Chemult Ranger District. Within the Chemult Ranger District, which borders the park to the west, there are approximately 61 miles of snowmobile trails. Table A-4 in Appendix A lists these trails. The longest trail in this district is the Park Boundary/Lake of the Woods trail (44.2 miles), which is typically used to travel from Diamond Lake to Annie Creek or from Lake of the Woods to Diamond Lake. The trail is not heavily used because there are limited enroute facilities. (Parker pers. comm.)
Existing Policy Regarding Snowmobile Use in Crater Lake National Park
The existing policy of allowing snowmobiles only on the north entrance road between Highway 138 (north entrance) and North Junction is the result of an extensive public involvement and decision-making process that took place during 1976. That decision-making process is summarized here and addressed in greater detail later in this plan. A copy of the position statement issued as a result of this process is included as Appendix B.
On February 26, 1976, snowmobile regulations were proposed for Crater Lake National Park and published in the Federal Register. The NPS received 607 responses, of which the majority indicated a preference for no snowmobiling in the park. Other responses favored snowmobiling or an increase in snowmobile access. In August 1976 the regulation that limited snowmobile access to the north entrance road was enacted. Snowmobile use was again addressed in the 1977 General Management Plan, and public comment again supported limiting snowmobile use as defined in the 1976 regulation. A 1980 winter use study considered five alternatives for snowmobile use within the park, including a through route (north to south) and a route up the Pinnacles road from the former east entrance to Kerr Notch. The estimate included costs for two additional seasonal rangers and two additional snowmobiles. While there was significant support by organized snowmobile clubs for expanded access, 74% of public responses regarding snowmobile use alternatives indicated a preference for limiting snowmobiling to the north entrance road. Steep terrain near the Watchman on West Rim Drive and at Dutton Cliffs along East Rim Drive creates a safety hazard which precludes development of a north-south access route; therefore, only the proposed route from the former east entrance along the Pinnacles road to Kerr Notch was evaluated. The NPS determined that the Pinnacles road would remain closed to snowmobiles for the following reasons:
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safety hazards in the Dutton Cliffs area,
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impacts (noise, odor, etc.) on cross-country skiers and other users,
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impacts on peregrine falcons hunting in the Kerr Notch area,
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conflicts with existing plans and policies, and
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costs to the government.
