Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, Lassen Volcanic National Park is increasing recreational access and services. The National Park Service (NPS) is working servicewide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis.
Beginning June 19, Lassen Volcanic National Park will further increase access with the opening of park visitor centers, Manzanita Lake Camping Cabins, and Drakesbad Guest Ranch.
“The opening of these facilities will offer our visitors more services to help them enjoy their visit,” said Superintendent Jim Richardson. “We are pleased to welcome visitors to these facilities with the addition of minor mitigations for COVID-19 response.”
The Loomis Museum and Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center will be open 9 am to 5 pm daily beginning Friday, June 19. The Lassen Association store will operate inside both visitor centers and Lassen Café and Gift will operate inside the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center. Please be prepared for modifications related to COVID-19 response including changes to exhibit access and auditorium closure.
The park concessioner, Snow Mountain, LLC., will open Manzanita Lake Camping Cabins and Drakesbad Guest Ranch on June 19. This follows Stage 3 guidelines for both facilities located in Shasta and Plumas Counties respectively. The Manzanita Lake Camping Store and gas station opened on June 15. Additional information about concessions service in the park is available at lassenlodging.com.
Visitors are encouraged to follow CDC guidelines when entering park facilities. This includes maintaining a 6-foot distance from others and wearing face coverings when social distancing is not possible. Information, including campground status and trail conditions, is also available outside the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center and Loomis Museum.
Park campgrounds continue to open on originally scheduled dates. Manzanita Lake, Southwest Walk-in, Butte Lake, and Warner Valley Campgrounds are open. Lost Creek Group Campground will open June 19. Summit Lake and Juniper Lake will open June 26. In order to reduce cash handling, credit card and check are preferred for campsite payment.
Reservations are highly recommended for park campsites. Demand is higher than normal due to recreation site closures and dispersed camping restrictions in the surrounding Lassen National Forest, including the Hat Creek and Lake Almanor Ranger Districts. More information is available at fs.usda.gov/lassen.
To facilitate pre-planning and reduce cash handling, reservations may be made for all campsites at Manzanita Lake and Summit Lake Campgrounds for July 1 through campground closure. These campsites are normally first-come, first-served and may now be reserved for July 1 and later: Manzanita Lake Loop B and D (tents only); Summit Lake North Loop A; and Summit Lake South Loop E (tents only).
First-come, first-served sites remain available at Southwest Walk-in, Butte Lake, Warner Valley, and Juniper Lake Campgrounds. Reservable sites that are unclaimed (there is no placard posted to indicate a reservation) may be used for first-come, first-served camping for a single night only; a reservation may begin the next day.
Trails in the higher-elevation areas of the park continue to hold patches of snow. This includes, but is not limited to, Lassen Peak, Brokeoff Mountain, Kings Creek Falls, and Summit Lake Area trails. Bumpass Hell Trail remains under seasonal closure due to snow hazards. Trails in lower elevation areas including Manzanita Lake, Butte Lake, and Warner Valley are snow-free. View current trail conditions at go.nps.gov/lavo/hike.
The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners continues to be paramount. We continue to work closely with the NPS Office of Public Health using CDC guidance to ensure public and workspaces are safe and clean for visitors, employees, partners, and volunteers.
When recreating, the public should follow California State guidance, practice Leave No Trace principles, avoid crowding, and avoid high-risk outdoor activities. Learn more about how you can recreate responsibly at Lassen Volcanic at go.nps.gov/lavo/RR.
The CDC has offered guidance to help people recreating in parks and open spaces prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We will continue to monitor all park functions to ensure that visitors adhere to CDC guidance for mitigating risks associated with the transmission of COVID-19 and take any additional steps necessary to protect public health.
Lassen Volcanic National Park offers virtual content for people who are not traveling at this time. Visit go.nps.gov/lavo/virtual to view webcams, 360-degree photos, videos, and more.
Details and updates on park operations will continue to be posted on our website at nps.gov/lavo/planyourvisit/conditions.htm and social media channels. Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus.
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