A rotary snowplow blazed a path through 3 miles of snow to reach stranded visitors at Crater Lake National Park's Rim Village on Wednesday/NPS

Saved by a heated restroom. That was the situation for three visitors to Crater Lake National Park who were stranded at Rim Village by heavy snows.

Park officials say the three, who were not identified, were rescued Wednesday when park staff used a rotary snowplow to cut a three-mile path from park headquarters at the Steel Visitor Center to Rim Village.

“They drove up there on Friday, both parties. One was a backcountry snowshoer up there for two nights, and the other couple I can only assume they were up there to see the lake and they slept in their car and got snowed in," Jennifer Evans, the park's public information officer, said Thursday.

The snowshoer was reported overdue Monday, and the two others on Wednesday. Fortunately for the three, the park's restroom gave them shelter from the storms.

“That’s why it’s heated and always unlocked," said Ms. Evans. "It’s a place of refuge if anybody needs it.”

A series of storms piled up snow deep enough to force closure of park roads earlier this week/NPS

Severe weather conditions and the risk of avalanches prevented park staff from attempting to reach Rim Village until Wednesday. The road from park headquarters to Rim Village passes through several avalanche zones and was unsafe for travel until then. Since January 7, when the road to Rim Village was closed, the park located in southwestern Oregon has experienced heavy snow with strong wind gusts. The park closed all roads on Tuesday because of snowfall, downed trees, and an avalanche. 

When park officials received the reports of overdue visitors, they correctly guessed that the three were at Rim Village because two cars were seen there Saturday before the road was closed.

Winter comes hard, and deep, at Crater Lake National Park/NPS

The episode, said Ms. Evans, should reinforce to park visitors how severe the winter weather can be there.

"Winter at Crater Lake is serious," she said. "We’re trying to remind people that not every vehicle is equipped to travel here in winter. Research the conditions and don’t count on your cell phone.”