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Snowshoe Hike at Crater Lake
February 15 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
freeJoin us for a ranger-guided snowshoe walk at Crater Lake National Park on Saturday, February 15. The group is limited to 25 people.
To sign up, use the form below or email Kasey@umpquawatersheds.org
Crater Lake Snowshoe Walk
Signup form for participation in ranger led walk near Crater Lake
To prepare, please read the information below.
Details:
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.
Snowshoe Walk Guidelines
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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.
General Information
Weather
Crater Lake National Park is one of the snowiest inhabited places in America. Rim Village averages 50 feet of snow per year. When skies are clear, Rim Village offers excellent views of Crater Lake. During storms, the lake is usually hidden by clouds. The lake is completely “invisible” about 50% of the time in the winter and early spring. To check the visibility at Rim Village, view our webcam.
Roads
In the winter and spring, the park’s North Entrance Road (off of Highway 138) is closed to automobiles because of deep snow. The 30-mile Rim Drive around Crater Lake is also closed. You can enter the park from the west or the south on Highway 62. Highway 62 is open year-round. The 7-mile road from Highway 62 to Rim Village is also open year-round, but the last 3 miles, from Park Headquarters to Rim Village, are sometimes closed for days at a time during periods of heavy snow accumulation.
Gasoline
Gas is not available in the park this time of year. Remember to fill your tank in one of the surrounding communities.
Trails
In the winter and spring, the park’s hiking trails are buried under deep snow, and there is no access to the shore of Crater Lake. The park has marked trails and unmarked routes for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, but they are not groomed. When the road to Rim Village is open, snowshoe rentals are available at the Rim Village Gift Shop. (Snowshoes are provided free of charge on the ranger-guided walks.)
Watch for Ice
The park’s roads, trails, and parking lots can be icy and slippery. Be very careful when driving and walking.
Visitor Center
The Steel Visitor Center at Park Headquarters is open daily except on December 25. Winter hours are 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Souvenirs, books, and postcards are available for purchase. A 22-minute film about the park is shown on request.
Food & Gifts
The Rim Village Cafe & Gift Shop is open daily except on December 25 and on days when the road to Rim Village is closed. Winter hours are 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, then 10:00 am to 5:00 pm starting March 9. The cafe sells light meals, snacks, and souvenirs.
Camping & Lodging
The park’s lodges and campgrounds are closed this time of year. Visit our website for a list of accommodations outside the park. The park is open 24 hours, but camping in pullouts and parking lots is prohibited. Backcountry snow camping (at least 1 mile from any plowed road) is allowed. Overnight skiers and snowshoers must obtain a free backcountry permit from the Ranger Station at Park Headquarters.
