Geology from a Motor Car 403 



Redding at Northern End of Sacramento 

 Valley. Canyons and Gorges North 



East of Cottonwood the Sacramento meanders over the al- 

 luvial floodplain, with islands and sloughs common. Eighteen 

 miles north is Redding, which is at the north end of the Sacra- 

 mento Valley. Beyond Redding the Sacramento for 75 miles 

 runs between the rocky walls of canyons and gorges cut by the 

 river in hard lava and other rocks. 



If time will permit it will be of interest to visit Lassen Vol- 

 canic National Park. Going north the trip may be made from 

 Red Bluff, returning to the highway at Redding, or going south, 

 turn east from Redding, returning to the highway at Red Bluff. 

 The distance between Red Bluff and Redding is 3 5 miles. The 

 side trip through the Park is 130 miles. 



Side Trip to Lassen Peak 



From Red Bluff a highway runs east to Mineral, 43 miles, 

 headquarters for Lassen Volcanic National Park. Here a per- 

 mit for an automobile may be obtained for one dollar. From 

 Mineral to the Park boundary is eight miles. Brokeoff Moun- 

 tain and Lookout are three miles by trail from the highway. 

 Passing Tophet Springs and Diamond Peak (elevation 7,969 

 feet), Soda Springs is 13 miles from Mineral. Pilot Pinnacle 

 (elevation 8,886 feet) and Mount Diller (elevation 9,086 feet) 

 are at the left (west) . Emerald Lake and Lake Helen are about 

 14 miles from Mineral. Do not say any bad words, for Bum- 

 pass Hell is only one and one-half miles (by trail) from the 

 highway! Within a depression 500 feet by 1,400 feet in size 

 are concentrated a vast number of fumaroles, sulphur caul- 

 drons, boiling fountains, and hot springs. Lassen Peak (ele- 

 vation 10,453 feet) is two and one-half miles by trail from the 

 highway at Summit. The Devastated Area is reached 27 miles 

 from Mineral. Memorial Museum and Manzanita Lake are 3 5 

 miles from Mineral. The northwest boundary of the park is 

 36 miles from Mineral, and from the boundary to Redding via 

 Viola is 50 miles. 



