North Entrance Road Opens at Crater Lake National Park

Date: June 29, 2011
Contact: Marsha McCabe, 541-594-3091

The North Entrance Road in Crrater Lake National Park is open for travel. Superintendent Craing Ackerman announced that visitors can now drive to and from the park via this popular route and access spectacular views of the lake from West Rim Drive.

Over 5 feet of snow still remains on the ground at park headquarters - tying the record for snow depth on this date. Snow depth is much greater on many parts of the rim. National Park Service snow removal crews are no focusing their efforts on opening East Rim Drive, Pinnacles Road and Lost Creek Campground, as well as digging out still buried structures. More information will be issued when the entire Rim Drive is open for travel.

Most park facilities are now open for the season. Steel Visitor Center in Munson Valley is open daily form 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Rim Visitor Center is open daily from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Both are staffed by park ranger and the Crater Lake Natural History Association. Ranger talks are being fiven daily at Crater Lake Lodge. Because of the great depth of snow, summer snowshoe walks are being held twice daily in Rim Village. Snowshoes are provided. Please sign up at the Rim Visitor Center as space is limited. Come out and celebrate the snow!

Mazama Campground is now open, but very few sites are accessible due to heavy snow. All other concession facilities in the park are open daily, including Crater Lake Lodge, Mazama Village Motor Inn, Rim Cafe and Gifts and Annie Creek Restuarant and Gift Shop. For lodging reservations, please call [phone]; for general concession information, please call [phone].

With many feet of snow still covering much of the park, visitors should be aware of potential haards such as slippery snow patches and falling rocks. Please use caution when driving as icy and snowy roads can still occur this time of year, especially at night and in early morning hours. Steep snwofields still exist at many of the overlooks along Rim Drive, and visitors should use extremem caution to prevent falls. Because of the hazardous terrain that exists in the caldera surrounding Crater Lake, travel below the rim is prohibited at all times. Be safe and have an enjoyable visit!