Winter Safety

You are in charge of your safety and well-being while recreating at Lassen Volcanic National Park.

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Your safety is your responsibility. Be prepared for severe and possibly rapid-changing winter weather in a remote, high-elevation area. There is little to no cell service in the park and services are limited. Be prepared to self-rescue in emergencies. When in doubt, wait for a safer day to visit.

 

 

Recreating in a Remote Area

• We highly suggest recreating in groups and/or carrying a emergency locator device when exploring anywhere in the park, but especially farther than one mile from parking areas.
• If you have an emergency and have cell service, call 911. Free Wi-Fi is available in the immediate vicinity of the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center. There is no public Wi-Fi in the Manzanita Lake area.
• There is no gas available in the park.

Access & Driving

Expect the main park road to be closed in winter. Access is typically available to the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center (southwest entrance) and Loomis Plaza/Manzanita Lake (northwest entrance). Roads and facilities may close unexpectedly due to severe weather. All closures will be posted in alerts that list on the top of each webpage. Visitor information line also has recording of current closures at [phone] (phone function intermittent).

• During heavy snowfall, southwest area plowing operations end at 1:30pm. Visitors are strongly encouraged to exit the park behind the snowplow to avoid traveling through deep snowpack.
• Roads to and around the park may also have adverse driving conditions. Check Caltrans for external road conditions: Hwy 36 for southwest entrance, Hwy 44 and/or 89 for northwest entrance.
• Always carry an emergency kit in your car in case it breaks down or if you must wait out a storm. Your car emergency kit can include items like a snow shovel, ice scraper, sand/kitty litter, jumper cables, tow chains or ropes, extra water, and snacks.

 

Did you know sledding is the number one cause of visitor injury in winter? Please use caution when enjoying the snow play areas of the park.

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Plan Ahead

• Check the weather forecast before visiting. Don’t forget to check multiple forecasts if traveling through different areas (forecasts may differ based on elevation)!
• Know where you’re going and bring a map with you. Trails look different in the winter and visibility can be poor if it’s windy or snowing.
• Choose an activity based on the skill/ability level of the weakest, youngest, or least experienced member of your group. Trails and elevations you explored in summer may be more difficult in winter.
• Have a Plan B (and maybe a Plan C). Be flexible with your trip plan and have backup options. Reasons to change plans may include: group member comfort levels, changing weather conditions, park closures for safety concerns, or gear malfunction. Remember, it is always okay to turn around or delay your adventure to another day or time.
• Tell someone not in your travel group your plans. Even if you are visiting with a group, tell someone else your itinerary and any alternate plans, your group members and size, and when you expect to return. Don’t forget to reach out after your trip to let them know you’re safe!
• Be avalanche aware if traveling in known avalanche-prone areas, beyond established routes, or in steep terrain.

 

Winter Etiquette

Improve everyone's safety and enjoyment by adhering to the following winter etiquette recommendations:

• Do not walk on ski tracks. Footprints and snowshoe tracks create hazards that make skiing more difficult.
• Snowshoe parallel to the ski track. Using a separate track ensures snowshoers remain clear of downhill skiers.
• Yield to faster skiers or downhill traffic. Step to the side to allow skiers traveling downhill to safely pass. In all other cases, yield to those traveling uphill, as they are working harder and have the right of way.

 

Wear Appropriate Clothing

• Wear/carry waterproof clothing and gear. Choose clothing made of wool or synthetic material over cotton - Cotton absorbs moisture easily and won’t keep you warm if it gets wet.
• Pack layers for warmth. We recommend carrying extra layers with you, just in case.
• Wear sun protection, like sunglasses and sunscreen. California sun doesn’t stop just because it’s winter!
• Don’t forget to bring water and snacks, a map, and a friend.

 

Watch For Cold Related Illness

Hypothermia is a serious health hazard that occurs when your body loses heat too quickly and can no longer keep itself warm. Frostbite can cause a loss of feeling and color in the areas it affects, usually fingers and toes; severe cases can lead to amputation.

Hypothermia

Signs & Symptoms:

• Shivering
• Exhaustion or feeling very tired
• Confusion
• Fumbling hands
• Memory loss
• Slurred speech
• Drowsiness
• In infants: Bright red, cold skin and very low energy

How to Treat Hypothermia

• If temperature is below 95 F, get medical attention right away!
• Get the person into a warm room or shelter.
• Remove any wet clothing the person is wearing.
• Warm the center of the person's body—chest, neck, head, and groin—using an electric blanket, if available. You can also use skin-to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels, or sheets. Warm drinks can help increase body temperature.
• After body temperature has increased, keep the person dry and wrap their body, including their head and neck, in a warm blanket.

Frostbite

Signs & Symptoms

• Redness or pain in any skin area may be the first sign of frostbite
• White or grayish-yellow area on skin
• Skin that feels unusually firm or waxy
• Numbness

How to Treat Frostbite

Frostbite should be checked by a healthcare provider. The following steps can help alleviate or treat frostbite until you can seek medical attention.

• Get the person into a warm room as soon as possible.
• Unless absolutely necessary, do not walk on feet or toes that show signs of frostbite—this increases the damage. Do not rub the frostbitten area with snow or massage it at all. This can cause more damage.
• Put the areas affected by frostbite in warm—not hot—water (the temperature should be comfortable to the touch for unaffected parts of the body). If warm water is not available, warm the affected area using body heat. For example, you can use the heat of an armpit to warm frostbitten fingers. Do not use a heating pad, heat lamp, or the heat of a stove, fireplace, or radiator for warming. Affected areas are numb and can easily burn.

 

If Conditions Worsen

Winter storms can decrease your ability to see as well as the ability of others to see you. If you are hiking, stop, find shelter near you, and stay put so you don’t become lost. If you are driving, turn on your lights and slow down or pull over if possible.

Park operations during severe winter weather:

• The last snowplow typically leaves the southwest area at 2:30pm. Hwy 89 or SR-44 may not be plowed consistently.
• Hwy 89 and the visitor center may close intermittently for staff and visitor safety.