Lassen Volcanic National Park road opens

Michele Chandler, Redding Record Searchlight
Updated ·2 min read
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The 30-mile highway that winds through Lassen Volcanic National Park opened for theseason on July 1.

Work crews from the National Park Service and the California Department of Transportation began clearing the road in April. A higher-than-average snowpack slowed operations, but the road has now been fully cleared, park officials said on Saturday.

In 2017, the road, called the Lassen National Park Highway, did not open until July 26, the latest opening in park records dating back to 1931. Last year, the road opened June 3.

Visitors to the park this year should prepare for winter conditions at higher elevations and possibledelays due to ongoing road work.Intermittent closures along the highway are possible due to repair work or weather. Please check the weather forecast before traveling.

A snow plow clears the road by the Devastated Area in Lassen Volcanic Park during the spring of 2023.
A snow plow clears the road by the Devastated Area in Lassen Volcanic Park during the spring of 2023.

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 Firehazards, officials said.During the winter, a short portion of Highway 89 was damaged at Sulphur Works, approximatelyone mile north of the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center. Thirty feet of sidewalk in thatlocation collapsed and some of the road has been undermined.Officials said 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 September2023.

Trails in the higher-elevation areas of the park remain snow-covered, including Lassen Peak and Brokeoff Mountain. Bumpass Hell Trail remains under seasonal closure due to snow and ice.

View current trail conditions at go.nps.gov/lavo/hike.Campground openings have been delayed due to snow, snow damage and hazard trees, butmany areas are now open. Manzanita Lake Campground, cabins and the Camper Store areopen. Butte Lake Campground is also open.

The Buzz: Road through Shasta County's Lassen Park still closed after heavy winter snows

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 recoveryfrom the Dixie Fire. View all 2023 season dates, as well as visitor center, museum, store and caféhours at go.nps.gov/lavo/hours.

Learn more about visiting after the Dixie Fire at go.nps.gov/afterdixie.

For additional information about Lassen Volcanic National Park and the most updated road and trail conditions, please visit us at www.nps.gov/lavo, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LassenNPS, Twitter at www.twitter.com/LassenNPS, and YouTube at www.youtube.com/LassenNPS.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Lassen Volcanic Park Hwy reopened. But there's more you should know.