If you’ve read the Traveler’s Seasons Page for Crater Lake National Park, you’ll know winter is a completely different experience from summer, spring, or fall, with plenty of winter-related activities to enjoy.

You can snowshoe and slide down a snow slope during winter at Crater Lake National Park / NPS - Stephanie Duwe

The most obvious thing – besides all that snow – is the closure of the park’s Rim Drive, which then becomes a designated ski and snowshoe route. And you can get to Rim Trail on your snowmobile – well, if there’s enough snow, a 9-mile (14.5 km) route to Crater Lake’s Rim Drive is groomed for snowmobiles.

Feel like skiing or snowshoeing the entire Rim Drive during the winter? That will take some planning and stamina, but the rewards, views, and solitude are totally worth it.

According to park staff:

Each winter, approximately 80 skiers and 40 snowshoers travel all the way around Crater Lake. It’s a trip that can be exceptionally rewarding, with unforgettable views. It can also be physically and mentally demanding—a test of endurance and outdoor skills. A backcountry permit is required for entire tour.

March and April are the most popular months to complete the loop. Spring provides more hours of daylight than the winter months and longer periods of fair weather. When the weather is clear, the 31-mile (50-km) loop takes an average of 3 days to complete. Storms, however, force many parties to turn back or to spend extra nights. The route is unmarked, difficult to follow in places, and crossed by a number of avalanche paths. Those attempting the trip should be experienced in winter camping, backcountry travel, and avalanche safety.

Venturing into the backcountry requires understanding the dangers that could impact your experience. Sudden weather changers, avalanches and road closures could impact their travel plans. Backcountry users are strongly encouraged to plan for these unforeseen impacts as Emergency response could take up to 24 hours or more. More info at Winter Safety.

If skiing or snowshoeing around the entire rim of the park is not your thing, then what else can you do at Crater Lake National Park during winter? There’s a whole list of snowy activities available to those of you willing to travel to the park during the season:

Winter Backcountry Camping
Cross-Country (Nordic) Skiing
Snowshoeing
Ranger-Guided Snowshoe Walks
Snowboarding
Sledding
Downhill Skiing
Snowmobiling

FYI, park regulation prohibits the use and operation of fat tire bikes on winter trails within the park, so no winter fat tire biking.

If you are planning a little snowcation at Crater Lake during winter for one or more of the activities listed above, it’s important to understand the inherent hazards of a winter visit. Hazards? What hazards?

• Snow cornices
• Avalanches
• Roofalanches (yes, that’s a word)
• Tree Wells
• Terrain Traps

To understand these hazards and how to avoid them, check out the park’s Winter Safety Page.