Summary 
| Difficulty | 4 Intermediate-advanced | ||
| Length | 16.0 miles one-way | ||
| Starting Elevation |
6200 feet | ||
| Cumulative Elevation Change |
Up to +800, -2100 round trip | ||
| Navigation | Road | ||
| Time | Long day | ||
| Season | Mid-December through early April | ||
| Snowmobiles Use | Not permitted on McGowan Road and moderate on Viola Road [Please report illegal use of snowmobiles in this area.] | ||
| USGS Topo |
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| Start | McGowan Road Trailhead on Highway 89, 2.0 miles north of the junction of Highways 36 and 89, and 3.5 miles south of the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center. There is a turnout, parking space, and the trailhead on the west side of the highway. | ||
| End | The north side of Highway 36 at Viola Road, 1.0 mile west of Lassen Volcanic National Park Headquarters in Mineral. The actual ending point is 100 yards up Viola Road at the Mineral disposal site. |
Description
This one-way tour transits the entire McGowan Road before descending Viola Road to Highway 36 west of Mineral. The part along McGowan Road is filled with moderate ups and downs, but the part along Viola Road has a great deal of relatively steep, and definitely fast, downhill; it descends 1350 feet in the final 3.5 miles. The skiing is made more difficult by snowmobile tracks on Viola Road. Enjoying the descent is dependent both on the snow conditions and your skiing ability.
Mileage Log
Numbers in parentheses
correspond to mileage points on map
Waypoint 1 to 2
Miles: 0.0 - 0.1
Elevation change: +0
Ski west on McGowan Road for 0.1 mile until you reach the junction with Christie Hill Road (2), which is on the south (left) side of McGowan Road.
Waypoint 2 to 3
Miles: 0.1 -1.0
Elevation change: +50
Ski generally west (straight) on McGowan Road for 0.9 mile until you reach the location where the road begins to descend (3). Beyond this point McGowan Road drops steadily for 1.9 miles and for beginners may be difficult when icy.
Waypoint 3 to 4
Miles: 1.0 - 1.2
Elevation change: -100
Ski northwest on McGowan Road for 0.2 mile until you reach the McGowan Lake turnoff (4), which is on the north (right) side of McGowan Road. The turnoff to McGowan Lake is easily missed if you are skiing fast.
Waypoint 4 to 5
Miles: 1.2 - 2.9
Elevation change: -450
Ski generally southwest (straight) on McGowan Road for 1.7 miles until you reach the junction with Nanny Creek Road (5), which is on the southeast (left) side of McGowan Road.
Waypoint 5 to 6
Miles: 2.9 - 3.9
Elevation change: +150
Ski generally southwest (straight) on McGowan Road for 1.0 miles until you reach a road junction (6). At the junction the fairly obvious road on the north (right) side of McGowan Road is part of the Plantation Ridge tour and the McGowan Lake and Plantation Ridge Loop tour.
Waypoint 6 to 7
Miles: 3.9 - 7.6
Elevation change: +400
Ski northwest (straight), north and then southwest on McGowan Road for a total of 3.7 miles until you reach a road junction (7). The major road on the north (right) side of McGowan Road is not especially interesting. The lesser road on the south (left) side of McGowan Road is part of the Battle Creek Overlook Via McGowan Road tour.
Waypoint 7 to 8
Miles: 7.6 - 9.5
Elevation change: -200
Ski northwest (straight) on McGowan Road for 1.9 miles until you reach Viola Road (8).
Beyond waypoint 8 you follow Viola Road, the main road, to the end of the tour. There are many side roads, some obvious and others less obvious in this section. Some are shown on the topo while others are not. Due to possible confusion, the intersections with these side roads are not used for the mileage points that follow, but obvious turns in the road are used. Be sure to stay on the main road.
Waypoint 8 to 9
Miles: 9.5 - 10.9
Elevation change: +50
Turn south (left) onto Viola Road and ski generally south on the road for 1.4 miles until you reach a turn in the road to the southwest (right) (9). There are at least three side roads in this vicinity.
Waypoint 9 to 10
Miles: 10.9 - 12.7
Elevation change: +150, -200
Continue on Viola Road, generally southwest, for 1.8 miles until you reach a sharp turn (left) in the road (10). Just before this point the road begins to descend more steeply.
Waypoint 10 to 11
Miles: 12.7 - 14.7
Elevation change: -750
Continue on Viola Road, slightly south of east, for 2.0 miles until you reach a sharp turn (right) in the road (11). Peak 5553 is directly east of this point.
Waypoint 11 to 12
Miles: 14.7 - 16.0
Elevation change: -400
Continue on Viola Road, southwest and then west, and finally south for a total of 1.3 miles until you reach the disposal site (12) and the end of the tour. The 90 degree turn to the south (left) is 0.1 mile from the end of the tour.
