MOUNT HARKNESS
Contributed by Dave Dobak
FACTS
Country: United States
Location: Lassen Volcanic
National Park, California
Round trip: 6.1 km round trip; 8.8 km loop..
Start elevation: 2,070m
Final Elevation: 2,452m
Maps: 1:42,500 Lassen Volcanic National Park, Earthwalk Press
GETTING THERE
From California Highway 36 in the town of Chester, follow Feather River Drive about 1.1 km, then turn right on Juniper Lake Road (gravel) about 18 km to the trailhead at Juniper Lake Ranger Station and Campground.
PARTIAL PLANT LIST
Penstemon gracilentus
Orobanche pinorum
Lupinus obtusilobus
Streptanthus sp.
Monardella odoratissima
Viola purpurea
Holodiscus microphyllus
This excellent trail climbs though forest and open woodland to an active fire lookout. Thin forest at the bottom gives way to meadows for most of the distance. Large expanses of the mountainside are covered with monocultures of Lupinus obtusilobus. Cycladenia humilis flowers at the summit in July. The plant is restricted to a plot the size of a small city lot, but there it is abundant. This member of the Apocynaceae grows only 12 inches (30 cm) tall, straggling along the ground. Without flowers or fruit, one might casually mistake it for Polygonum davisiae that is found commonly in sandy areas throughout the park. Gallium grayanum grew in amongst the Cycladenia, and we found Orobanche pinorum parasitic on Holodiscus microphyllus. Penstemon gracilentus is common in the forest.
You may return from the summit by the direct route, or make a loop that takes in another slope of Mt. Harkness then follows the shore of Juniper Lake back to the trailhead.
MOUNT HARKNESS GALLERY.
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