2019 – 06-16 North Entrance to Crater Lake opens for season

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North Entrance to Crater Lake opens for season

  • By LEE JUILLERAT For the Herald and News
  • Jun 16, 2019

Soaking in the views at Crater Lake National Park.

CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK — It’s beginning to feel more like summer at Crater Lake National Park.

The North Entrance Road and West Rim Drive opened motorists Saturday morning. Most park facilities, including visitor contact stations at park headquarters in Munson Valley and in Rim Village, are open. Rangers are giving daily interpretive programs at the Crater Lake Lodge, which is also open for guests. A section of the Mazama Campground is open.

There’s more to come.

More ranger talks and evening campfire programs will begin Friday, June 21. Crater Lake Trolley tours are planned to begin Friday, June 28.

Crater Lake Superintendent Craig Ackerman said the opening of the North Entrance Road means visitors can now drive to and from the park by the popular route that makes entering and leaving the park easier for people traveling on Highway 97. The opening of the West Rim Drive provides easy access to overlooks offering spectacular lake views.

Ackerman reminds visitors to be prepared. Patches of snow remain on the ground in most locations throughout the park — and walls of snow are very much in places along Rim Drive.

Snow removal crews are still at work. The current focus is on opening East Rim Drive to allow visitors to drive around the lake. Crews are also working to open the Pinnacles Road and the Lost River Campground.

For hikers, most trails, including the trails to Garfield and Watchman peaks, are still closed by snow.

Visitors will find most park facilities open for the season. The Steel Visitor Center in Munson Valley is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. while the Rim Visitor Center is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Both are staffed by park rangers and the Crater Lake Natural History Association employees.

Ranger led programs, including the talks being given daily at Crater Lake Lodge, will be expanded in coming weeks. For updates more information call 541-594-3100 or visit the website at www.nps.gov/crla.

Concession operations are also opening. Along with the Crater Lake Lodge, all other concession facilities are open daily, including the Mazama Village Motor Inn, Rim Café and Gift Shop, and Annie Creek Restaurant and Gift Shop. For lodging reservations call 866-292-6720 and for general concession information call 541-594-2255.

Visitors are reminded that because several feet of snow still covers much of the park they should be aware of potential hazards, such as slippery snow patches and falling rocks.

“Please use caution when driving as icy and snowy roads can still occur this time of year, especially at night and in early morning hours,” Ackerman said in a news release. “Steep snowfields still exist at many of the overlooks along Rim Drive, and visitors should use extreme caution to prevent falls. Because of the hazardous terrain that exists in the caldera surrounding Crater Lake, travel below the rim is prohibited at all times. Please stay back from the edge. Be safe and have an enjoyable visit.”

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