Visiting in Fall

Lassen may be a pine tree park (very little fall color), but fall is still a wonderful time to visit.

NPS photo

Mid-September through November

Fall is a quieter, transitional time at the park. Temperatures start to drop, scattered cottonwood and aspen trees change leaves, and park services wind down for the year.

 

 

Conditions

Weather

Bring layers, sun protection, and waterproof outerwear. Conditions are varied and hard to predict this time of year. Lasting summer heat and smoke from summer wildfires may intrude into fall months, or winter chill and snow may arrive early.

Historic Averages, 1990-2020

Weather averages, 1990 – 2020 for Fall months in Manzanita Lake (elevation 5700 feet)

Month	Minimum Temperature (degrees Fahrenheit)	Maximum Temperature (degrees Fahrenheit)	Preciptitation (inches)
September	40.6	72	0.65
October	33.4	58.7	2.7
November	26.2	47	4.68

 

Fire & Smoke

Closures due to fires and/or smoky conditions may occur during fall. The park may have prescribed burns to mimic natural fires to promote forest health and reduce the risk of larger fires.

 

 

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Roads & Facilities

Park Roads

Road closures are listed in park alerts, which appear at the top of each page and on the Alerts & Conditions page.

Lassen National Park Highway

Highway 89 through the park may close temporarily due to snow at high elevations. Once winter snowfall settles in through most of the Highway 89 corridor, the road will close until spring. Historically, the road typically closes in mid- to late November, but has closed as early as October 18.

Once the road closes, vehicle access is limited to Manzanita Lake area (northwest) and Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center (southwest). Other parts of the park may be accessed along the park road via snowshoe or cross-country ski.

Roads to Butte Lake, Juniper Lake, and Warner Valley

These roads will close to vehicle traffic for the season once winter snowfall settles in (sometimes as early as mid-October). Typically, these roads are not plowed at all in winter.

Facilities

Visitor Centers

Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center (southwest entrance) is open year-round. Operating hours change during the fall months, typically in October, to reflect lower visitation and staffing levels.

Loomis Museum contact station (northwest entrance) has limited hours and closes for the season in mid-October.

Campgrounds

All park campgrounds close for the season by the end of November (or when the park highway closes). In the fall months, some campgrounds close entirely and others shift to dry-camping (no running water) for a few weeks. All campgrounds require a reservation through recreation.gov, even during dry-camping operations.

 

 

Ranger Recommendations

Typical suggestions and comments rangers give to visitors this time of year.

Things to Do

Manzanita Lake:The lake is always accessible, even when the road closes. Manzanita Lake is a great place to see the limited leaf change that Lassen has to offer as well as waterfowl and beautiful views of a newly snow-capped Lassen Peak.

Paradise Meadows: The trail starts at Hat Lake and is a longer hike, but another place to see rare fall colors. In early fall, you may also catch the last of the summer wildflowers.

Bumpass Hell: It’s the most popular trail in the park for good reason. You want to hike it before snow sets in because the trail closes when snow-covered. Even during months of quieter visitation, the parking lot at Bumpass Hell tends to fill, so plan to hike early or later in the day to snag a spot.

Cautions

Lassen Peak and Brokeoff Mountain: These trails are higher elevation and will receive snow first. If you see snow on Lassen Peak, that’s a good indication these trails have snow too.

 

 

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What Does the Park Look Like in Fall?