December 20, 2022 4:30 p.m. 

Staff with Crater Lake National Park has announced that their popular ranger-guided snowshoe walks have begun for the 2022-2023 winter season.

A National Park Service release said they take place on Saturdays, Sundays and most holidays, through April 30th. Hikes are also being offered daily through January 2nd, and again from March 25th through April 1st, during Spring Break.

Walks start at 1:00 p.m. and last 2 hours. They cover 1 to 2 miles of moderate-to-strenuous terrain. Routes vary, but most begin at Rim Village and explore the forests and meadows along the rim of the lake. Crater Lake National Park is one of the snowiest inhabited places in America, receiving an average of 43 feet of snow per year.

The release said space on each tour is limited and advanced reservations are required. For more information or to sign up, call the park’s visitor information line at 541-594-3100. While the walk is free, admission to the park is $20 per car. All participants must be at least 8 years old.

Snowshoes are provided free of charge and no previous snowshoeing experience is necessary. For more information on winter conditions, services and programs at Crater Lake National Park, go to: www.nps.gov/crla.