Crater Lake National Park has been at the top of my list since we moved to Portland last summer. However because of the fires and air quality at the end of the summer and early fall, we were unable to go. Since I had some free time midweek in January I wanted to see if visiting Crater Lake in the winter was possible.
It turns out that since Crater Lake is at about 6200 ft of elevation that it actually has snow on the ground a large portion of the year. In fact, Crater Lake is one of the snowiest places in the United States. It gets an average of 43 feet of snow per year. When I visited, some friends mentioned getting snowed on in June!
If you are not local to the Pacific Northwest, the closest airport is Medford (MFR). You will need to rent a car in order to get to Crater Lake. It is about a 1 hour 40 minute drive to Rim Village at Crater Lake. If you are coming from Portland (PDX), the closest larger airport, then the drive will be around 5 hours making it a good (but long) weekend trip from Portland.
If you are visiting Crater Lake in the winter, there is a $20 fee for private vehicles. This is cheaper than the $30 fee in the summer. The entrance fee is covered under the America The Beautiful Annual Pass.
In the winter, a large portion of the roads around the lake are closed. The North entrance is also closed. Therefore, if you are coming from the north, this will add some extra travel time to access Crater Lake. But if you are coming from Medford, this does not add any additional time. Before starting your drive, check to see current conditions on the Crater Lake National Park webpage.
If you are traveling to Crater Lake in the winter, you may need snow chains, four-wheel drive, and/or snow tires. This is definitely an important consideration if you plan to rent a car.
Additionally, there are very limited gas stations and restaurants surrounding Crater Lake and it becomes even more sparse during the winter. Therefore advance planning is imperative to making sure you do not get stranded.
Lastly, accomodations are also limited. I actually stayed in my van about an hour and a half away. You could consider staying at the cabins at Mazama Village which are some of the best cabins on Oregon lakes.
Check out this post for a complete van life packing list.
This season, both ranger stations in the park are closed. Because of the closure there are no ranger-guided snowshoe excursions. However this does not mean there are not a plethora of activities.
Snowshoeing/cross-country skiing - There are many trails available for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Sledding - While there is no designated sledding area, there are many spots to sled in the park.
Snowmobiling - There are opportunities to snowmobile inside the park with many rentals beginning from Diamond Lake Resort.
Lake Viewing - When I visited, this was the main thing I was hoping to do. The first day I visited, there was a surprise snowstorm. Technically this shouldn't be much of a surprise considering more than 50% of days in the wintertime the lake is not visible due to clouds or fog. While the road to Rim Village was open (it closes with inclimate weather), there was no visibility. Therefore I had to go back the following day which happened to be clear and I got a great view of the lake.
In the wintertime there are very limited amenities. Bring extra food and water. Ensure your gas tank is full. And if you are visiting in the winter, make sure to bring lots of clothing layers. The temperature gauge for my sunrise visit said it was 14 degrees Fahrenheit. And the wind was quite gnarly. It was a very cold experience. Check out this link for my favorite winter hiking gear to make sure you stay warm.
So you may be wondering if it is worth going to visit Crater Lake in the winter, and in my opinion, the answer is yes. As long as you have some flexibility. Have you vistited Crater Lake in the winter (or any time of year)? What did you think? Let me know in the comments.
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