Best Info for Crater Lake Visitors! Welcome to Southern Oregon. Latest Alerts and Conditions For Crater Lake Visitors!
Weather
https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=42.9116&lon=-122.1483#.XKZ-DPZFy5s
Distance Between Cities in Oregon
https://www.distance-cities.com/oregon
National Park Service Alerts & Conditions
https://www.nps.gov/crla/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
Roads
The park is open 24 hours a day. Winter road closures, however, are still in effect. The North Entrance Road, Rim Drive, and Pinnacles Road are closed to cars due to snow.
Highway 62 is open year-round. You can enter the park through the West Entrance or South Entrance. The 7-mile road from Highway 62 to Rim Village is also open year-round, but the last 3 miles are sometimes closed temporarily (from a few hours to a few weeks at a time) during periods of heavy snow.
Park roads can be snow-packed and icy this time of year. Drive slowly, be alert for plows, and carry chains or have traction tires installed on your vehicle.
Weather & Visibility
The National Weather Service provides the most accurate weather forecast for the park.
When skies are clear, excellent views of Crater Lake can be enjoyed at Rim Village. During storms, however, the lake is usually hidden by clouds. In April, the lake is completely invisible about 30% of the time. To find out if it’s visible right now, view our webcam at Rim Village.
Facilities
The Visitor Center at Park Headquarters is open daily from 10 am-4 pm.
The Backcountry Permits Office at Park Headquarters is open daily from 8 am-4 pm.
The Rim Village Cafe & Gift Shop is currently closed. Food, drink, and snowshoe rentals are not available in the park at this time. We don’t know when the facility will reopen. Hopefully sometime later in April.
The Rim Village Restrooms are open 24 hours a day (except when the road to Rim Village is closed).
There are no lodges, campgrounds, or gas stations open in the park this time of year. Visit our publications page to download a list of accommodations outside the park. Camping in pullouts and parking lots is prohibited.
Activities
Ranger-guided snowshoe walks are offered on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays through April 28. They start at 1 pm, last 2 hours, and cover 1 to 2 miles of moderate-to-strenuous terrain. There is no cost for the tour, and snowshoes are provided free of charge. Participants should be at least 8 years old and have warm clothing and water-resistant footwear. Space on each tour is limited. For more information and to sign up, call 541-594-3100.
Trails
The park’s hiking trails are all buried under snow. Snowshoes or cross-country skis are recommended for exploring beyond the plowed roads. Rental snowshoes are available at the Rim Village Gift Shop for $16/day (when the facility is open). Visit our publications page to download a list of ski and snowshoe rental locations outside the park. For information on the park’s winter trail system, download our winter/spring visitor guide. For trail recommendations and to ask about current snow conditions, call the park’s visitor center at 541-594-3100 or backcountry office at 541-594-3060.