More Views of Lassen - the cinder cone
On the back side of Lassen Volcanic National park off of Butte Lake is a trail that leads to the cinder cone. Detailed information about what a cinder cone volcano is can be found here. The short answer is that it is a formation of loose volcanic rock, debris and dust formed in a conical shape around a heat vent. The lava bursts out with such force that the solidifies in the air and falls as tiny gravel-sized rock. Hiking up it is akin to hiking up a rocky beach if that rocky beach had a 12% grade and was nearly 900 feet long.