Lassen Volcanic N P

[FJRocket]

Was looking over the WFOBigDog routes, and was wondering what the ride up to Lassen Volcanic N P would be like as an alternate, or on a different day? Just thinking about another big loop, but just through the park and back:

Time Mile Instruction For Toward

Summary: 355.2 miles (7 hours, 33 minutes)

9:00 AM 0.0 Depart Hilton Reno Resort and Casino [2500 E 2nd St, Reno, NV 89502, (775) 789-2000] on E 2nd St (West) 174 yds

9:00 AM 0.1 Take Ramp (LEFT) onto US-395 24.2 mi US-395

9:14 AM 16.9 Entering California

9:20 AM 24.3 At exit 8, keep RIGHT onto Ramp 0.2 mi JCT CA-70 / Portola / Quincy

9:20 AM 24.6 Turn LEFT (West) onto SR-70 18.5 mi

9:43 AM 43.0 Turn RIGHT (North) onto Beckwourth Genesee Rd 9.6 mi

9:59 AM 52.7 Turn RIGHT (East) onto Crocker Mountain Rd 3.8 mi

10:05 AM 56.4 Road name changes to Milford Grade Rd [Milford Grade] 4.2 mi

10:12 AM 60.7 Turn LEFT (West) onto Local road(s) 1.2 mi

10:15 AM 61.8 Bear RIGHT (North) onto Local road(s) 1.5 mi

10:17 AM 63.4 Bear LEFT (West) onto Local road(s) 0.6 mi

10:18 AM 64.0 Bear RIGHT (North) onto Local road(s) 0.9 mi

10:19 AM 64.8 Bear RIGHT (North) onto Local road(s) 0.7 mi

10:21 AM 65.6 Bear RIGHT (North) onto Local road(s) 4.3 mi

10:27 AM 69.8 Turn LEFT (South) onto Local road(s) 1.2 mi

10:29 AM 71.0 Bear RIGHT (West) onto Local road(s) 0.4 mi

10:30 AM 71.4 Turn RIGHT (North-West) onto Local road(s) 1.4 mi

10:32 AM 72.8 Turn RIGHT (North) onto Local road(s) 0.1 mi

10:32 AM 72.9 Turn RIGHT (East) onto Local road(s) 54 yds

10:32 AM 72.9 At Murdock Crossing, return West on Local road(s) 54 yds

10:33 AM 72.9 Turn RIGHT (North) onto Local road(s) 0.4 mi

10:34 AM 73.4 Bear RIGHT (North-East) onto Local road(s) 109 yds

10:34 AM 73.5 Bear LEFT (North-West) onto Local road(s) 2.1 mi

10:37 AM 75.6 Bear RIGHT (North) onto Local road(s) 0.1 mi

10:37 AM 75.7 Road name changes to Janesville Grade Rd 2.9 mi

10:43 AM 78.6 Keep STRAIGHT onto Janesville Grade Rd [NF-28N 01] 5.7 mi

10:52 AM 84.3 Keep STRAIGHT onto Janesville Grade Rd 5.9 mi

11:05 AM 90.2 Turn LEFT (North-West) onto US-395 8.4 mi

11:15 AM 98.6 Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-36 3.6 mi

11:20 AM 102.2 At Eddies Fast Gas [2425 Main St, Susanville, CA 96130, (530) 252-1576], stay on SR-36 [Main St] (West) 6.5 mi

11:29 AM 108.7 Keep RIGHT onto Local road(s) 87 yds

11:29 AM 108.8 Bear RIGHT (North-West) onto SR-44 [Feather Lake Hwy] 46.0 mi

12:24 PM 154.7 Turn LEFT (South) onto SR-44 [sR-89] 0.4 mi

12:25 PM 155.2 At Old Station, stay on SR-44 [sR-89] (West) 13.0 mi

12:40 PM 168.2 Turn LEFT (East) onto SR-89 [Lassen Peak Hwy] 34.1 mi

1:21 PM 202.3 At SR-36, Mill Creek, CA 96061, turn LEFT (South) onto SR-36 [sR-89] 22.6 mi

1:48 PM 224.9 Turn RIGHT (East) onto SR-89 33.5 mi

2:29 PM 258.3 Bear LEFT (East) onto SR-70 [sR-89] 10.2 mi

2:41 PM 268.5 At Quincy, stay on SR-70 [sR-89] (East) 23.1 mi

3:09 PM 291.6 Turn RIGHT (South) onto SR-89 18.0 mi

3:31 PM 309.6 Bear LEFT (South) onto SR-49 [sR-89] 4.9 mi

3:36 PM 314.5 Turn RIGHT (South) onto SR-89 0.9 mi

3:38 PM 315.4 At Sierraville Superstore [630 , Sierraville, CA 96126, (530) 994-3820], stay on SR-89 (South) 8.9 mi

