News Release

Ranger-Led Snowshoe Walks to Start This Weekend (Winter 2019-2020)

Date: December 6, 2019
Contact: Marsha McCabe, [phone]
Contact: Crater Lake National Park Visitor Center, [phone]

CRATER LAKE, OR – Crater Lake National Park staff is pleased to announce our popular ranger-guided snowshoe walks begin this weekend for the 2019-20 winter season.  The walks take place on Saturdays, Sundays, and most holidays (except December 25) from December 7 through April 26.  They will also be offered daily from December 26 through January 5 and from March 20 through March 29.  Snowshoes are provided free of charge and no previous snowshoeing experience is necessary.

Walks start at 1:00 pm, last 2 hours, and cover 1 to 2 miles of moderate-to-strenuous terrain.  Routes vary, but most walks begin at Rim Village and explore the forests and meadows along the rim of the lake. Along the way, participants discover how winter affects Crater Lake and the park’s plants and animals. Crater Lake National Park is one of the snowiest inhabited places in America, receiving an average of 43 feet of snow per year.  Snowshoeing with a ranger is a fun way to experience this winter wonderland.

Space on each tour is limited and advance reservations are required.  For more information and to sign up, call the park’s visitor center at 541-594-3100.  The visitor center is open daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm except on December 25.  Scout troops, hiking clubs, and other organized groups may be able to arrange for a separate tour, staff permitting. There is no cost for the walk, apart from the park entrance fee of $15 per car.  Participants must be at least 8 years old and come prepared with warm clothing and water-resistant footwear.
 
Crater Lake National Park is open year-round, 24 hours a day.  The park’s north entrance and Rim Drive are closed to cars in the winter, but the west and south entrances (Highway 62) and the road to Rim Village are plowed daily and open to automobiles throughout the year.  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.  There is no winter lodging in the park, and no gasoline available, but there is food service at the Rim Village Café & Gift Shop, which is open daily except December 25.  Spectacular views of Crater Lake can be enjoyed at Rim Village in the winter during periods of clear weather.
 
Throughout the fall, winter, and spring, visitors should come prepared for snowy, icy roads, and limited visibility.  Before you leave home, ensure that your vehicle is equipped for winter conditions and that you are comfortable driving on snowy roads.  Visitors must have traction tires on their vehicles or carry chains, and know how to use them.  Drive for the conditions; the posted speed limit is not always a safe speed.  Visitors may encounter heavy snow removal equipment on park roads.  Please drive slowly and give plows and other heavy equipment plenty of space.

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