Basin Adventures: Ranger-Guided Showshoe Walks

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Kids pose in front of Crater Lake on a ranger-guided snowshoe walk (NPS)

Crater Lake National Park is pleased to announce that our popular ranger-guided snowshoe walks are about to begin for the 2017-18 winter season. The walks will start on Friday, November 24 and will be offered every Saturday and Sunday (and on holidays) through April 29, 2018. Walks will also be offered daily from December 16 through January 1 (except on December 25).

Crater Lake is one of the snowiest inhabited places in America, receiving an average of 43 feet of snow per year. Ranger-led snowshoe walks are a fun way to explore this winter wonderland while learning how plants, animals, and people survive the long winter.

The walks start at 1:00 pm, last two hours, and cover 1-2 miles of moderate-to-strenuous terrain. They don’t follow a trail—the hike is an off-trail exploration through the forests and meadows along the rim of Crater Lake.

No previous snowshoeing experience is necessary. Snowshoes are provided free of charge, and there is no cost for the tour (apart from the park entrance fee of $10 per car). Participants should be at least 8 years old and come prepared with warm clothing and water-resistant footwear.

Space on each tour is limited, and advance reservations are required. For more information and to sign up, call the park’s visitor center at 541-594-3100. The visitor center is open daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm except on December 25. Organized groups (such as scout troops, hiking clubs, and church groups) may be able to arrange for a separate tour.

Crater Lake National Park is open year-round, 24 hours a day. The park’s north entrance and Rim Drive are closed to cars in the winter, but the west and south entrances are plowed daily and are open to automobiles throughout the year. There is no winter lodging in the park, but the Rim Village Café & Gift Shop is open daily except on November 23 and December 25. Spectacular views of Crater Lake can be enjoyed at Rim Village during periods of clear weather.

Winter View of Wizard Island (NPS)

Basin Adventures is brought to you by the Klamath Falls KOA.

Centrally located in Klamath Falls, the Klamath Falls KOA is the perfect jump-off point to visit all the spectacular recreation sites of the Klamath Basin – Crater Lake National Park, Lava Beds National Monument, wildlife refuges, hiking, biking, fishing and so much more. Visit http://koa.com/campgrounds/klamath/ for more details and to book your next adventure base camp.