Crater Lake
Crater Lake National Park, California
Road
32 miles | 3,800 ft elevation
Crater Lake National Park is home to the deepest lake in the United States and is one of the cleanest and clearest lakes in the world. This Southern Oregon ride around Crater Lake is 33 miles (3,800 feet of climbing) and has stunning views of the sparkling blue water throughout the route.
If you visit the park during one of the Ride the Rim weekends in September, you can ride 23 (of the 33) miles without cars! I highly recommend taking advantage of this event, as you have the road all to yourself the majority of the time. The event is free, but you do need to register beforehand.
The 10 miles (on West Rim Drive) between the Park HQ and North Junction will be open to cars, so I recommend the following two options to get through the cars section early:
Option 1 – start at North Junction and ride counter-clockwise (note: parking at this starting point is limited and will fill up by 8:30am)
Option 2 – start at the Park Headquarters (Steel Visitor Center) and ride clockwise (note: this is the more popular option, so you will be riding with more cyclists)
If you participate in the Ride the Rim event, you will also have the option of taking a shuttle for those 10 miles. The number of cars on the road does increase as it gets later in the day, but drivers are typically cyclist friendly. No matter which direction you ride, the route is hilly but so stunning the entire way.
Hotel Recommendation
The Cabins at Mazama Village – this rustic accommodation is the one of the few places to stay within Crater Lake National Park and is only a couple miles from the Park Headquarters (which is where the Ride the Rim event starts). The rooms have a motel vibe; however, there is no TV and no WiFi (and no cell service). The nearby Annie Creek Restaurant and Gift Shop is a five minute walk, where you can connect to WiFi and order lunch or dinner.
Getting a reservation at this property can be a challenge, so be sure to book early. You may want to consider staying in Klamath Falls (about an hour south of the park) or Bend (about 2 hours north of the park) for more options.
Just outside of Bend, I have stayed at the SunRiver Resort a few times and it is a fantastic place to spend a couple days. They have several restaurants on the property, as well as many other amenities (a river, golf course, swimming pools, spa, and over 40 miles of paved bike paths!)
Notes
Be sure to review the official Crater Lake National Park website for the latest information.
You will need to pay an entrance fee to enter the park.
If you participate in the Ride the Rim event, there will be a few rest stops with snacks, water, first aid, etc. If you visit any other time be sure to bring enough food and water, as there are limited services.
If you participate in the Ride the Rim event, try to arrive at the park early to secure a parking spot.
Be prepared for all types of weather and air quality conditions!
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