Lack of Snowfall in 2022 Allows for an Early Start to Snow Removal in Lassen Volcanic National Park roads.
Lassen Volcanic National Park – March 21, 2022 – The 30-mile Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway traverses avalanche-prone slopes with up to 2,000 foot drops and can hold a snowpack up to 40 feet deep. Snow clearing operations usually begin in March or April and continues for about two months before the highway is entirely open. In 2022 the conditions have provided an opportunity to start the process of snow clearing.
Change in Clearing Order
This year, the road crew will complete clearing between the Southwest Entrance and Sulphur Works and then begin on Warner Valley Road and then Juniper Lake Road. Although usually cleared last, these two remote roads will be cleared early this year to allow access for Dixie Fire repair and rehabilitation efforts. Once Warner Valley and Juniper Lake roads are clear, crews will return to continue snow clearing in the Southwest Area with a second crew working from Loomis Plaza toward Devastated Area.
This clearing started last week and to date The road crew cleared snow between the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center and Sulphur Works today. Snow depth is four feet or less in most areas, allowing us to reach pavement on our initial sweep. Today Caltrans cleared approximately 1-1/2 miles from Loomis Plaza in the Manzanita Lake Area. Manzanita Lake Campground Road has a single lane cleared through all campground loops and to the Day Use Area. The park road crew is continue to repair the blower to join Caltrans in the Manzanita Lake Area. Crew members are completing minor repairs to a second blower in order to clean up the shoulder and parking area to and at Sulphur Works in the Southwest Area.
It is not possible to predict when the highway will open to through traffic, because weather and other delays can affect the clearing process significantly. Based on history of clearing dates you could expect to see a full open highway in May this year.
Snow clearing operations occur in the following order:
- Manzanita Lake Area between Loomis Plaza and Devastated Area (10 miles).
- Southwest Area between Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center and Lassen Peak (8 miles).
- Devastated Area to Lassen Peak (12 miles).
