Highway 89 - Mount Lassen
- Tim Mayhew
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
Highway 89 through Lassen Volcanic National Park is the pinnacle of High Sierra riding for those who want to experience the dramatic collision of fire and ice. And no—it’s not open yet. Annual snowfall near the summit can exceed 40 feet in some seasons; while every year is different, it is rare to ride over the peak prior to May 31.
This isn’t just a mountain pass; it is a 30-mile high-altitude traverse that crests at 8,512 ft, making it the highest paved point in the Southern Cascade Range. The last time I rode over the summit on Memorial Day Weekend, I got caught in a total whiteout snowstorm at the top. My only thought was: I have to get off this mountain.
Highway 89 over Mount Lassen is a rhythmic series of broad sweepers and lean angle hairpins that cling to the volcanic slopes. As you climb, the dense forest of red fir and hemlock thins, revealing a prehistoric landscape of jagged peaks, bubbling mud pots, and crystalline glacial lakes. The centerpiece is Lassen Peak, one of the largest plug dome volcanoes in the world, which looms over the asphalt with a rugged, unapologetic presence.
For the motorcyclist, the experience is sensory overload.
This isn't a place to go fast; it’s more of a "hand-on-hip" sort of ride. You’ll feel the temperature drop as you pass massive snowbanks that often linger into July, contrasting with the rotten egg scent of the Sulphur Works hydrothermal area just two miles up from the visitor center. If you have the time, hike out to Bumpass Hell a short distance further up the hill. Those of you with the squeaky riding boots (you know who you are), might want to bring the hiking shoes if you’re headed that direction.
Mount Lassen is an active volcano. It still has a functioning magma chamber beneath the surface. Lassen Peak famously erupted very recently in geologic terms—between 1914 and 1917 (with steam activity continuing until 1921). From the summit, the vistas stretch toward the Central Valley to the west and the vast Great Basin to the east. It is a bucket-list trek that rewards you with some of the most surreal scenery in the Western United States.
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