HoursThe park is open year-round, 24 hours a day. But many of the park's roads, trails, and facilities are closed seasonally due to snow. Visit our current conditions page to find out what's open in the park today. Seasonal Road ClosuresCrater Lake is one of the snowiest inhabited places in the USA. Each winter, deep snow forces us to close the park's Rim Drive and North Entrance to cars. Rim Drive becomes a trail for skiing and snowshoeing. The North Entrance road becomes a snowmobile trail. These roads close for the season with the first big October snowstorm, or on November 1, whichever comes first.
Opening the Park's RoadsWe typically begin plowing closed roads in mid-April. But it takes a long time to open them up; there are no set dates. Read about the process of "spring opening" here. In general, opening dates depend on winter snow totals, but other factors play a role. The two main variables are equipment breakdowns and the weather in April, May, and June. The North Entrance and West Rim Drive can open as early as mid-May or as late as the end of June. The East Rim Drive fully opens sometime between mid-June and late July. In 2019, the park's roads will open later than usual. Snowfall for the winter was below average (36 feet), but the park's rotary snow blowers have been out of commission for extended periods, resulting in delays. We began plowing the West Rim Drive this year on April 30, about two weeks later than normal. The North Entrance and West Rim Drive opened for the season on June 15. The East Rim Drive and Pinnacles Road will probably not fully open until early-to-mid July.
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Last updated: June 15, 2019