Brokeoff Mountain

Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs when your climbing it. -Andy Rooney.

If you would like to feel like you’re on top of the world then this is the hike for you. This is a trail of never ending views. During the path you will walk along the mountain streams with small waterfalls and picturistic ponds, through the mountain slopes that are covered with towering trees, you will see the evidence of volcanic explosions that happened here scattered all over the mountain side, and you may come across patches of snow even in the middle of August.

Before the volcanic explosion this mountain stood at 11,000 feet. Now the mountain stands at 9,235 feet. This is the highest point in Tehama County. When they say this hike is strenuous, they mean it. There is an elevation gain of 2,600 feet, 7.4 miles round trip which takes 4 to 5 hours to accomplish. To put it better in perspective, you will be gaining almost 750 feet elevation gain per mile.

In this life we are all just walking up the mountain and we can sing as we climb or we can complain about our sore feet. Whichever we chose we still gotta do the hike. I decided a long time ago that singing made a lot more sense. -unknown

 

When you get to the top of Brokeoff Mountain you will see the evidence of volcanic explosions with its sharp cliffs. You can see why it’s called brokenoff mountain. As you stand on top of the majestic mountain, you will see the view of Shasta Mountain, Sacramento Valley, Mt. Lassen, Lessen Volcanic National Park in all its glory, and Bumpass Hell area with its colored slopes due to volcanic activity. Maybe that is why this trail is before the entrance to the park so that you are able to see the park in a way that you would not be able to see it otherwise.

Don’t forget to pay for the park fees because if you don’t  you will see a ticket on your windshield when you get back to the car. Just drive to the park entrance, pay the entrance fee, visit the visitor center, and use their facility before you start your hike.

This is such a rewarding hike. You might have to push yourself to get to the top but once you get to the top you will see why going up was worth every bit of it.