Much of the eastern half of Lassen Volcanic National Park has been closed to overnight use due to bear activity/NPS

The amount of Lassen Volcanic National Park backcountry closed to overnight use due to a bear or bears obtaining food from backpackers has been greatly expanded to encompass most of the eastern half of the park.

Earlier this month the park closed an area of one mile in all directions from the following lakes frequently accessed from Summit Lake Trailhead: Echo, Upper Twin, Lower Twin, Swan, and Rainbow Lake. 

"There have been multiple reports from visitors of a bear (or bears) coming into campsites and searching backpacks for food in these areas," park staff reported at the time. "This is a learned behavior from visitors leaving scented items in their backpacks and not storing them in proper bear-resistant containers."

Now, because of additional reports of troublesome bears, the park has closed the area east of Lassen National Park Highway (CA State Highway 89) and east of Hat Creek and Kings Creek to overnight backpacking use. This closure does not impact day use including hiking and stock use or camping within developed campgrounds.

“We have received additional reports of human-bear interactions from outside the original closure area,” said Lassen Volcanic Superintendent Jim Richardson. “It is necessary to expand the area of the closure in an effort to prevent more negative interactions,” Richardson added.

Lassen Volcanic is home to a population of approximately 30 black bears; there are no brown or grizzly bears in the park. Information about black bears in the park is provided in large part by wildlife sighting reports submitted by visitors. 

All visitors can protect themselves and park wildlife by being bear aware. When hiking in the park make noise to avoid surprising a bear, never leave your pack unattended, and be particularly alert for bear activity when near streams or vegetation. If you come upon a bear, walk away slowly―never run or drop your pack. More information about bear safety is available at go.nps.gov/bearaware.

Backpackers camping in other areas of the park are required to store all food and scented items in an approved, bear-resistant storage container. Canisters are available for rent at the Loomis Museum or Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center during business hours. Backpackers can view a list of approved containers certified by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) or learn more about backpacking regulations at go.nps.gov/lavo/backpacking.

Alternative destinations for backpacking include trails in the Southwest and Manzanita Lake areas; and in the surrounding Lassen National Forest and nearby Shasta-Trinity and Plumas National Forests.