Westwood Beach at Sunset is one of many rest points around the lake. Photo by Dannah Nielsen

LAKE ALMANOR, CA (MPG) - What if the “off season” is California’s most hidden gem of all?

Our state is no stranger to tourism, so much so that it may be that the average Californian could experience secondhand burnout from the constant hustle. Where do we retreat for rest when the state is overrun with the daily grind? Perhaps it’s time to consider the off season - that window of opportunity when roads are quieter, beaches and trails have room for you, prices are more manageable and businesses need you. We recently found the Lake Almanor Basin to offer an entire vacation experience - and we practically had the whole region to ourselves. 

The other hidden gem we’ve more recently uncovered to compliment this time of year is the upscale Airbnb experience - sometimes a hunt within itself, you can find these gems in the details: bold, classy decor choices, custom flooring, unique furniture pieces, tasteful souvenirs. This is key to any luxury stay, and we found it at the Almanor A-Frame, a true one-of-a-kind cabin rental in this area. It’s perfectly situated in the center-most point of the map - making it easy to head east, head west, or stay put and rest. Tucked within a community but completely surrounded by forest and with lake views, curled up and cozy with floor to ceiling windows; being here will make you believe you’re living the best off-grid mountain life you always dreamed of. 

Assuming, however, you’ll want to venture out while visiting (though I wouldn’t blame you for spending an entire vacation simply looking out the A-Frame’s windows) there is plenty to enjoy, starting with the town of Chester. True, Chester does not have a storybook Main Street layout, but what it lacks in sidewalks it makes up for in unsuspecting charming boutiques. With a dozen home decor shops, I sheepishly left town possibly having refurbished my entire house and garden. In between shopping, we had coffee and pastries (another perk by the dozen) and also indulged at Aslan’s Mediterranean Grill, an authentic and quaint food experience so delicious it gets its own sentence in this here travel feature. 

 A plethora of cute boutiques beckon you from Main Street in Chester. Photo by Dannah Nielsen

Any trek to a lake town is not necessarily for shopping, however, so we headed onward to the great outdoors - which the Almanor Basin and its surroundings has plenty of. No, we did not do a polar plunge into the Lake itself (we will be back for the warm summer cool down however) but did enjoy several beach areas found along the Almanor Recreational Trail on the south end. This walking path is perfect for all ages and all abilities, stretching 19 miles (the lake is approximately 50 miles around). 

Lake Almanor Recreational trail stretches 19 miles. Photo by Dannah Nielsen

Also perfect for all ages and abilities is the Bizz Johnson Trail, a 25-plus mile stretch that includes river crossings, tunnels, bridges and canyon views. This is one trail you cannot pass up when visiting. Heading east from the Devil’s Corral trailhead served up all the sights of a good hike, but we hear that any trailhead along this route is quality time well spent. 

A final nature detour for us also included the Deer Creek Trail & Waterfall. Deer Creek is marked with easy pullouts on the side of Highway 32, and if you are not much of a hiker the views from the pullouts are worthy of taking in nonetheless. A bonus is the multiple campgrounds and day use areas that dot the creek’s bends with picnic benches and wading areas. The canopy of forest found here is idyllic. 

Of course there is the number one showstopper of all: Mount Lassen National Park, which is best accessed in summer months and to stay true to this travel feature we are highlighting what’s accessible in the off season - however we would be remiss to not mention that even from the lake shores, Mount Lassen is fantastically photogenic. 

 Historic tunnel to the left, Susan River to right of this freshly built bridge. Photo by Dannah Nielsen

“But is there anything else?” I asked the cashier-turned-friend wrapping up my birdhouse purchase. She paused, and reflected on her own 20 years growing up in Chester. “Well, most people come for the Lake or Lassen. But we actually have, like, a hundred little lakes surrounding us and there are trails of roads to all of them. Not many people know about that. In the winter they are the brightest blue against the snow.”  

After we said our goodbyes and headed out, I pulled open my Google maps and zoomed in to where we were hanging out in Chester at that moment, almost convinced she was, herself, confused. But she was right. Not far from here was Juniper Lake and its surrounding tiny lake friends, all with names and carved trails leading to them. How could it be that our hours of meticulous research and planning did not turn up these fabulous sparkling blue gems? 

As it would turn out, the hard reality is that the further out from town one treks in some directions, the more charred the forest becomes. I wonder if the cashier’s reflection which I took as thinking up the best tips to offer was actually more a reflection of what used to be. Now it made sense - a layer of snow making the deep blue lakes pop seems to ease the view of a barren terrain. Instead of this being a melancholy observation, however, it’s another reason why the off-season is worth a visit: blankets of sparkling white snow flip what the Dixie Fire devastated and compels us to reconsider what is beautiful. 

With all the adventure we had during the days spent at Lake Almanor, returning back to our A-Frame cabin was the much-appreciated reminder of why it is so important to include tasteful accommodation in your trip planning. Staying at the Almanor A-Frame meant our vacation didn’t end when we walked through the door and kicked off our shoes, it continued well after the sunsets of our off-season adventure. If you haven’t enjoyed Lake Almanor yet, consider this your push to make the drive. 

Plan your trek to Lake Almanor anytime of year by visiting www.lakealmanorarea.com. Stay at the Almanor A-Frame through Airbnb/VRBO. For more tips on traveling the area, and our state, follow @Ca.love.fornia on Instagram 

 Almanor A-Frame checks all the boxes for a mountain vacation escape. Photo by Dannah Nielsen