Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
KNOW ABOUT THE SNOW
Rangers tell rueful stories about people who drive across the country in their RVs to find
the roads of Lassen Volcanic National Park impassable; don't let it happen to you. The
road through the park is usually only open from June to October, though it has been
closed due to snow (as much as 40ft of it) well into July at times. Travelers need to call
ahead or check the park website (
www.nps.gov/lavo;
click 'Current Conditions') to get
weather conditions before considering a visit during all but a couple of months of the year
- the only safe bets are August and September. A slow melt or freak storm can close ma-
jor parts of the park at any other time of year.
Sleeping & Eating
If you're coming to Lassen Volcanic National Park from the north on Hwy 89, you won't
see many gas/food/lodgings signs after Mt Shasta City. Your best option is to stock up en
route and camp.
RV sites $10-18)
, and there are many more in the surrounding Lassen National Forest. Camp-
grounds in the park are open from late May to late October, depending on snow condi-
tions. Manzanita Lake is the only one with hot showers, but the two Summit Lake camp-
grounds, in the middle of the park, are also popular. Reservations are permitted at Butte
Lake in the northeast corner of the park, Manzanita Lake in the northwest, Summit Lake
North and Summit Lake South.
If you don't want to camp, the nearest place to stay is Chester, which accesses the south
entrance of the park. There are some basic services near the split of Hwy 89 and Hwy 44,
in the north.
North Entrance of the Park
Manzanita Lake Camping Cabins
CABINS & CAMPGROUND
( summer 530-335-7557, winter 530-200-4578;
www.lassenrecreation.com
; Hwy 89, near Manzanita
Lake; cabins $63-89;
)
