United StatesCalifornia Mt. Lassen North
Mt. Lassen North Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

13.6
PDI
16.5 mi
DISTANCE
3,041 ft
GAINED
3.3 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
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Page Contributor(s): Stacy Topping, Tacoma, WA; Bruce Hamilton, La Quinta, CA; John Berude, Berkeley, CA

INTRO

Mt. LASSEN NORTH - This is the easier of the two Lassen ascents – the grade is mild throughout, never exceeding 7.5%. As can be seen from our Lassen North slideshow, we travel through heavily forested terrain for nearly all the ascent. The view opens towards the top of the climb and we have good views of the Cascade Mountains surrounding us, although the southern ascent offers the more epic views during the climb. The roadway is excellent on this side of the mountain and traffic is mild and moves at a very safe speed – this is a safe climb.

See more details and tools regarding this climb's grade via our interactive Profile Tool.
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ROUTE MAP

MEMBER RATING

Difficulty: Moderate
4
Road
4
Traffic
3
Scenery

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Apr 8, 2021
difficulty: Moderate
scenery: 3
traffic: 4
road: 4
Apr 8, 2021
scenery: 3
traffic: 4
road: 4
This is the easier side of Lassen, with less scenery but also less traffic. Visitor centers at both ends have water and toilets, so it's not too bad to ride both sides in one day.
ROUTE MAP
PROFILE TOOL
Route Data
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CLIMB SUMMARY

Cycling Mt. Lassen North, California - thick snow covered ground in foreground, overlooking snow capped mountains, blue sky, clouds

Cycling Mt. Lassen National Park North

Ride 16.5 miles, gaining 3,056’ at 3.4% average grade.

This ride begins at the northern route into Lassen National Park (est. 1916, 106,452 acres; ~500,000 visitors per year).  Mt. Lassen is the largest Lava Dome[1] volcano in the world.

Cycling Mt. Lassen North, California - photo collage, PJAMM Cycling logo in corner, red fungus growing out of pine needle covered ground, elevation sign reading 8,000 feet, bike parked in front of NPS sign for Lassen Volcanic National Park, two-lane highway with high snow walls on either side, two-lane highway on sunny day surrounded by pine trees

This is the easier of the two Lassen ascents – the grade is mild throughout, never exceeding 7.5%.  As can be seen from our Lassen North slideshow, we travel through heavily forested terrain for nearly all of the ascent.  The view opens towards the top of the climb and we have good views of the Cascade Mountains surrounding us, although the southern ascent offers the more epic views during the climb. The roadway is excellent on this side of the mountain, and traffic is mild and moves at a very safe speed – this is a safe climb.

    Cycling Mt. Lassen North, California - photo collage, PJAMM Cycling logo in corner, signs along climb route, snow covered ground overlooking mountains, thick evergreen forestation, bike on straight portion of two-lane highway

Cycling Mt. Lassen North, California - filling up water bottle by scraping it against snow wall, water bottle filled with snow

Being resourceful when your are riding 32+ miles round trip without provisions.

Lassen Peak as seen from mile 11.7 looking northwest

Winter treks up Lassen North

Lassen in September and June (bottom right)

View down at the hairpin at just before the finish.

Thank you Bruce and Stacy.

Cycling Mt. Lassen North, California - photo collage, PJAMM Cycling logo in corner, deep blue lake surrounded by mountains, views of mountainous terrain, evergreen trees on rocky ground along hillside, selfie of Taylor Hocket on summit

PJAMM Cycling’s Taylor Hocket

Fastest Known Time Lassen Bike Ride North + Run to Summit, August 6, 2020.

Ride 16.5 miles gaining 3,056’ at 3.4% average grade.

Run 2.4 miles gaining 1,770’ at 15.2% average grade.

PJAMM ambassador John Berude and friend Mark Cato - Duathlon

 

Ride Lassen North and South - 44 miles gaining 4,100’

Hike-Ski 6.15 miles

John’s Strava log:  

“So smooth after last weekend’s storm!! The stars of the show were the Linty Goodness/Shirteater couloirs, the Happy Trail, and the Lovehandle! SE face was smooth and decently soft by midday despite strong cold NE winds. Snuck in what were probably the last descents this year for the couloirs and most of the S side lines... it’s going fast.”

[1] In volcanology, a lava dome is a circular mound-shaped protrusion resulting from the slow extrusion of viscous lava from a volcano. Dome-building eruptions are common, particularly in convergent plate boundary settings. Around 6% of eruptions on earth are lava dome forming (Lava Dome).