Road Clearing Operator Log
Log updates are posted when reports are received from road crew members. The latest update may not reflect the current status. The road crew works Monday through Thursday, 10 hours per day.
May 27, 2021 - All park roads are now currently open. Warner Valley Road and Juniper Lake Road opened today. Road crew is still laying gravel and grating the road, so please be aware of heavy equipment.
May 20, 2021 - The road crew has just started grading the Warner Valley Road this week and have at least a week's worth of work to do on the road before its fully ready to open. Also, they are assessing hazard trees next week so that might add a bit of time. But they won't know till they see how much work is needed. They have plowed into Juniper Lake, but it needs a couple weeks to dry out before it is opened.
May 17, 2021 - With the seasonal preparations in place such as road signs, parking lots cleared, tree removal, and reduced probablilty of rock slides, the park determined that the road could open. The main park road opened in its entirety on Monday, May 17th. In the spring, snowstorms can still occur. In the case of accumulating late-season snow, the road can re-close. Be sure to check for current updates on road status. Butte Lake Road is free of snow and remains open to vehicles (the campground is still closed). Warner Valley and Juniper Lake Roads are still closed for seasonal preparation.
May 5, 2021 - Staff are monitoring a rock fall area below Emerald Lake and installing road signs as in-ground receivers melt out. The highway will not open to through traffic this weekend. It will most likely open to through traffic prior to Memorial Day weekend, however this can change if snowfall or other unanticipated events occur. Road crew members are clearing fallen logs and snow patches from Warner Valley Road this week. The road remains closed at the boundary. Once Warner Valley Road is clear, we'll head over to Juniper Lake Road. Plumas County is expected to begin clearing snow to the park boundary this week. Butte Lake Road is wet with snow patches. It is open to vehicles, although high clearance and/or four-wheel drive is highly recommended. Vehicles with inadequate tires and traction can create deep ruts on the wet road that last through summer.
April 30, 2021 - Road is clear of snow and open to hiking and biking. Vehicles may drive to Sulphur Works from the southwest and Devastated Area from the northwest.
April 28, 2021 - Road is clear of snow. Road crew is hauling equipment down and should be done with clearing recent snow on 4/29.
April 26, 2021 - The road between Loomis Plaza and Devastated Area was closed over the weekend, but has since re-opened. The entire park highway received new snow and hikers/bikers should expect to encounter snow while recreating on the road.
April 21, 2021 - We met up with CalTrans Kings Creek at 1:58 today. We still have a lot of clean up to do, but the hard work is complete! It will be some time before the road is completely ready for traffic. It looks like a significant snow storm is heading our way this weekend with a foot of new snow or more; snowstorms in April are not uncommon.
April 15, 2021 - We finished the week near the Almanor overlook. About 9 miles have been completed from the southwest entrance. We may be able to meet up with the progress made from the north by the end of next week. There will still be some trimming, ditching and parking lots to clear.
April 13, 2021 - We made it to the Lassen Peak parking lot today. There were several locations with rocks underneath the snow, so we will need to wait until remaining snow melts so we can scoop the remainder of the the rocks off later. CalTrans has cleared to summit lake from the north.
April 9, 2021 - We ended our week at Emerald Lake, just below Bumpass Hell Trailhead parking area. That gives us a total of 5.5 miles for the first week. Caltrans will be starting to assist with the large parking lots Tuesday.
April 5, 2021 - Crew completed clearing between Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center and Windy Point (0.5 mile beyond Sulphur Works). Snow depth is lower-than-average at 6 to 8 feet.
March 23, 2021 - Clearing to Devastated Area was completed today. hikers and bicyclists can enjoy the cleared road until it opens to vehicles when conditions permit (see map above for current status). Thank you to CalTrans in assisting with steady snow removal and re-clearing the new snow that fell March 8. Road crew will transport equipment to the Southwest Entrance in preparation to begin clearing operations either around March 31. There is approximately 8 feet of snow on the road in the Southwest Area. The clearing process goes more slowly in this area due to the steep slopes, avalanches, hairpin turns, and heavy snow drifts.
March 19, 2021 - Road crew has cleared the park highway between Loomis Plaza and Hot Rock (6.7 miles). Progress was slower than usual due to equipment issues and new snowfall. Road crew will continue clearing to Devastated Area on Monday, 3/22.
March 3, 2021 - Road crews have completed initial snow clearing operations along the Manzanita Lake Campground Road and in the Manzanita Lake Campground (opens 5/21). CalTrans has cleared the park highway between Loomis Plaza and Sunflower Flat (2.5 miles) and will continue towards Devastated Area (10 miles). Once the highway is cleared to Devastated Area, road crews will begin clearing in the Southwest Area. This could possibly occur as early as the last week of March, depending on weather and equipment.
