The Northeast Face of Lassen Peak in Lassen National Park with glorious corn skiing on May 10, 2025! Photo: Zeb Blais.
Lassen Peak Backcountry Ski Conditions
Lassen Peak Devastated Area | 2025-05-10
The Devastated Area and Sulfur Works Trailheads are open and spring skiing is firing on Lassen Peak! The season's best corn is ripe and ready for the harvest! Ingress and Egress is as easy as it gets, the snowpack is thick and the slopes are smooth!
The snowpack near the trailhead at the Devastated Area of Lassen Peak. May 10, 2025 Photo: Zeb Blais
Overall, conditions are excellent, and coverage is making it easy to access the goods. From the Devastated Area, the snowpack is excellent with 2-4 feet of coverage straight from the parking lot. The snow increases in thickness and smoothness as you gain the Northeast Face. Travel in the woods is rough in places, with tree wells melting intermittently, but it's still sliding on snow from the parking lot to the summit - quick and efficient!
Smooth frozen corn in the early morning hours on the Northeast Face of Lassen Peak. It skied perfectly from 9:30am to 1:00 ish. May 10, 2025. Photo: Zeb Blais
The South Face of Lassen Peak
The South Face of Lassen Peak before it softened. It skied perfectly from 9:00am would have been perfect. It was teeth rattling firm at 7:30am. May 10, 2025. Photo: Zeb Blais
The Southeast Face of Lassen Peak
The left chute on Southeast Face of Lassen Peak. Right of the moraine is the much wider, open slope pictured below. It skied perfectly from 9:00am would have been perfect. It was teeth rattling firm at 7:30am. May 10, 2025. Photo: Zeb Blais
Perfect corn on the Southeast Face of Lassen Peak around 9am. May 10, 2025. Photo: Zeb Blais
The West Face of Lassen Peak
The West Face of Lassen Peak. Right of the moraine is the much wider, open slope pictured below. It skied perfectly from 9:00am would have been perfect. It was teeth rattling firm at 7:30am. May 10, 2025. Photo: Zeb Blais
We didn't get to ski the West Face of Lassen Peak as it had not softened as was looking mighty chilly in the shade from the summit. It was looking inviting though, with smooth surfaces and no ski tracks wrapping down and around the peak. This face rarely gets skied compared to its neighbors due to being a little harder to access, but it is a great run when it's holding smooth snow.
The Northeast Face of Lassen Peak
The Northeast Face of Lassen Peak. The summit is the snowy point just right of the center of the frame. Lots of people were enjoying the corn harvest on Saturday May 10, 2025. Photo: Zeb Blais
The Northeast Face is a popular ski mountaineering favorite for good reason. Its boasts a long continuous fall line with an exciting entrance with a little extra steepness. Plus there are lots of options if the main gut is tracked out. With the northerly tilt, it can last a little longer than the Southeast before becoming too soft.
Want to ski Lassen Peak with a guide?
Lassen is an awesome peak to climb and ski and offers a wide variety of descents on all aspects. Hiring a guide to ski Lassen Peak will help you increase safety and find the perfect lines on the peak! Our AMGA trained and certified guides know all the nooks and crannies of this incredible Cascade Volcano and they will find the perfect route for your team based on the conditions and your ski style! We love working with everyone from experienced backcountry skiers and riders to seasoned ski mountaineers! Join a Lassen Peak guided ski descent today!
Lassen Peak Private Backcountry Skiing
Mt Shasta + Lassen Summit & Ski
About the Author
Zeb Blais is an IFMGA Mountain Guide and AIARE Avalanche Course Leader based in Truckee California. He loves all the disciplines of mountain guiding - ski, rock and alpine climbing - but skiing is his first love. In the winter he enjoys backcountry skiing, guiding local and international ski trips, and teaching avalanche courses across the west coast, from Bishop, California to Mt Baker, Washington.