Thousand Lakes Wilderness

Infobox_protected_area | name = Thousand Lakes Wilderness
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location = California, USA
nearest_city =
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lat_direction = N
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long_direction = W
area = convert|16335|acre|km2
established = 1964
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governing_body = U.S. Forest ServiceThe Thousand Lakes Wilderness is located within the southern portion of the Cascade Range in northeastern California. The convert|16335|acre|km2|0|sing=on wilderness was established in 1964 and is administered by the Lassen National Forest. The area lies withinin Shasta County, midway between the town of Burney and Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Volcanic activity and glaciers have combined to create the current topography. The area is dominated by Crater Peak (8677 ft), the highest point in the Lassen National Forest. The lowest point in the wilderness, 5546 feet, occurs at the base of the volcano. This peak is a reminder of the glacial action that eroded the original, much larger Thousand Lakes Volcano and created the many small lakes and ponds scattered through the region. Some of the volcanic activity is relatively recent--Hall Butte is cinder cone that erupted perhaps 500 years ago.

Despite its name, there are considerably fewer than a thousand lakes--about seven major lakes lie within the wilderness. The largest is Eiler Lake, named after Lu Eiler the person who discovered Thousand Lakes Valley. All of the larger lakes contain populations of trout. Wildlife includes black-tailed deer, black bear, pika, pine marten, northern goshawk, spotted owl, pileated woodpecker, and Clark's nutcracker. Even elk have been known to visit occasionally.

There are four trailheads providing access into the wilderness and approximately convert|21|mi|km|0 of trails.

References

*cite web
title = Thousand Lakes Wilderness
publisher = USDA Forest Service, Lassen National Forest
url = http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/lassen/recreation/wilderness/thoulakes.shtml
accessdate = 2006-11-06

*cite book
last = Wuerthner
first = George
title = California's Wilderness Areas, Volume 1
publisher = Westcliffe Publishers
date = 1997
id = ISBN 1-56579-233-5

*cite book
last = Gudde
first = Erwin G.
title = California Place Names
publisher = University of California Press
date = 1969

Further reading

*cite book
last = Schaffer
first = Jeffrey P.
title = Lassen Volcanic National Park & Vicinity
publisher = Wilderness Press
date = 2003
id = ISBN 0-89997-329-9