Summary 
| Difficulty | 1-5 Beginner through advanced |
| Length | Up to 27.6 miles one-way to Manzanita Lake Ranger Station |
| Starting Elevation |
6750 feet |
| Cumulative Elevation Change |
Up to +2400, -3200 one-way to Manzanita Lake Ranger Station |
| Navigation | Road and map |
| Time | Few hours to few days |
| Season | December through April |
| Snowmobiles Use | Not permitted [Please report illegal use of snowmobiles in this area.] |
| USGS Topo | 7.5' series, Lassen Peak, Reading Peak, West Prospect Peak, Manzanita Lake |
| Start | Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center located one mile past the Southwest Entrance Station. |
| End | Same as starting point or the Manzanita Lake Ranger Station off Highway 44. |
Description
In winter, snow-covered Lassen Park Road is the main access route to the heart of the park's backcountry. Many skiers visiting the park take day tours along the road, or ski part way on the road, then branch off toward another destination. Other skiers enter the park via the road and spend several days exploring the backcountry.
Although unmarked, Lassen Park Road is usually easy to follow except during mid-winter when much of the road between Emerald Lake and Reading Peak vanishes in the open terrain and the large snowpack normally accumulates at these higher elevations. The terrain off the road is generally steep until you reach Kings Creek eleven miles from the start.
Avalanches present a danger whether you are on or off Lassen Park Road. Of the known avalanche paths which cross the road, some of these are located close to its beginning. Inquire at the visitor center if you are in doubt about the avalanche conditions. There is also a register for cross-country skiers at the ranger station.
Mileage Log
Numbers in parentheses
correspond to mileage points on map
Waypoint 1 to 2
Miles: 0.0 - 0.7
Elevation change: +200
From the trailhead (1) ski north on Lassen Park Road for 0.7 mile until you reach the bridge (2) across West Sulphur Creek. The bridge is the turnoff point for Ridge Lakes tour.
Waypoint 2 to 3
Miles: 0.7 - 0.8
Elevation change: +50
Ski northeast on Lassen Park Road for 0.1 mile until you reach the Sulphur Works (3). At the Sulphur Works, an active hydrothermal area, you can hike the short nature trail (boardwalks) located on the north (left) side of the road. The Sulphur Works Cutoff tour also begins here. The cutoff shortens the tour to Emerald Lake and Lake Helen by 2.1 miles and bypasses the portion of Lassen Park Road east of Diamond Peak that is prone to avalanche.
Waypoint 3 to 4
Miles: 0.8 - 1.5
Elevation change: +150
Ski southeast on Lassen Park Road for 0.7 mile until you reach Brokeoff Mountain Viewpoint (4). The viewpoint, also called Windy Point, offers an excellent view to the west of Brokeoff Mountain, the largest remaining part of Mt. Tehama, an 11,000-foot volcano.
Waypoint 4 to 5
Miles: 1.5 - 2.1
Elevation change: +150
Ski generally east on Lassen Park Road for 0.6 mile until you reach Diamond Point (5). Diamond Point affords a good view to the southeast of the Mill Creek drainage and Mt. Conard.
Waypoint 5 to 6
Miles: 2.1 - 3.5
Elevation change: +350
Ski north on Lassen Park Road for 1.1 miles to a 180 degree turn in the road and then for 0.3 mile until you reach Diamond Peak Saddle (6). The saddle is located at the top of an S-turn where the road travels along a ridge-like area. The Sulphur Works Cutoff intersects the road 0.1 mile past here.
Waypoint 6 to 7
Miles: 3.5 - 5.3
Elevation change: +500
Ski north on Lassen Park Road for 0.8 mile until you reach the start of an S-turn, then ski 0.3 mile through the S-turn, and then generally east for 0.7 mile until you reach Emerald Lake (7). Emerald Lake is the first good snow camping site along Lassen Park Road.
Waypoint 7 to 8
Miles: 5.3 - 5.9
Elevation change: +50
Ski generally east on Lassen Park Road for 0.6 mile until you reach Lake Helen (8). If you lose sight of the road at Emerald Lake, ski east until you reach Lake Helen where you will be able to pick up the road again.
