Major changes are underfoot for the Lassen Peak Trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park. The trail will be widened and extended all the way to the summit, and there’ll be an interpretive trail within Lassen Peak crater.
And in another major development, the Manzanita Creek Trail will have a 5.5-mile connector trail that links to the Lassen Peak Trail parking area.
The improvements will occur over the next five years. Here are all the details from a Lassen Volcanic National Park press release:
Lassen Volcanic National Park Superintendent, Darlene M. Koontz, announced a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the proposed Lassen Peak Trail Rehabilitation Project. The FONSI has been signed by Rory Westburg, the Acting Director for the Pacific West Region for the National Park Service. Superintendent Koontz stated, “Lassen Volcanic National Park is pleased to have completed the planning portion for rehabilitation of the Lassen Peak trail. We are excited the signed FONSI will allow trail crews to begin work as soon as the snow melts on the park’s Reach the Peak project.”
During the public review of the Environmental Assessment (EA) for this project, the park received 133 comments. One hundred and three of those were electronically submitted to the NPS Project, Planning and Public Comment web site (http://parkplanning.nps.gov/lavo) while the remaining 30 were letters or emails. The majority of the responders who stated a preference on the alternatives liked the “preferred” alternative.
The “preferred” alternative was “selected” with slight modifications to reflect public input.
The selected alternative will widen the lower half of the trail to approximately 6 feet and re-establish the original 4-foot width on the upper half. It includes an evaporator toilet at the flat area 0.6 miles below the crater rim, where pit toilets were previously located. A trail will be established to the true summit and an interpretive route will be designated within the Lassen Peak crater. A 5.5-mile connector trail will be established, linking the Manzanita Creek trail with the Lassen Peak parking lot. The Reach the Peak project is slated to be completed over the next five years. Summer trail accessibility and closure information will be available at www.nps.gov/lavo.
The Errata to the EA, identifying the specific public comment changes made to the plan are available at http://www.nps.gov/lavo/parkmgmt/index.htm and at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/lavo. To request a written copy, please contact the Superintendent, Lassen Volcanic National Park, P.O. Box 100, Mineral, CA 96063, or call 1-530-595-4444, ext. 5101.
Stephanie Hoffman on the Lassen Peak Trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park. (Photo by John Soares)
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Lassen Peak Trail was an extraordinary hike with breathtaking views of the park! It also challenged my weary legs…oh so worth it!
Twitter: @TheJohnSoares
I’m glad I suggested it. Stunningly beautiful day in early September…
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