Snow-covered Lassen Peak above Manzanita Lake in winter.

Guided experience

When the snow comes to Chester

Five staging areas put snowmobiles onto the Lassen National Forest trail network, and the park drops its entrance fee to ten dollars.

Photo: NPS photo, Public domain

The sled dog race site is on our road

The race site is south on County Road 324 just past Cedar Lodge, our address being 1487 County Road 324. The organiser had set no date for the next Chester meet as of 23 September 2026.

Snowmobiling

Five staging areas near Chester: the Chester-Lake Almanor Snowmobile Park, Swain Mountain, Morgan Summit, Jonesville and Fredonyer. Snow season usually runs January through March.

Swain Mountain

60 miles of groomed trails, with access to Bogard and Fredonyer for 200 miles of marked trails. About nine miles north of Westwood off County Road A-21.

Morgan Summit

77 miles of groomed trails, restrooms and a warming hut, four miles east of Mineral on Highway 36.

Jonesville

About two miles east of Cherry Hill Campground on Humboldt Road.

The park in winter

The main park road typically closes mid to late November, and the Warner Valley and Juniper Lake roads are not maintained, approximately November to June. Entry is $10 from 1 December to 15 April, against $30 a car in summer. The Lassen guide has the rest.

Getting here in snow

Highways 36 and 89 meet at our corner and are maintained through winter, though either can be under chain control after a storm. See quickmap.dot.ca.gov.

Two things to email us about

Turning a truck and trailer in snow, and RV water in winter. Email info@stayatcedarlodge.com with your length and dates.

Snowshoers on a ranger walk near Manzanita Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Snow across the slopes near the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center.
The Milky Way over the ridge above Cedar Lodge.

Where you sleep

Motel rooms King rooms, and queen suites with bunk beds.
The home Three bedrooms and two baths.
RV sites Full hookup sites.

Check availability

If you have another day

Last checked 23 September 2026.

Area photographs from Wikimedia Commons: NPS photo (Public domain); NPS photo (Public domain); E mln e (CC BY 4.0). Photographs of Cedar Lodge are our own.