Lake Helen, Glacial lake in Shasta County, United States.
Lake Helen is a glacial lake sitting at roughly 8,000 feet (2,400 m) elevation near the base of Lassen Peak within Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California. The water is a deep blue color and stays extremely cold throughout the year.
The lake formed during the last ice age, when glaciers carved out the terrain around Lassen Peak and left behind a natural basin. Indigenous peoples of the region used the area as a food source and held it in spiritual regard long before European settlers arrived.
The lake is named after Helen Tanner Brodt, an early woman climber who ascended Lassen Peak in the 19th century. Visitors who arrive in summer often find others standing at the shoreline trying to photograph the volcano reflected on the water surface.
The lake sits right alongside the main park road, making it easy to reach on foot from the parking area. Weather at this elevation can shift fast, so bringing a warm layer is a good idea even on sunny summer days.
The lake often stays frozen under a thick sheet of ice well into July, making it one of the last spots in the park to thaw each year. Winter snowshoers use the frozen surface as a landmark when traveling through the snow-covered terrain.
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