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Snowshoe Hike at Crater Lake
February 15 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
freeCrater Lake Snowshoe Walk
Signup form for participation in ranger led walk near Crater Lake
The Park has limited parking, so please carpool if you can. Drivers should show up with a full tank, as there are limited fueling opportunities. We do not charge for this trip but encourage you to be courteous and pitch in for gas if carpooling. When you get to the gate, tell them you are with the Umpqua Watersheds group. They should admit you for free. ***A new requirement at Crater Lake National Park is that all vehicles must carry chains and have them on if it is snowing. ***
Additional Details: Bring a sack lunch, good winter boots & warm clothes. Ski poles are handy, as they help with balance. Bring snowshoes if you have them. The Park Rangers provide Snowshoes, but you must give them back after the tour. Contact Kasey at kasey@umpquawatersheds.org with any questions:
Meet up Sunday morning at the parking lot East of the Roseburg Library, front parking lot. Meet at 8:00 am so we can leave promptly at 8:15 am. We will stop at around 10:00 at Diamond Lake resort to use the facilities and the store if needed and leave promptly at 10:20 am. That should put us at the Park at around 11:30, with time to eat lunch before the hike. Drivers: BE SAFE…. TAKE YOUR TIME!
If you are meeting us at the rim, we will meet on the top floor of the Rim Village at 12:30. We meet with the Rangers to get snowshoes at 1 pm. (usually next to the old Crater Lake Lodge at the end of the long parking lot) Cell service is limited. We will meet at the Rim Village Cafe before the hike. You are also welcome to bring food to eat in the Cafe. The top floor of the Cafe has plenty of tables and chairs for large groups to eat together. Before the hike, please gather with everyone for a group photo.
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You can enter the park through the West Entrance or South Entrance on Highway 62. The North Entrance is closed for the winter. See the maps at the bottom of this webpage. If navigating with Google Maps or Apple Maps, enter “Steel Visitor Center”
as your destination.
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The park’s roads can be icy and snow-packed. The park is considered a “Snow Zone,” meaning that all vehicles should carry chains or be equipped with traction tires. When road conditions are poor, vehicles that don’t meet these requirements might not be allowed past the park’s fee booth. Learn more about Oregon’s Snow Zone requirements here.
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The walk will start at 1:00 pm. The location of the walk varies. The route is up to the ranger; we don’t follow a trail. If the road to Rim Village is open, the walk will start there, overlooking the lake. If the road to Rim Village is closed, the walk will explore the forests and meadows near Park Headquarters. To find out whether or not the road to Rim Village is open, check our current conditions webpage.
- The park entrance fee is $20 per vehicle, payable by credit card when you arrive. There is no cost for the tour itself, and we provide snowshoes free of charge (or you may bring your own).
- Most people find the walks to be moderate-to-strenuous. They last 2 hours and cover 1 to 2 miles of hilly terrain at an elevation of 7,100 feet. We spend approximately half the time walking and half the time talking. Each ranger has a different program, but typically the focus is on winter ecology (how winter affects Crater Lake and the park’s plants and animals).
- Kids must be at least 8 years old. Younger kids often struggle to keep up, then get cold and restless when we stop to talk. For safety reasons, we don’t allow kids or infants to be carried by adults. Pets are also not allowed on the walk.
- Bring warm clothes! This includes a warm hat, gloves or mittens, warm layers (avoid cotton), a windproof or waterproof jacket, and warm footwear, preferably boots with thick socks. It can be very cold here, especially when the wind is blowing. On sunny days, sunglasses and sunblock are recommended; the surface of the snow can be bright and blinding. It’s also a good idea to carry drinking water and a snack.
- When the road to Rim Village is open, food and drink are available at the Rim Village Cafe before and after the walk. When the road to Rim Village is closed, food and drink are not available.
- The walks take place rain or shine. Before you leave home, check the latest National Weather Service forecast for the park.
