You are here

Join A Ranger At Crater Lake National Park For a Snowshoe Trek This Winter

Share

Winter is a great time to explore Crater Lake National Park by snowshoe. NPS photo.

With snow already piling up deep at Crater Lake National Park, park rangers are ready to lead you on snowshoe hikes into the landscape.

The weekly walks were scheduled to kick off today, November 26, and run every Saturday and Sunday through the end of April. Walks, which begin at 1 p.m., also will be offered on week days from December 26-December 30.

Crater Lake is one of the snowiest inhabited places in America, receiving an average of 44 feet of snow per year.  The ranger-led snowshoe walks are a fun way to explore this winter wonderland while learning how plants, animals, and people survive in the deep snow.

The walks last 2 hours and cover approximately 1 mile of moderately strenuous terrain.  They wind through forests and meadows along the rim of Crater Lake.  Participants should be at least 8 years old, be in reasonably good physical condition, and come prepared with warm clothing and water-resistant footwear.

No previous snowshoeing experience is necessary.   Snowshoes are provided free of charge, and there is no cost for the tour.  The park does not collect an entrance fee in the winter months.

Space on each tour is limited, and advance reservations are recommended.  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 a.m. to 4 p.m. except on December 25.  Groups of 15 people or more (such as school groups, outdoor clubs, and church groups) may be able to arrange for a separate tour just for their group.  Group walks are available on weekdays as well as weekends.

Crater Lake National Park is open year-round, 24 hours a day.  The park’s west and south entrances are plowed daily and are open to automobiles throughout the winter.  The Rim Village Café & Gift Shop is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except on November 24 and December 25.  Spectacular views of Crater Lake can be obtained from Rim Village when the weather is clear.  The park also offers many miles of trails for cross-country skiers and snowshoers.

Add comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.