under a whole bunch of snow at the moment. If you're into cross-country skiing, you might want to explore a bit. Here's a web page that has current conditions in the park: http://www.nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/current_conditions.htm

The almonds are blooming in the Central Valley right now, but I think they'll be pretty much finished by the end of the month. You might try exploring the Feather River area (including Feather Falls) near Oroville. It's the greenest time of the year, and there should be spring wildflowers around by then.

I live in Chico, so if you need any more info, don't hesitate to drop me a line.

Rick, I have been to Lassen as late as July and found roof top snow drifts still lining the roads of the park. Yes, it is part of the National Park system so all fees will apply associated with that aspect. The place is really beautiful, but again is pretty seasonal with overall access. The Owens Valley area from Bishop to Lone Pine should be good to go this time of the year. The Alabama Hills have yet to be closed due to weather all the many times I have been there. However, TV commercials, movies, and magazine shoots have stopped me a few times usually for very short periods. They are very unpredicatable as to when they take place without checking with the Chamber of Commerce there. Good luck and have a good trip.

Greg, Paul - thanks for the info and suggestions! I might look into some snowshoeing and winter camping at Lassen. Sounds pretty interesting. I'll only be stopping for one night, so as long as there are some views within reasonable snowshoeing distance from the parking area, I think that's what I'm looking for.

Thanks again!