November 4, 2019 8:45 a.m.
Crater Lake National Park’s North Entrance Road and Rim Drive have closed for the season.
Marsha McCabe of the National Parks Service said all visitors to Crater Lake National Park must use Highway 62 to access the park from the south or west during the closure. She said the North Entrance Road and Rim Drive have elevations from 5,850 to 7,960 feet above sea level, receive an average of more than 40 feet of snow each year and are not plowed from fall until late spring due to deep drifts, avalanche risk and other dangerous conditions. Both the North Entrance and Rim Drive will reopen in late spring or early summer of next year. The exact dates for the road openings depend on snow depths each year.
McCabe said the park has begun charging its winter entrance fee. That fee is $15 per car or motorcycle and $10 per person. It is good for seven days and is collected at the Annie Creek Entrance Station or the backcountry office at park headquarters. It is also possible to purchase an annual pass for the park for $50. That pass is honored at both Crater Lake and at the Lava Beds National Monument. An America the Beautiful Pass, good for entrance to all national parks for one year from time of purchase, is available for $80.
Crater Lake National Park is open 365 days a year. Highway 62 and Munson Valley Road, which leads to Rim Drive and lake viewing access, are plowed throughout the winter. 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. McCabe said when visiting the park during the fall, winter and spring, visitors should be prepared for winter road conditions by carrying chains and knowing how to use them.
Rim Café and Gifts, in Rim Village, has transitioned to winter hours from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily. They are open every day except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Steel Visitor Center has also switched to the same winter hours. It is open every day except for Christmas.
McCabe said winter recreational opportunities at Crater Lake include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and more. Ranger led snowshoe walks will begin in December, as long as there is enough snow. The walks are free of charge and snowshoes are provided, but space is limited.
For more information go to www.nps.gov/crla.