Mixed (Level III and IV); specialized disability placement · State Prison · CDCR

High Desert State Prison

Susanville, Lassen County, California

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (530) 251-5100 ext. 5712 Info last verified: June 2026

Remote high-security CDCR prison near Susanville in far northeastern California, with Level III and IV housing and appointment-based visiting; the nearest city is Reno, Nevada.

Statewide rules that apply at every CDCR institution

These rules are set by CDCR and apply at every unit. The full list — including all permitted and prohibited items and the approval process — is in Visiting in California.

Dress code

Avoid blue denim, orange, bright yellow, khaki, tan, beige, forest or olive green, and camouflage — these match what incarcerated people or staff wear.
No tank tops, tube tops, spaghetti straps, sheer fabric, or low-cut necklines; shoulders should stay mostly covered.
Skirts and shorts must be within two inches of the knee. Leggings on their own usually do not pass.
Closed-toe shoes only — no sandals, flip-flops, or backless shoes.
Underwire bras set off the metal detector; a wireless or sports bra avoids the issue.

ID: A current government-issued photo ID matching the name on the approved application is required.
What to bring: No cell phones, wallets, other electronics, food, or drinks inside. A small clear bag may hold a car key and vending money in coins and $1 bills, up to the limit the institution posts on its visiting page.
Scheduling: Visitors must be approved on CDCR Form 106 before a first visit, then schedule through the VSA online system. Walk-ins are generally not allowed.

Full statewide rules: Visiting in California

Overview

High Desert State Prison, about eight miles east of Susanville in far northeastern California, is a high-security prison with Level III and Level IV housing behind an electrified perimeter fence. CDCR also designates it as a placement for people with disabilities who need specialized housing, and it operates an on-site correctional treatment center. It opened in 1995 and houses men.

It runs above design capacity — about 2,850 against roughly 2,100 designed beds (early 2026, after CDCR reduced its bed count in 2025); population figures change, so CDCR’s population reports are the current source.

What Makes High Desert State Prison Different

It is one of the most remote prisons in the system. The practical travel hub is Reno, Nevada (about 90-100 miles away), and the high-desert location means winter weather can affect mountain travel.
It shares the Susanville area with the now-closed California Correctional Center (CCC); they are different prisons, so specify “High Desert / HDSP.”
It is a designated placement for people with disabilities who require accommodation.
It offers family (overnight) visiting by appointment, in addition to regular visiting.

Visiting Hours and Procedures

High Desert visits are arranged in advance, not by drop-in.

Because the prison occasionally closes visiting for staff training, and because the drive is long, check the CDCR visiting-status page before traveling. General statewide rules, dress code, and the approval process are covered in Visiting in California.

Getting There and Parking

High Desert is east of Susanville, reached through the mountains of far northeastern California.

The nearest 24-hour emergency room is Banner Lassen Medical Center in Susanville, a critical-access hospital. There is no public transit to the prison; a private vehicle is the practical way to reach it.

Nearby Services

Susanville has the area’s gas, food, and lodging; options thin out toward the prison and beyond. Many visitors traveling from out of the area make their last full-service stop in Susanville or Reno.

For broader family support beyond the institution itself, Friends Outside is a California nonprofit, operating since 1955, that assists families of incarcerated people and operates visitor centers at state prisons.

Learn More

For detailed information about visiting and communicating with someone at a California state prison:

Visiting in California — CDCR approval process, dress code, scheduling
Mail & Packages — What you can send and what gets rejected
Phone & Video Calls — Call costs, tablets, and video visits
Sending Money — How to add funds to a CDCR trust account
Medical & Mental Health — Healthcare in CDCR facilities
Transfers — What happens during transfers

Sources

This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.