Oversnow Route Conditions

Season for Winter/Spring Oversnow Routes: November - May

Last updated: 3/15/2025

You may need to reload page to see updates. Periodicaly updated staring in November as trails become snow-covered. View current snow depths

View the summer trail conditions page from May through October.

NOTICE: Snow accumulates on the Lassen National Park Highway throughout the snow season (November - April) necessitating the closure of the road to vehicles. The closure and accumulated snow allows for snow-related recreation such as snowshoing or skiing. This equipment is necessary to explore beyond the main entrances and until the road re-opens to vehicles.

Learn more about spring road clearing operations which affect portions of the highway route.

When selecting a route, please consider:

  • Snow-covered roads and trails in the park are considered winter routes and require snowshoes or skis to enjoy safely. View maps and details of winter routes in the Southwest Area or Manzanita Lake Area.
  • All trails in the park are covered with snow from approximately November - April/May each year. The park does not clear snow on hiking trails.
  • There are no groomed or marked routes.
  • Many oversnow routes do not follow summer trails exactly; some summer trails are not recommended as oversnow routes.
  • Pets are not permitted on snow-covered routes or on the snow-covered park road. Leashed pets are permitted in parking areas. Pets are permitted on cleared sections of the park road. As a rule of thumb, Paws on Pavement.
  • Spring snow clearing operations affects portions of the highway route. Visitors can walk or bike sections of the highway once they are cleared of snow and before they are open to vehicles. Usually beginning in March or April.
  • Oversnow travel involves risk. Learn more about winter safety including avalanche safety, recreating in a remote area, and route selection. Your saftey is your responsibility.
  • Bumpass Hell Trail is closed thorughout the snowy season. Remote location, steep drop-offs, cornices, difficult access, avalanche terrain, hidden hazards beneath the snow make this trail unsitable for oversnow travel. This trail typically opens for hiking in June or July.
 

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Note that all snow-covered routes require navigation and route-finding skills. As hard-packed dirt trails are not visible when underneath several feet of snow.

Oversnow Route

Miles (RT)

Difficulty

Condition

Southwest Area Winter Routes | Elevations range from 6,700 feet to 10,457 feet

*Park Highway Route
(main park road)

Varies

Varies

Deep snow accumulation suitable for skis or snowshoes. Not passable without winter traversing equipment.

*The route is not cleared, nor groomed. Snow accumulates on the road route throughout the snow season.

Sulphur Works
(via Hwy Route)

2.0

Beginner
(most popular route)

Deep snow. Snow condtions vary.

Accumulated snow warrants the need to use skis or snowshoes to reach Sulphur Works. At times, a packed down surface may make it passable without winter equipment. Due to continually changing conditons of the snow, it is advisable to use snowshoes, skis or boot spikes.

Lassen Peak

17.0+

Advanced

Deep snow. Snow condtions vary.

Reaching Lassen Peak requires around 15+ miles of travel round trip starting from the southwest park entrance.

Snow traversing equipment is necessary. Snowshoes Snowshoes/ ski, boot crampons, and ice axe may be necessary.

Throughout the snowy season (Nov. - April), the route passes through avalanche terrain. Be avalanche aware. Avalanche gear is highly recommended.
Protect the Lassen Peak Trail; do not cut switchbacks once trail is visible.

Ridge Lakes

4.0

Intermediate

Deep snow. Snow conditions vary.

Snow traversing equipment is necessary. Suitable for snowshoes. Skiing is advanced.

Forest Lake

2.4

Intermediate

Deep snow. Snow conditions vary.

Snow traversing equipment is necessary. Suitable for snowshoes.Skiing is advanced.

Brokeoff Mountain

7.0

Advanced

Deep snow. Snow conditions vary.

Snow traversing equipment is necessary. Snowshoes, ice-axe and crampons. Skiing is advanced. Snow depths vary significantly due to exposed slopes and wind-blown snow.

Throughout the snowy season (Nov. - April), the route passes through avalanche terrain. Be avalanche aware. Avalanche gear is highly recommended.

