Visiting in Winter

 

Plan a Winter Visit: December - March

Winter is a season of snow and solitude. Vehicle access is limited, but over-the-snow adventure is seemingly endless. View current conditions.

Winter/Spring Guide

The Visitor Guide for the winter/spring season is available at park entrance stations or the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center. Otherwise, this page is a good on-line resource to plan a visit in winter and to trip plan.

Areas to Visit

The Manzanita Lake and Southwest Areas of the park are accessible throughout the winter season. Be prepared for winter driving by carrying tire chains, keeping a full tank of gas or a fully-charged vehicle (the nearest station is 30 miles away).

Southwest Area
Located five miles north of the SR-36 and SR-89 junction. Steep slopes and sweeping vistas abound in the Southwest Area of the park. Beginning at 6,700 feet elevation, this area receives the most snow. The year-round visitor center here is an excellent first stop for new winter explorers.

Sulphur Works is the only hydrothermal area accessible in the winter season and is accessed via a two-mile, over-snow route from the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center. The highway into Southwest Area may close temporarily due to severe weather/heavy snowfall.

Manzanita Lake Area
Located two miles south of the SR-44 and SR-89 junction in the northwest corner of the park. The Manzanita Lake Area (5,800 elevation) consists of gentle slopes and scenic lakes. It offers the easiest routes for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the park.

Activities

For those prepared for winter recreation, opportunities include sledding, snowplay, *snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, backcountry skiing/snowboarding. *ranger-led snowshoe walks are offered on weekends January through March. Plan on leaving your pet at home or in your vehicle, as pets are not permitted on trails or snow-covered routes (including the park highway). Learn more about visiting the park with pets.

*Learn more about why snowshoeing is a common activity in winter at Lassen. Find resources about renting a pair of snowshoes.

Visitor Centers

The Kohm Yah-mah-ee Visitor Center is open year-round. The center is open Wednesday through Sunday November through April. Open link for hours of operation. The visitor center may experience delayed openings or early closures at any time due hazardous weather conditions. The Loomis Museum is closed through the winter.

Weather

The park receives up to 30 feet of snowfall in the winter/spring snow season (approximately November through May). Sunny skies are common between short (1 to 3 day) snow storms. Winter/spring temperatures in the Southwest Area (6,700 feet elevation) range from highs of 50°F to 61°F to lows of 13°F to 23°F. Temperatures in the Manzanita Lake Area (5,800 feet elevation) run about 5° warmer. Expect a 5° temperature decrease for every 1,000 foot increase in elevation. View the weather forecast for each area prior to your visit. Lassen Volcanic's snowpack often lasts more than half of the year. View current snow depths or learn about how and why park snowpack is measured.

Services

Winter services are available in the Southwest Area of the park. The Southwest Campground is open year-round. Parking, restrooms, and water are available in the Loomis Plaza in the Manzanita Lake Area. Equipment rentals are not available in the park. Snowshoe and/or ski rentals may be available in Mineral, Chester, Redding, Susanville, or Chico. View the table below for more information.

 

Winter services table