The trek around Crater Lake cannot be taken lightly. Only attempt the trip with a knowledgeable group equipped for route-finding, snow camping, and repairing equipment in severe winter conditions. Snowshoers setting off on the unplowed, 33-mile Rim Drive find no shelters along the way, and no shortcuts back. Dizzying thousand-foot cliffs block all access to the lake itself. Three marked areas along the route are prone to avalanches.
Marked detours suggest alternate routes around the most dangerous cliffs.
Don't forget to bring a Sno-Park permit to put in your car window at the parking lot. For snow and highway condition reports, check the Oregon Climate Service. Free backcountry permits are required for overnight camping. The permits must be picked up in person at the park's headquarters, open seven days a week. Share your thoughts on the message boards .