Winter Fun for Your Holiday Guests at Lassen Volcanic National Park
Date: December 17, 2009
Contact: Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center, 530-595-4480

The popular ranger-led snowshoe walks will again be offered from the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center near the park’s southwest entrance beginning December 26. “Bring your holiday guests to the park and experience the fun of snowshoeing through a red fir forest blanketed in deep snow,” said Superintendent Darlene M. Koontz. “Other activities to enjoy include cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snow play, sledding, snow camping, or just sitting by the fireplace in the visitor center with a cup of hot chocolate after viewing the park film.”

Snowshoe walks are offered on Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. at the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center from December 26 through April 4. Programs last 1½ to 2 hours and are open to individuals and families with children age 8 and older. For safety reasons, infants and children in carriers are not permitted. Rangers provide participants with proper snowshoeing techniques, outdoor survival tips, and winter mountain travel safety information. Walks vary in route and distance depending on the group, weather, and snow conditions. The National Park Service provides snowshoes for the walks. A $1.00 donation is suggested for their use and maintenance.

Be prepared for winter conditions. Dress in layers for winter conditions and wear warm boots. Carry extra blankets, food, drinking water, a shovel, and tire chains in your vehicle. Since weather can change quickly at these elevations, be prepared to spend the night in your vehicle, if necessary.

The park is always open throughout the winter. The road is plowed to the Manzanita Lake area on the north side and to the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center on the south side (open daily except December 25). For information regarding ranger-led programs, backcountry permits, weather and road conditions, visit the park website at www.nps.gov/lavo or call the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center at (530) 595-4480 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.