Established in 1902, Oregon’s Crater Lake remains one of the world’s most beautiful wintry wonders. According to the official park website, “The lake rests inside a caldera formed 7,700 years ago when a 12,000-foot-tall volcano collapsed following a major eruption.” Today, the lake remains the deepest in the United States and is the backdrop for innumerable winter fun. Next time you’re planning a weekend winter getaway, you’d do well to consider the following itinerary for Crater Lake.
Begin your visit to Crater Lake with a visit to the Steel Visitor Center. Open every day except Christmas, the center explores the park’s significance with a 22-minute film. If you’re going to spend the weekend here, you might as well understand why it’s worth the trip.
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Overnight camping in Crater Lake is largely prohibited, except by backcountry permit. According to the official website, “snowshoers and skiers must travel at least 1 mile from the nearest plowed road in order to camp and must camp at least 100 feet from the edge of the rim.” Make sure your vehicle has winter traction tires and is chained. Park overnight at park headquarters but make sure to get a parking pass. According to official documentation, the most popular overnight trip is “out-and-back along the West Rim Drive.”
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Crater Lake National Park has ski trails for all levels of skier, from easier trails around the Mazama Loop to expert-level trails along the Raven Trail. Keep in mind that the trails aren’t groomed and may require skiers to break trail.
Rent a pair of snowshoes at the Rim Village Gift Shop and head out into the unique solitude that is Crater Lake’s snowshoe paradise. Because of the amount of fresh snow the lake gets, trudging through it is always a joy. Experience the beauty and serenity for yourself.
Fishing in Crater Lake is encouraged. While the lake doesn’t have any native fish, the Rainbow Trout and Kokanee Salmon introduce in the 1940s continue to thrive. Make sure to use artificial bait so as not to accidentally introduce unwanted species.
Grab a quick bite to eat and check out the souvenirs in the Rim Village Café and Gift Shop before heading to the observation floor at the top of the building for partial lake viewing. While you can only see part of the lake from this angle, it sometimes beats climbing up a snowbank for a full view, although this is an option, too.
The closest Oregon city to Crater Lake National Park is Klamath Falls, about 60 miles to the Southeast. No winter weekend getaway could be complete without a visit. While there, stop in to the Favell Museum to learn more about the Native Americans that originally populated this land and who might have first seen the park.
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Rooster’s Steak and Chop House is one of the best in Klamath Falls. After a weekend spent in the wilderness, why not treat yourself to a nice steak dinner? Afterwards, go for a walk on the historic downtown Main Street just outside.
After dinner, consider stopping in to the nearby Basin Martini Bar. It’s a one-minute walk and well-worth braving even the coldest of nights to try their house special cocktail, “The Spicy O,” a martini topped with a jalapeno pepper.
If you time it right, you might be able to catch a performance at the nearby Ross Ragland Theater and Culture Center. They show regular movies, musicals, and theater productions. Get your tickets online and plan ahead.
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