This group of six lakes is easily reached by the trail from Badger Flat.
Mule-ears (wyethia) puts on a magnificent display in Badger Flats, and falsehellebore is prevalent in places. Spreading phlox is especially attractive in late June and early July along the beginning of the trail, and paintbrush further up, along with Newberry penstemon or pride-of-the-mountains.
The trail passes through open forested areas in a relatively level section of Lassen. After passing the second lake the trail forks. The left trail goes to Silver Lake. The trail continues over rather level terrain past Feather Lake to Lower Twin Lake, another 2 miles.
From Big Bear Lake the trail continues 3.5 miles to Summit Lake, crossing two ridges on the way.
[17]. PARADISE MEADOWS
| Starting Point: | Hat lake parking area, Guide Marker 42 |
| Distances: | 1.5 miles, one way |
| Topography: | Uphill, 600 feet |
| Time: | 2 hours, one way, 3 hours for round trip |
| Features: | Flowers, forest, stream |
For wildflowers during midsummer Paradise Meadows is one of the best areas in the park. Elephanthead and gentian can be seen near Hat Lake; scarlet gilia along the first mile; and columbine, lupine, monkshood, penstemon (both red and blue), falsehellebore, and many other species will be found in the meadow area. Also, it is a good area to see birds and deer.
For about a mile the trail goes up rather steeply. At the meadows there are good views of Lassen and Reading peaks, and the cirque in which the meadows lie.
Upon reaching lower Paradise Meadows a trail turns to the right. This goes to the Park Road near Terrace Lake. (See [Park Road to Hat Lake trail].)