Crater Lake’s North Entrance, West Rim Drive open
By Lee Juillerat
for the Mail Tribune
Crater Lake National Park’s North Entrance Road and West Rim Drive are open.
Both sections of road opened Friday afternoon, just in time for the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
Superintendent Craig Ackerman said visitors can drive to and from the park by the popular route that accesses Highway 138 to Diamond Lake and Roseburg and Highway 97 to Chemult and Bend. There are also several viewing areas along West Rim Drive between the North Entrance and Rim Village.
Ackerman noted the unusually early road opening was possible because of warm spring temperatures and an unusually low snowpack.
He said visitors should expect long lines and delays at park entrance stations and other locations, including Rim Village. If possible, Ackerman recommends arriving before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. to avoid major delays and congestion.
Some snow still remains on the ground throughout the park. All park trails, including the Cleetwood Trail that provides access to the lake, remain closed and snow covered. It is possible to hike and bike on the parts of East Rim Drive that have been plowed but are not yet open to motor vehicles. Snow removal crews are now focusing their efforts on opening other parts of the park.
More information will be issued as sections of Rim Drive open.
Crater Lake Lodge and Mazama Village Motor Inn are open for the season and two loops of Mazama Campground are open for camping. The Rim Café and Annie Creek Restaurant are also open daily. For lodging reservations, call 888-774-2728, and for general concession information, call 541-594-2255.
The Steel Visitor Center in Munson Valley is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ranger talks are given at the Crater Lake Lodge daily at 4 p.m. More ranger-led programs, including boat tours and trolley tours, are scheduled to begin June 22. For more information, call the Steel Visitor Center at 541-594-3100.
Ackerman cautions that with several feet of snow still covering much of the park, visitors should be aware of potential hazards, such as slippery snow patches and falling rocks. Motorists should expect possible icy and snowy roads, especially at night and in early morning hours. Steep snowfields still exist at many of the overlooks along Rim Drive, so visitors should use extreme caution to prevent falls.
“Please stay far back from the edge,” Ackerman said, noting that because of the hazardous terrain in the caldera, travel below the rim is prohibited at all times. “Be safe and have an enjoyable visit.”
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