Cold Boiling and Crumbaugh Lakes

This short out-and-back packs a surprising amount of geological weirdness into under a mile and a half. You'll start through a landscape still recovering from the 2021 Dixie Fire — standing snags and fresh undergrowth give the whole area an eerie, post-apocalyptic beauty that's actually fascinating to walk through. The trail is mostly flat with gentle undulations, making it manageable for shorter legs, though the footing can be uneven with roots and loose volcanic soil. Cold Boiling Lake is the star: the water appears to bubble furiously, but it's cold carbon dioxide gas venting from below, not heat. Kids lose their minds over this. Crumbaugh Lake sits in a quiet basin beyond, offering a more traditional alpine scene. This trail is perfect for families who want something genuinely unique without a death march to get there.