Visiting in Spring

Spring is a time of lingering snow and increasing access to the park's interior.

NPS photo

April Through June

Spring is a transitional season, one where snow lingers, flowers bloom, and plows work tirelessly to clear the park road for summer traffic.

 

 

Access May be Limited

Road closures are listed in park alerts, which appear at the top of each page and on the Alerts & Conditions page.

Lassen National Park Highway

Lassen’s main park road (Hwy 89 through the park) is closed during the snowy months; vehicle access is limited to Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center (southwest entrance) and Loomis Plaza/Manzanita Lake parking area (northwest entrance).

Spring snow clearing along the road typically begins in April; road opening days vary by year. Historically, the road typically opens in late May, but has opened as late as July 26.

Roads to Butte Lake, Juniper Lake, and Warner Valley

Typically, these roads are not plowed at all in winter or spring and may be muddy or impassible. These roads may be gated for safety.

Weather

Bring layers, sun protection, and waterproof outerwear. Conditions are varied and hard to predict this time of year. Winter chill and snow may intrude into July, or summer heat may arrive early.

Historically, April boasts the year’s deepest snowpack. Average snow depth at the southwest entrance is 10-12 feet (3 meters). Expect a 5° temperature decrease for every 1,000-foot increase in elevation. Check the weather forecast for various points in the park, see the current snow depths around the park, and learn more about how and why Lassen measures snowpack.

 

 

Visitor Centers

Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center (southwest entrance) is open year-round. Operating hours are limited in winter; hours expand around Memorial Day to reflect higher visitation and staffing levels.

Loomis Museum contact station (northwest entrance) is closed in winter and spring. The museum typically opens around Memorial Day, depending on staffing ability.

Camping

Front-Country: All park campgrounds are closed in winter and into spring. Campgrounds will open as the park road opens and is weather dependent. Most campgrounds require a reservation through recreation.gov; all opening dates are subject to weather and road clearing capabilities.The Southwest Parking Area allows self-contained vehicle camping year-round.

Backpacking: Backcountry camping is allowed with valid Wilderness Permit (reserved via recreation.gov prior to your trip). Backcountry camping along the closed park road is allowed in winter, see page for detailed information.

Things to Do

Enjoy the Snow

Take advantage of spring snowpack!

Hike & Bike the Highway

The park highway opens to hiking and biking before vehicles. Take advantage of quieter roads to see the park on foot or bicycle.

Hiking

While most of Lassen remains snow-covered through May and into June, some hikes in the Manzanita Lake and Butte Lake Areas can be snow-free by May, and most are usually snow-free by sometime in June, except in heavy snow years.