Description: Along with the crazy name (named after the man that founded the trail, and in the process of doing so, fell in to the boiling pools and lost both of his legs as a result!), this is a crazy place. It's about a mile and a half hike (easy hike, though somewhat crowded) from the parking lot to a valley of spurting mud, boiling lakes, steam vents blasting out of the rocks, and rivers of sulphur-laden water. By all means, pay attention to the signs to stay on the boardwalks in the area - things are as hot as they look, and it's a rather fragile eco-system in here. The area is alive (and loud!) with activity, generated by the volcanic activity under the soil. There's a trail guide at the head of the trail for a small fee that's worth picking up. The boardwalk limits the areas you can walk in, but you can get up close to some pretty spectacular sights. It's barren, but colorful, from all the minerals and materials spurting out from the earth.
If you have some energy, and want to continue onward, the trail continues another mile and a half to a lake, or climb back up the hill and return to the parking lot. It's another one of the moderately developed areas in Lassen, yet far more understated than I'm used to seeing in National Parks.
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