Summary 
| Difficulty | 5 Advanced |
| Length | 13.0 miles one-way |
| Starting Elevation |
6750 feet |
| Cumulative Elevation Change |
+2100, -2950 one-way |
| Navigation | Road, marked trail, map and compass |
| Time | Very long day |
| Season | December through April |
| Snowmobiles Use | Not permitted [Please report illegal use of snowmobiles in this area.] |
| USGS Topo | 7.5' series, Lassen Peak, Manzanita Lake |
| Start | Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center located one mile past the Southwest Entrance Station. |
| End | Manzanita Lake Ranger Station on Highway 44. |
Description
This classic tour in Lassen Park is the one-day park crossing from the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center in the southwest to Manzanita Lake in the north. The crossing from south to north has a net elevation loss of 850 feet and is made up of three distinct sections.
The first section is a relatively straightforward 6.8 miles uphill on Lassen Park Road to the Lassen Peak Trailhead. To insure successful completion of this tour, ski this first section early so you have plenty of time to tackle the more difficult remaining sections.
The second section, only 2.2 miles long, is the crux of the tour. Here you must climb to the saddle between Lassen and Eagle peaks, and then carefully navigate the steep descent around Crescent Cliff to the head of Manzanita Creek.
The third section consists of 4.0 miles downhill ostensibly following the Manzanita Creek Trail to Manzanita Lake Ranger Station. Hit the right snow conditions and this section will be a fitting climax to a spectacular day of touring in this park.
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 is where the Crescent Cliff Traverse leaves the road.
Waypoint 10 to 11
Miles: 6.8 - 7.5
Elevation change: +350
Leave the road and climb northwest for 0.7 mile until you reach the saddle (11) between Lassen and Eagle peaks. In this section you pass to the northeast of a small knob and traverse across avalanche prone slopes which descend from Lassen Peak.
Waypoint 11 to 12
Miles: 7.5 - 8.5
Elevation change: -950
Descend to the northwest for 1.0 mile until you reach a point north of Crescent Cliff from which you can safely descend to the west (12).
Waypoint 12 to 13
Miles: 8.5 - 9.0
Elevation change: -650
Descend west down the steep slope along a small ridge for 0.5 mile until you reach the head of Manzanita Creek (13). This is the most critical section of the tour; you must exercise extreme care in avoiding vertical Crescent Cliff. Also, once at Manzanita Creek, you are in avalanche terrain that descends from Loomis Peak.
At Manzanita Creek you may or may not be able to see the remnants of abandoned Manzanita Creek Lake Fire Road. This is also one end of the the Manzanita Creek Trail that was marked in the past but you should not rely on finding markers.
Waypoint 13 to 14
Miles: 9.0 - 10.1
Elevation change: -450
Ski north and parallel to Manzanita Creek for 1.1 miles until you reach the bridge (14) across Manzanita Creek.
Waypoint 14 to 15
Miles: 10.1 - 11.1
Elevation change: -300
Cross the bridge and continue to ski northwest for 1.0 mile until you reach the location where the terrain begins to descend more steeply (15). The terrain is nondescript here so it is imperative that you make use of your compass.
Waypoint 15 to 16
Miles: 11.1 - 11.9
Elevation change: -450
Continue to descend northwest for 0.8 mile until you intersect the Manzanita Lake Campground road (16).
Waypoint 16 to 17
Miles: 11.9 - 13.0
Elevation change: +50, -50
Ski generally north on the main campground for 1.1 miles until you reach Lassen Park Road. The plowed road (17) and the end of the tour is 100 yards to the west (left) of where you intersect Lassen Park Road.
