What Lassen Volcanic National Park Visitors Need To Know Before Going In The Winter

When winter hits Lassen Volcanic National Park, it changes. The park becomes a less-crowded but beautiful destination, blanketed in deep snow and wrapped in the kind of silence you just don't get in summer. But that beauty comes with big changes, especially for anyone planning a visit.

This winter, the Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway, which is the section of Highway 89 running through the park, has officially closed as a result of heavy snow and ice accumulation. This closure is a normal part of the park's seasonal cycle, though, as the shutdown occurs every year between the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center at the southwest entrance and Devastated Area around the northwest side. The timing may only vary each year depending on the weather pattern, but once winter storms start, the closure is a given.

With that highway closed, it means you can't drive straight through the park. The side roads to Juniper Lake, Warner Valley, and Butte Lake are off-limits as well until things melt out. If you're dreaming of a scenic drive or easy access, you'll need to rethink your plans. Visiting Lassen in winter means embracing the harsh realities of the season. However, note that the park isn't closed completely. You can still get in, except that you can't go very far. From both the southwest and northwest entrances, you can travel about a mile in before you hit the snow closure. For a lot of people, that may be all they need. Snowshoers, cross-country skiers, and photographers often enjoy those quiet stretches, as they soak in the views and the silence.

Even with the Lassen road closed, you can still enjoy your winter visit to this destination. If you're into snowshoeing, sledding or cross-country skiing, this spot is tough to beat in Northern California. The southwest entrance near Kohm Yah-mah-nee basically turns into basecamp for winter, since there's parking and easy access to the snow.

Camping is still possible too, but with some changes and conditions. You're permitted to camp in the backcountry, but you need to have a valid Wilderness Permit, and be properly equipped for the cold and deep snow. If you're not up for that and prefer camping in your vehicle, that's possible at the Southwest Parking Area and Manzanita Loop A. You can stay overnight there, but only if you have a self-contained vehicle, such as vans or campers, not tents.

In case you want more space, or perhaps you simply don't meet the national park's backcountry winter rules, the surrounding Lassen National Forest is another option you may consider. Dispersed camping is still allowed out there, but you may have to be very careful. It's important to be prepared for unpredictable storms and rapid drops in temperature. Needless to say, there will be limited emergency services in such a place, meaning that if you happen to get in trouble, help could be pretty far away.

Arguably, Lassen National Park can be placed among the west coast's must-visit national parks. As such, one big question is probably on everyone's mind: when will they clear the snow and open the main road? Actually, there's no set date. Most years, the Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway typically reopens in late-spring (May or June), but it all depends on the weather, how deep the snow gets during winter, and how quickly snow removal teams can safely clear the road in spring. In fact, snow can pile up 30 to 40 feet deep, especially in places that are prone to avalanches, and clearing something like that will be no small feat.

The snow removal crews usually start plowing in March or April, but if storms keep sweeping through, the work might get slowed down. Oftentimes, the teams aren't just removing snow; they're also watching out for risks, dealing with snowdrifts, fallen trees, and probably repairs. So, if you're thinking about a trip early in the season, you should be ready for possible delays.

All in all, when heading to Lassen in winter, flexibility is your best friend. Check the National Park Service website before you go. That way, you'll know which entrances are open, what the snow's like, and when new parts of the park start opening up as spring arrives.