California · Hiking

Mill Creek

Mill CreekPhoto: g.bertschinger, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
0.7 mi
round trip
90 ft
climb
2,243 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Feb–Jun, Oct–Nov
best months

Is Mill Creek open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Lassen National Forest. It doesn't name Mill Creek, so check the source for the area it covers (3 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Lassen National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Mill Creek is an easy, short out-and-back hike in California's Lassen National Forest, within the Almanor Ranger District. The trail is about 0.7 miles long, with a total elevation gain of about 90 feet, and it rises from about 2,130 feet to roughly 2,240 feet. Late spring and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run from highs around 74°F with lows near 47°F in May to highs around 74°F and lows near 46°F in October, while July and August average highs of about 91°F. Black Rock campground sits just 0.3 miles away. The Boat Gunwale Tie Ishi hike is about 0.7 miles off, and the climbing area The Mill is about a mile away. For a longer outing, the Lassen Trail Ishi is about 3.5 miles from the trail.

  • Best time to go · Feb–Jun, Oct–Nov

    Best time to visit Mill Creek

    Best months: February–June and October–November. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      53° / 35°

      13 wet

    2. Feb

      55° / 35°

      12 wet

    3. Mar

      60° / 37°

      12 wet

    4. Apr

      66° / 40°

      9 wet

    5. May

      74° / 47°

      7 wet

    6. Jun

      84° / 53°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      91° / 58°

      1 wet

    8. Aug

      91° / 57°

      1 wet

    9. Sep

      86° / 53°

      2 wet

    10. Oct

      74° / 46°

      6 wet

    11. Nov

      59° / 38°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      51° / 34°

      13 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at De Sabla, CA, 22.4 mi away at 2,710 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Boat Gunwale Tie IshiPhoto: g.bertschinger, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Boat Gunwale Tie Ishi

~1 min drive

4.24-mile out-and-back trail in California with 631 ft gain.

MILL CREEKPhoto: g.bertschinger, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

MILL CREEK

~1 min drive

3.92-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,394 ft elevation gain and loss.

SPENCER MEADOW LOOPPhoto: Pacific Southwest Region 5, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

SPENCER MEADOW LOOP

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HORSEBACK RIDGE

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1.76-mile out-and-back trail in California with 286 ft elevation gain.

Spencer Meadow TrailPhoto: Pacific Southwest Region 5, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Spencer Meadow Trail

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Buena Vista Trail

~24 min drive

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Spencer Meadow Loop TrailPhoto: Pacific Southwest Region 5, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Spencer Meadow Loop Trail

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INDIAN RIDGE

~9 min drive

2.74-mile out-and-back trail in California with 600 ft elevation gain.

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RANCHERIA TRAIL ISHI

~7 min drive

4.68-mile out-and-back hike in California with 1,875 ft elevation gain

HIKE

Lassen Trail

~26 min drive

20.66-mile out-and-back trail in California with 2,638 ft elevation gain