You are here

Road Through Lassen Volcanic National Park Now Open

Share

Published Date

July 3, 2023

The road through Lassen Volcanic National Park is now open for summer. View of Lassen Peak from Bumpass Hell/NPS

The 30-mile highway through Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California has opened for the summer season, though sections might seem like winter. A higher-than-average snowpack slowed operations, but through the hard work of National Park Service and Caltrans road crews, the road has been fully cleared. Visitors to the park should prepare for winter conditions at higher elevations, and possible delays due to ongoing road work.

Intermittent closures along the highway are possible due to repair work, as well as inclement weather. You should check the weather forecast before traveling. In other areas of the park, the road to Butte Lake is open; Warner Valley Road is closed to vehicles, but open to bikers and hikers; and Juniper Lake Road remains closed to all traffic at the park boundary due to post-Dixie Fire hazards.

Over the winter, a short portion of Highway 89 was damaged at Sulphur Works, approximately one mile north of the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center. Thirty feet of sidewalk in that location has collapsed and some of the road has been undermined. Traffic will be limited to one lane in this area throughout the season, controlled by automatic traffic lights. Visitors should expect delays and use caution when on foot. Repair work is expected to begin in September. 

Trails in the higher-elevation areas of the park remain snow-covered. This includes, but is not limited to, Lassen Peak and Brokeoff Mountain. Bumpass Hell Trail remains under seasonal closure due to snow and ice. View current trail conditions at this page.

Campground openings have been delayed due to snow, snow damage, and hazard trees, but some are open. Manzanita Lake Campground, cabins, and the Camper Store are open. Butte Lake Campground is also open. Summit Lake and Warner Valley are being assessed for safety and will open when possible. Reservations are required for all camping and backpacking and can be made through recreation.gov.  Juniper Lake campground will be closed for the entire 2023 season due to ongoing recovery from the Dixie Fire. Drakesbad Guest Ranch in Warner Valley will also remain closed for the entire 2023 season due to ongoing recovery from the Dixie Fire. View all 2023 season dates, as well as visitor center, museum, store, and café hours at this page.

Add comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

Your support helps the National Parks Traveler increase awareness of the wonders and issues confronting national parks and protected areas.

Support Our Mission

INN Member

The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.

Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.

You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

FREE for iPhones and Android phones.