Lassen Highway 89 opens to hikers, cyclists

Lassen Volcanic National Park is in its annual spring crossover period, when parts of Highway 89 are usable on foot or by bicycle before the road reopens to cars. The National Park Service said in a May 7 closure alert that the main park road remains closed to through travel because of winter snow accumulation. Vehicle access is limited from the southwest entrance to Sulphur Works and from the northwest entrance at Manzanita Lake to the Devastated Area. Hiking and biking are allowed on closed sections of the road, the park said, while snow-clearing work continues. ### Which part of Lassen’s road system is open right now? Highway 89 is the park’s main road, a 30-mile route that runs north-south through Lassen Volcanic National Park. The National Park Service said through travel is still closed, but visitors can drive short access segments from the southwest entrance to Sulphur Works and from the northwest entrance to the Devastated Area near Manzanita Lake. (nps.gov) The May 7 alert did not say the full highway was open to vehicles. Instead, it said hikers and bicyclists may use closed sections of the road, with caution, because active road-clearing operations are underway. ### Why can people bike or walk it before drivers can use it? The National Park Service says Lassen’s highway routinely opens to pedestrian travel before it opens to vehicles during spring clearing. (nps.gov) On its “Hike and Bike the Highway” page, the park says visitors may walk, run or bike on sections once road crews have completely cleared them of snow. Spring clearing is a substantial operation. (nps.gov) The park says crews may have to plow through snow as deep as 40 feet, on a highway that crosses avalanche-prone slopes and steep drop-offs. Even after a section is plowed, the road stays closed to cars until snow and ice melt and crews finish work such as shoulder grading, signs and parking areas. (nps.gov) ### How long does this seasonal closure usually last? Spring at Lassen typically means limited vehicle access through at least part of May and often into June. The park says the snowy-season road closure generally runs from about November to June, and that the road will not entirely reopen until late spring or early summer. Historical timing varies. The National Park Service says Highway 89 through the park typically opens in late May to mid-June, though in some years it has opened as late as July 26. (nps.gov) Section opening dates for walking and biking also vary by weather and plowing progress, and the park says it cannot predict them in advance. ### What should visitors watch out for on the closed road? (nps.gov) The park says cyclists and pedestrians should expect an active work zone, not a finished scenic drive. Its alerts warn that road clearing is underway, and its biking guidance says the highway is narrow and winding, with sharp turns, rockfall risk and limited cell service. Safety guidance is specific. The National Park Service says visitors should share the road, keep distance between walkers and cyclists, watch for snow and ice, and avoid relying on mobile coverage in an emergency. (nps.gov) Leashed pets are allowed on the road when it is clear of snow, according to the park’s hike-and-bike page. ### Where do section openings usually happen first? The park says spring access opens in stages rather than all at once. (nps.gov) On its hike-and-bike page, Lassen lists the usual order as 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 sequence helps explain why visitors may find usable pavement on one side of the park while the full drive-through remains unavailable. The National Park Service says a map showing plowed and unplowed sections is posted on the Current Conditions page, and that road closures appear in alerts at the top of park webpages. ### Where should travelers check before they go? The National Park Service says the park’s Alerts & Conditions page is the primary source for current closures and reopening status. (nps.gov) Its spring visitor guidance says road closures are listed in park alerts, and its snow-clearing page says that if there is no active closure alert, the park road is fully open. As of May 17, 2026, the active closure alert remained in place for Lassen National Park Highway. (nps.gov) The next concrete milestone is the removal of that alert, which the park says will signal that Highway 89 is fully open to vehicle traffic. (nps.gov 1) (nps.gov 2)