3:48 PM 324.3 Bear LEFT (East) onto Henness Pass Rd 17.6 mi

4:17 PM 341.9 Entering Nevada

4:17 PM 341.9 Road name changes to Dog Valley Rd 0.3 mi

4:18 PM 342.2 Turn LEFT (East) onto Bridge St 0.6 mi

4:20 PM 342.8 Turn LEFT (East) onto I-80 Bus [sR-425] 2.4 mi

4:24 PM 345.3 Take Ramp onto I-80 8.8 mi I-80

4:32 PM 354.1 At exit 15, turn RIGHT onto Ramp 0.2 mi US-395 / Susanville / Carson City

4:32 PM 354.4 Take Ramp (RIGHT) onto US-395 0.5 mi US-395 / Carson City

4:32 PM 354.9 At exit 67, keep RIGHT onto Ramp 164 yds Glendale Ave

4:32 PM 355.0 Keep LEFT to stay on Ramp 32 yds

4:32 PM 355.0 Turn LEFT (East) onto E 2nd St 0.2 mi

4:33 PM 355.2 Arrive Hilton Reno Resort and Casino [2500 E 2nd St, Reno, NV 89502, (775) 789-2000]

SUMMARY

Driving distance: 355.2 miles

 

[madmike2]

You really need to talk with exskibum (PM or email) as he knows most of those roads. My personal opinion, the "minor" roads you've posted can be really minor. For instance, Hwy 89 through Lassen park is a winding 2-lane road with very little shoulder. The pictures below will give you an idea of what a "bold line" means on the map. Some of the other roads you've posted are secondary to that. Could be really pretty but very remote and God-only-knows what condition they're in.

Lassen is a "different" National Park. It is volcanic. You can smell the sulphur as it bubbles up through the water in the pools and lakes. You climb up and down the peaks and across the tops of domes, looking down at basins of water that is different colors because of the minerals suspended. Take some time to get off your bike and walk the 1/2 mile-or-so to some of the sites. Plan to take pictures.

Here are some I took in June of '04 on my way to get my Russell seat made.

I entered the park from the South and saw this ST1300. I went into the Chalet for a rest/soda stop and met the owner. He happens to be Kevin Wing's dad (Kevin is the photograppher for Motorcyclist magazine)

Here I simply pulled over, walked to the back of the bike and took a picture. As you can see, this isn't a "forest", though there are trees.

From another photo op, you can see the "bleakness" of the area. I love that gnarly old tree behind the bike. This was fashioned in a volcanic blast, and the road is "high", like 8,500 ft. Lassen Peak is 10,457.

This is headed North on Hwy 89, North of the park, IIRC, before Old Station/Hwy 44.

Some of the roads in the park are no as straight as these appear. There are a number of series of switchbacks. And there are parking areas so you can walk to different geological overlooks, etc.

 

[FlyingLow]

Sweet. Nice looking pics, MM2.

Actually, I am planning to ride the Lassen loop on Friday. Mostly on the beaten path to be able to spend some time walking and looking at stuff while there.

Going places that I've never been, as it were. The Big Dog run sounds like a good time but I've been on some of those passes. Lassen is a bit more out of the way for me so hit it while I'm hanging around the area for a few days .

 

[madmike2]

If you were to take I-80 to 89 North, you could ride up Bassett's Grade (Hwy 49) to the vista point and back down. A little 5-10 mile excursion into "joy". Then continue North on 89, L. on 70 thru Quincy and R. on 70 . 89 on the west side of Lake Almanor is long and flat, 147 to 36 is prettier but there may be some "camper" activity. IIRC, the speed limit on that side of the lake is 35 mph (?). Then take 36 to 89 thru the park. COme out the North end and take 44 to Susanville. 395 South is just "long" back to Reno.

It's just another adventure...

 

[HIGHLANDER]

Well...... let's turn this into a Lassen picture show eh ??.... Check out the road angle in the pics, taken July 04 ...right after the madman past before through a month before me ( when he still had the faster silver ! )

 

[exskibum]

Sheesh, someone shows Mike how to post pics and he's hooked. Nice pics guys. July 4 for both of you last year?!? Weird -- I tok the Feejer through Lassen last July 2d on my way from Tahoe to Yreka to do 96 and 299 on the 3rd and then 36 east from the coast on July 4 by the south entrance to Lassen -- THAT was a great weekend for riding (for all of us, it seems).