Bumpass Hell - Closed

NOT A WINTER ROUTE. Trail is closed in winter. This trail is closed every winter/spring until free of snow/ice hazards.

Trail typically re-opens in June or July. See trail opening dates from previous years, which are largely affected by snowpack. See summer trail conditions page for more information.

Mill Creek Falls

Deep snow. Snow conditions vary.

Not advisable as a winter route with substanial snow cover.
Be aware of burn hazards such as standing dead trees.

McGowan Cross-Country Ski Area
Lassen National Forest

Varies

Varies

Deep snow. Snow conditons vary.

Check website for more information.
Be aware of burn hazards such as standing dead trees.

Manzanita Lake Area Winter Routes | Elevation range:5,600 feet - 8,530 feet

Park Highway Route
(main park road)

Varies

Intermediate

Snow-covered. Snow conditions vary.

Sufficient snow accumulation suitable for skis, snowshoes or boot spikes for packed snow. Not passable without winter traversing equipment.

*The route is not cleared, nor groomed. Snow accumulates on the road route throughout the snow season.

Reflection Lake Loop

0.5

Beginner

Snow-covered. Snow conditions vary.

The use of snowshoes or boot spikes is necessary.
Not advised for skiing.

Due to exposure, sections of the route may have little to no snow or be ice covered.
Do not walk on lake ice.

Manzanita Lake Campground Loop

1.8

Beginner

Snow-covered. Snow conditions vary.

Manzanita Lake Loop

1.8

Beginner

Snow-covered. Snow conditons vary.

The use of snowshoes or boot spikes for packed snow is necessary.

Not advised for skiing.

Due to exposure, sections of the route may have little to no snow or be ice covered.
Do not walk on lake ice.

Chaos Crags Route

4.0

Intermediate

Snow-covered. Snow conditions vary.

The use of snowshoes is necessary.
Not advised for skiing.

Nobles Emigrant Route

5.2

Intermediate

Snow-covered. Snow conditons vary.

The use of snowshoes, skis, or boot spikes for packed snow is necessary.

Manzanita Creek

7.5

Intermediate

Snow-covered. Snow conditons vary.

The use of snowshoes or skis is necessary.

Butte Lake Area | Elevation range:6,100 feet - 8,338 feet. Road closed to vehicle access during the snow season.

Butte Lake Road

6.0

Snow-covered. Snow conditions vary.

The use of snowshoes or skis is necessary.

Road not winter maintained. Travel by vehicle is at your own risk.

Warner Valley Area | Elevation range: 5,600 feet - 7,408 feet. Road closed to vehicle access during the snow season.

Warner Valley Road

6.0

Snow-covered. Snow conditions vary.

The use of snowhsoes or skis is necessary.

Be aware of burn hazards such as standing dead trees.

Juniper Lake Area | Elevation range: 6,700 feet - 8,048 feet. Road closed to vehicle access during the snow season.

Juniper Lake Road

4.0

Snow-covered. Snow conditons vary.

The use of snowshoes or skis is necessary.

Be aware of burn hazards such as standing dead trees.
 

Not Recommended for Oversnow Travel

Some summer trails are not recommended for oversnow travel due to hazards including terrain, avalanche danger, and hydrothermal hazards.

  • Mill Creek Falls Trail: Due to hazards created from the Dixie Fire, difficulty navigating with snow on the ground, this trail is not advised in the winter. Sections of the trail cross a steep slope above Mill Creek and are not ideal for oversnow travel. Burned Area Safety - Lassen Volcanic National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
  • Bumpass Hell Hydrothermal Area: In addition to requiring nearly 7 miles of one-way travel on the highway route, the summer trail traverses steep slopes above Little Hot Springs Valley which is not safe for oversnow travel. Bumpass Hell Trail remains CLOSED until the trail is snow-free due to these snow/ice hazards.

Last updated: March 15, 2025

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Mineral, CA 96063

Phone:

530 595-4480

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