News Release

2018 Winter Fees and Road Closures

Date: October 26, 2018
Contact: Marsha McCabe, [phone]

CRATER LAKE, OR – On November 1^st, the park will begin charging its winter entrance fee. The fee is $15 per car or motorcycle and $10 per person. It is good for 7 days, and will be collected at the Annie Creek Entrance Station or the backcountry office at park headquarters. It is also possible to purchase an annual pass for Crater Lake National Park for $50, which is honored at both Crater Lake and Lava Beds National Monument. Passes for Lava Beds are also accepted at Crater Lake. An America the Beautiful Pass, good for entrance to all national parks for one year from time of purchase, is available for purchase for $80.

Crater Lake National Park’s North Entrance Road and Rim Drive will close for the season on November 1^st.  All visitors to Crater Lake National Park must use Highway 62 to access the park from the south or west during these closures.  The North Entrance Road and Rim Drive, with elevations from 5,850 to 7,960 feet above sea level, receive an average of more than 40 feet of snow each year and are not plowed from fall to late spring because of deep drifts, avalanche risk, and other dangerous conditions.  The North Entrance Road and Rim Drive will reopen in the late spring or early summer of 2019. Exact dates for road openings depend on snow depths each year.

Crater Lake National Park is open 365 days a year.  Highway 62 and Munson Valley Road, which leads to Rim Village and lake viewing access, are plowed throughout the winter.  During heavy snowstorms, however, the road from park headquarters to Rim Village may be closed to allow plow operators to focus their efforts on the remaining roads. When visiting the park in fall, winter, and spring, visitors should be prepared for winter road conditions by carrying chains and knowing how to use them.  Visitors can check current visibility and road conditions on the park’s webcams at http://www.nps.gov/crla/learn/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm. Visitors should fuel their vehicles before arriving at the park, as gasoline is not available from mid-October until late May.

Rim Café and Gifts, located in Rim Village, will be temporarily closed from October 29^th through November 2nd as the facility transitions to its new operator, Crater Lake Hospitality. No food service will be available in the park during that time. It will reopen on Saturday, November 3^rd from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM daily, and remain open year-round except for Thanksgiving and December 25^th. Snowshoes will be available to rent during the winter months.

The Steel Visitor Center at park headquarters will switch to its winter hours of operation from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM daily beginning November 5^th. It is open year-round except for December 25^th.

Winter recreational opportunities at Crater Lake National Park include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and more. Ranger led snowshoe walks will begin December 8^th, provided there is enough snow. Beginning November 15^th, reservations can be made by calling the Steel Information Center at [phone]. The walks are free of charge and snowshoes are provided, but space is limited.

For more information on winter conditions, services, and programs in Crater Lake National Park, visit our website at www.nps.gov/crla.