Compared to some other roads we'll be taking at WFO, the route from Reno up to Lassen doesn't excite me that much -- a bit too much long and straight on 70 and 89 with campers and tourists holding you up -- and then, just as you decide it's time to pass, there's a LEO catching you at 85 or 90 MPH. Seriously -- beware the LEOs with radar in this area. That said, it IS pretty, and Lassen Nat'l Park is beautiful. Don't mind my nay saying -- I just rode it back from Red Bluff 10 or 11 days ago and have done it too much, I guess. I do enjoy many of the areas on 89 and love Quincy as a lunch stop.

Mike's got a great suggestion I'd prefer to your more direct (but boring and LEO infested) Hwy 70 through Portola (even if it is a little longer):

If you were to take I-80 to 89 North, you could ride up Bassett's Grade (Hwy 49) to the vista point and back down. A little 5-10 mile excursion into "joy". Then continue North on 89, L. on 70 thru Quincy and R. on 70 . 89 on the west side of Lake Almanor is long and flat, 147 to 36 is prettier but there may be some "camper" activity. IIRC, the speed limit on that side of the lake is 35 mph (?). Then take 36 to 89 thru the park. COme out the North end and take 44 to Susanville. 395 South is just "long" back to Reno.

Since I'm allergic to slab like 80 when I can avoid it, however, and because I like the area past the vista point he mentions, here's a variation on Mike's route I'd take: instead of heading west from Reno on 80 to Truckee and then north on 89 to Sierraville before heading west on 49, go north on 395 to 70 west (as your route was originally planned), but take 49 south at Vinton through Loyalton to Sierraville. Proceed west through Sierraville over Bassetts Grade on 49 (it's also 89 for part of this) past the vista point and over the summit to Bassetts (which sits below the massive and spectacular Sierra Buttes). Make a right at Bassetts (it's little more than a store with a gas pump on your right before 49 takes you along the Yuba river) to go north on Gold Lake Road (which tees into 49 at Bassetts) to Graeagle, where you make a left (north) on 89 and resume your route toward Lassen. This is a more scenic route than 70 through Portola, avoids slabbing on 80 west (roughly similar additional distance as Mike suggested, and my addition to his turnaround is worth the little additional distance it adds, IMO -- more fun and prettier).

 

[Spooker Two]

Lassen Loop is a nice ride. Hwy 89 through the park is stiil closed with 15 to 25 feet of snow still piled on the road ways. Snowdrifts were left by the heavy spring snowfalls. The park service does not expect to have the road cleared until around July 12th.

 

[FlyingLow]

If you were to take I-80 to 89 North, you could ride up Bassett's Grade (Hwy 49) to the vista point and back down. A little 5-10 mile excursion into "joy". Then continue North on 89, L. on 70 thru Quincy and R. on 70 . 89 on the west side of Lake Almanor is long and flat, 147 to 36 is prettier but there may be some "camper" activity. IIRC, the speed limit on that side of the lake is 35 mph (?). Then take 36 to 89 thru the park. COme out the North end and take 44 to Susanville. 395 South is just "long" back to Reno.
It's just another adventure...

Just what I had in mind, actually, except to go counter-clockwise. At the end I want to drop into Truckee, get on old U.S. 40 west to Donner Pass to look at the old, original Transcontinental railroad tunnels which went under Donner Pass.

Lassen Loop is a nice ride. Hwy 89 through the park is stiil closed with 15 to 25 feet of snow still piled on the road ways. Snowdrifts were left by the heavy spring snowfalls. The park service does not expect to have the road cleared until around July 12th.

Whoops! Thanks for tip. I never woulda thought of that, since it's going to be 100 give or take in Reno. I'll check CalTrans beforehand.

 

[madmike2]

Just what I had in mind, actually, except to go counter-clockwise. At the end I want to drop into Truckee, get on old U.S. 40 west to Donner Pass to look at the old, original Transcontinental railroad tunnels which went under Donner Pass.

I love Old Highway 40. I've led a number of the valley riders up 80 to Cisco Grove and gotten of the highway to ride the old 2-lane road along the river. Most of the guys have seen the road but didn't realize that it was the old Hwy 40 and would lead over the old Donner grade. The views of the railroad tunnels from the Sky Ranch (??) are spectacular. There are lots of places to pull over at the top and look across the lake. Don't forget your binoculars.

The view going down Old Donner ain't so bad, either!

:yahoo:

In this picture, the loop to the road below is Old Hwy 40. Going downhill, after you cross the bridge, that is the Vista Point next to the rock out-cropping in front of the bike. On the left, the two "ribbons" are I-80 coming down from Donner Summit (@ Boreal) into Truckee. At the far end of Donner Lake is Truckee. The "wide" light stripe is I-80 rejoined as a 4-lane divided highway headed for Reno.