March 14, 2024 2:50 a.m. 

Crater Lake National Park has announced the resumption of its popular ranger guided snowshoe walks.

A National Park Service release said walks will be offered on weekends now through April 28th. They will also be offered on weekdays during spring break, from Monday March 25th through Friday March 29th.

Walks will start at 1:00 p.m., last for two hours and cover 1 to 2 miles of moderate-to-strenuous terrain. Routes vary, but the walks typically begin at Rim Village and explore the forests and meadows along the rim of the lake. Along the way, participants discover how winter affects Crater Lake and the park’s plants and animals. Crater Lake National Park is one of the snowiest inhabited places in America, receiving an average of 42 feet of snow per year.

The release said space on each tour is limited and advanced reservations are required. For more information, call the park’s visitor information line at 541-594-3100. Outdoor clubs, scout troops and other organized groups of 10 or more people may be able to arrange for a separate tour, staff permitting. There is no cost for the walk, except for the park’s winter entrance fee of $20 per vehicle. Participants must be at least 8 years old and come prepared with warm clothing and water-resistant footwear.

This time of year, the park’s north entrance and Rim Drive are closed to automobiles, due to deep snow. The park’s west and south entrance on Highway 62 are plowed daily and open year-round. The road from Highway 62 to Rim Village is also open year-round, but the last three miles, from park headquarters to Rim Village, are sometimes closed during and after snowstorms.

For more information about winter conditions, facilities and services, visit the park’s website at: www.nps.gov/crla.