Highway 89 opens to hikers at Lassen

Lassen Volcanic National Park is allowing hikers and cyclists onto cleared sections of Highway 89 before the road reopens to cars, according to National Park Service road-status pages updated this month. The main park road remained closed to through vehicle travel as of May 17 because of winter snow accumulation, the park said. Vehicle access was limited to Sulphur Works from the southwest entrance and to Devastated Area from the northwest entrance at Manzanita Lake. Park officials said road clearing operations were still underway. ### Which parts of Highway 89 are open right now? The National Park Service said closed sections of the Lassen park highway can be used for walking, running and biking during spring road clearing. That access begins after crews fully clear a section of snow but before the park finishes the remaining work needed for cars, including sign installation, shoulder grading and parking-area preparation. As of the park's current conditions update, through travel by car was still not allowed across the highway. The service said motorists could only drive as far as Sulphur Works from the southwest side and as far as Devastated Area from the northwest entrance at Manzanita Lake. ### Why can people bike or walk the road before cars are allowed back? Highway 89 through the park is a 30-mile route that crosses avalanche-prone slopes and can hold a snowpack up to 40 feet deep, the park said. (nps.gov) Snow clearing usually starts as early as mid-March and can take about two months before the road is entirely cleared. Even after plows finish a section, officials keep it closed to vehicles until snow and ice melt and road preparations are complete. (nps.gov) The park's Hike and Bike page said this early-season window is a recurring spring access period rather than a special one-off opening. The page said section opening dates vary by year, depend on weather and plowing capacity, and may reverse if severe weather returns. ### How does the park usually reopen the road section by section? The National Park Service lists a typical opening order for pedestrian access as crews progress across the highway. (nps.gov) The sequence starts with Loomis Museum to Devastated Area, then the southwest entrance to Sulphur Works, then Sulphur Works to either Bumpass Hell parking area or Lassen Peak parking area, and finally Lassen Peak to Devastated Area. (nps.gov) That sequencing helps explain why some stretches can be available to non-motorized visitors while the full road is still shut to cars. The park said it cannot predict exact opening dates for each section and directs visitors to current conditions pages for the latest map and alert information. ### What should visitors watch for if they go now? (nps.gov) The park warned that hiking and biking are allowed only with caution while clearing operations continue. Officials said the highway is narrow and winding, with sharp turns, little to no shoulder, possible rockfall and spotty cell service. Leashed pets are allowed on the road when it is clear of snow, according to the park's Hike and Bike guidance. (nps.gov) The park also said visitors should be prepared for cold conditions because elevations range from 5,650 to 10,457 feet and weather can change quickly. ### Are there other closures visitors should factor into a trip? The park's alerts page said the Bumpass Hell Trail remained under seasonal closure because of accumulated winter snow. (nps.gov) The trail typically stays closed through mid-July, the park said. A separate March 14 alert said the road to Juniper Lake remained closed to vehicle access because of damage outside the park and had no estimated repair date. (nps.gov) The park also warned that some facilities and areas still carry hazards tied to the 2021 Dixie Fire. ### Where will the next updates appear? The National Park Service said new road-clearing status updates appear in the park's Alerts system and on the Current Conditions page. (nps.gov) A map showing plowed and unplowed sections is also posted there, and the park said the highway is fully open only when no active closure alert remains. (nps.gov)