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| Crater Lake |
 National
Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Crater Lake National Park |
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| Bicycling |
 Each
year, increasing numbers of cyclists come to Crater Lake National
Park to ride around the lake on the 33-mile Rim Drive. The route
is physically demanding. Steep hills at high elevation may encourage
even the most fit riders to pause at many of the road's thirty
overlooks and pullouts. The payoff, however, is spectacular scenery,
seen at a pace that few visitors choose to take enough time for. |
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| Rules and
Safety Precautions |
Cyclists must respect and obey all rules that apply to automobile
traffic, including speed limits.
Bicycle helmets are required. Cyclists face many hazards,
including high speeds on steep downhill runs; rocks, animals,
and other road hazards; and heavy traffic.
Only cyclists experienced at riding with auto traffic should
consider biking at Crater Lake.
Park roads seldom have shoulders. Cyclists should use extreme
caution, particlarly along narrow areas and blind curves. Wear
bright, highly-visible clothing to help drivers see you.
Bicycles are not permitted on park trails. All roads closed
to automobiles are also closed to bicycles. For mountain biking,
the Grayback Drive provides eight miles of unpaved, one-way road.
Cyclists unaccustomed to high altitudes may find that the
elevation makes for difficult breathing.
Water is available only at Rim Village and Park Headquarters.
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| Camping |
Cyclists on long tours are welcome to stay at either of the
park’s two campgrounds. Both charge a fee for camping; call
the park for current rates.
Mazama Campground, located near highway 62 at the Annie Springs
entrance, offers 213 campsites, lodging, and a camper service
store. It is generally open from mid-June to early October.
Lost Creek Campground, located three miles off the East Rim
Drive, is more isolated. It has 16 campsites for tents only,
cold water faucets, and toilet facilities. Lost Creek is open
from mid-July to mid-September.
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| Getting Here
by Bicycle |
All routes into the park have long, steep grades. Because
road conditions are unfavorable to cyclists most of the year,
and because many roads are closed during the long winter, we
recommend you plan trips only for the summer months of July,
August, and September. Call the park for an update on road and
weather conditions.
Entrance stations provide maps and information during summer
daytime hours. Fees are $10 to enter the park by automobile,
or $5 per bicycle up to a maximum of $10 per family.
For more information, call (541) 594-3100 between 10:00 am
and 4:00 pm Pacific time.
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| The Rim Drive |
The most popular bicycle route at Crater Lake is the 33-mile
Rim Drive. This road provides spectacular views of Crater Lake
and the surrounding area throughout its length. The road is narrow
with long, steep grades. Most cyclists start from the Park Headquarters
area and ride around the lake clockwise. This direction puts
one of the steepest and longest grades at the beginning of the
trip.
Altitude, climb, and distance estimates are listed below,
assuming a clockwise trip.
Map
point |
Point
name |
Total
mileage |
Distance
from last |
Climb
(feet) |
Elevation
(feet) |
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13. |
Park HQ
Rim Village
Discovery Point
Watchman Trailhead
North Junction
Cleetwood Cove
Wineglass
Skell Head
Cloudcap
Kerr Notch
Dutton Ridge
Vidae Falls
Park HQ |
0.0 mi
3.0
4.1
6.8
9.1
13.7
16.5
17.9
20.9
24.4
27.0
30.0
33.0 |
0.0 mi
3.0
1.1
2.7
2.3
4.6
2.8
1.4
2.6
3.5
2.6
3.0
3.0 |
0
600
50
400
200
450
350
400
600
0
650
0
100 |
6500
7100
7100
7350
7050
6850
6700
7100
7700
6700
7350
6600
6500 |
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| Park Map |
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EXPERIENCE YOUR
AMERICA |
Rev. 11/2001 klb |
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