Lassen Volcanic National Park guide · 2 min read
Snowshoeing, Skiing and Sledding Lassen's Volcanic Terrain
Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing both use the winter routes in the Manzanita Lake Area and the Southwest Area.
At 5,800 feet, the Manzanita Lake Area has gentle terrain that makes it the park's most approachable spot for both activities. Beginners will find the snow-covered park highway a comfortable place to ski, and it can be reached from the northwest and southwest entrances. Some winter routes are not built for skis, so check each route description before setting out.
Snow dominates winter here, with totals reaching as much as 30 feet in a single year. The Southwest Area starts at 6,700 feet, collects the most snow of the two winter areas, and has steeper slopes than Manzanita Lake. Its parking area lies in front of the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center, the only place in the park with visitor services in winter.
Skiing and snowboarding rely on the snowpack, and visitors will find no groomed routes and no ski lifts. Those with backcountry experience can ski and snowboard on the mountain slopes, mostly in the southwest part of the park. Backcountry travelers still use the former ski area that sat above the visitor center.
Sledding suits different experience levels. The small hills on the northern shore of Manzanita Lake and in the Chaos Jumbles Area are a good fit for small children and first-timers. In the Southwest Area, mellow slopes sit just behind the visitor center, while steeper runs lie a brief walk along the snowy highway. Among winter injuries to visitors, sledding tops the list, so take care on every run. Rentals are not offered in the park, so bring your own gear.
The park holds examples of all four types of volcano. Lava flows, steam vents, mudpots, boiling pools, and painted dunes spread across the terrain, and more than 150 miles of trails bring hikers near them.