Waypoint 8 to 9
Miles: 5.9 - 6.2
Elevation change: +150
Ski generally east on Lassen Park Road for 0.3 mile until you reach the location where the road turns north (left) (9). The turn in the road is the turnoff point for Bumpass Hell tour, and the start of the Lake Helen Cutoff tour, which shortens the tour on the park road by 3.1 miles.
Waypoint 9 to 10
Miles: 6.2 - 6.8
Elevation change: +150
Ski north on Lassen Park Road for 0.6 mile until you reach the flat area that is the Lassen Peak Trailhead (10). The flat area is the start of the steep ascent of Lassen Peak and the Crescent Cliff Traverse tour intersects Lassen Park Road here.
Waypoint 10 to 11
Miles: 6.8 - 8.6
Elevation change: -400
Ski generally east on Lassen Park Road for 1.8 miles until you reach the Terrace Lake Trailhead (11) that is located at the base of Reading Peak's west ridge. The trailhead is the turnoff point for the Terrace Lake-Shadow Lake Cutoff and the Paradise Meadow Cutoff.
Waypoint 11 to 12
Miles: 8.6 - 11.0
Elevation change: -600
Ski southeast, west and then south on Lassen Park Road for a total of 2.4 miles until you reach the turnoff to Kings Creek Picnic Area (12). Although the road into the picnic area will not be visible, the sign for the turnoff may be. The Lake Helen Cutoff intersects the road here.
Waypoint 12 to 13
Miles: 11.0 - 11.5
Elevation change: -100
Ski southeast on Lassen Park Road for 0.5 mile until you reach Upper Meadow (13).
Waypoint 13 to 14
Miles: 11.5 - 15.5
Elevation change: +50, -700
Ski east and then gradually turn north on Lassen Park Road for 4.0 miles until you reach Summit Lake (14). At this point the Terrace Lake-Shadow Lake Cutoff intersects the road.
Waypoint 14 to 15
Miles: 15.5 - 15.9
Elevation change: +0
Ski north on Lassen Park Road for 0.4 mile until you reach Summit Lake Ranger Station (15). The ranger station is off the road to the northeast (right).
Waypoint 15 to 16
Miles: 15.9 - 18.2
Elevation change: -250
Ski northwest on Lassen Park Road for 2.3 miles until you reach the West Fork of Hat Creek (16). At Hat Creek the Paradise Meadow Cutoff intersects the road. Although Hat Lake is shown on some maps, sedimentation has completely filled it in.
Waypoint 16 to 17
Miles: 18.2 - 18.7
Elevation change: +50
Ski north on Lassen Park Road for 0.5 mile until you reach Emigrant Pass (17).
Waypoint 17 to 18
Miles: 18.7 - 21.1
Elevation change: -400
Ski northwest on Lassen Park Road for 2.4 miles until you reach the location where the road crosses Lost Creek (18).
Waypoint 18 to 19
Miles: 21.1 - 24.3
Elevation change: +100, -450
Ski northwest on Lassen Park Road for 3.2 miles until you reach the location where the road makes a sharp (left) turn (19) and then heads south.
Waypoint 19 to 20
Miles: 24.3 - 25.4
Elevation change: +300
Ski south on Lassen Park Road for 1.1 miles until you reach the junction with the Nobles Trail (20) at Sunflower Flat. There is no landmark at this location. The Nobles Trail tour is described separately in this guide.
Waypoint 20 to 21
Miles: 25.4 - 26.5
Elevation change: +150
Ski southwest on Lassen Park Road for 1.1 miles until you reach a high point (21) on the road.
Waypoint 21 to 22
Miles: 26.5 - 27.6
Elevation change: -300
Ski southwest and then west on Lassen Park Road for 1.1 miles until you reach the plowed road near the Manzanita Lake Ranger Station (22). The ranger station is closed in winter but there are 24-hour restrooms with water. In this section you will ski through Chaos Jumbles.
