Crater Lake Ski Circumnavigation
Steel Visitor Center ⚲ Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
Download GPX Route | Mountain Forecast | National Park Website
My buddy Chris Bennett let me know that he and his friend Chris Shane were headed out to Crater Lake National Park to attempt a circumnavigation of the lake on skis. I had been on the fence about buying skis since moving to Washington, but when Chris extended the invite, I knew this was the time!
Chris Bennett and Chris Shane of The Adventures of Chris and Chris stand in front of the Crater Lake National Park Rim Visitor Center.
Chris Bennett and I go way back. After finishing the Appalachian Trail and moving to Portland, Maine in 2014, I grabbed a job at Eastern Mountain Sports. It was here that I met Chris. During my time in Maine, Chris and I accomplished some very memorable things like a single-day winter Presidential Traverse in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, an attempt to cross the entire Allagash Wilderness Waterway in the winter, and many more. Chris is a very talented wedding photographer as well, so when Moose and I got married on top of the Grand Teton in 2019 Bennett was there to capture it.
Chris Bennett and Chris Shane carry their skis during a momentary dry spot along the Rim Drive in Crater Lake National Park, Oregon.
This was my inaugural adventure with Chris Shane, he and Bennett have created a thriving YouTube channel: The Adventures of Chris and Chris which celebrates the adventure and beauty found on the East Coast, where they both reside. They planned this trip to Oregon to fulfill a long-time goal of Shane’s- capturing the Milky Way over Crater Lake in the winter.
Chris Shane skis out to an overlook to snap photos of Wizard Island in Crater Lake National Park, Oregon.
Chris Shane readjust some supplies before we move onward.
After meeting up at the Steel Visitor Center and retrieving our backcountry permits from the park ranger, we parked the cars at the backcountry lot, loaded up the gear, and headed out on the Raven Ski Trail. This short 2-mile wooded segment led us up the hillside to the crater rim and was arguably the most physically demanding of the whole trip. Once we reached the rim, the views were immediate and grand. From here on out we would be skiing along the Rim Drive - our trip was finally getting underway and we were all very excited to see what the next three days had in store for us.
Skiing the Rim Drive is the ultimate way to experience Crater Lake National Park in the wintertime, allowing for grand views of Crater Lake at each turn.
I found skiing the Rim Drive to be the perfect place to hone my touring skills. Since the route is entirely roadway, the grade is never steep or difficult. To be honest, I had expected way more adventurous skiing when I signed up for this trip. As a complete beginner, I found the trip to be quite easy in regards to the technical skill needed. For the most part, the skins remained on our skis; traveling in a clockwise direction, the road only trended downward significantly twice. The most challenging aspect faced by us all was the blisters from the boots which we lived in for three days straight. That being said, there is plenty of opportunity for the more seasoned skier to earn some turns just off the Rim Drive.
When the opportunity presented itself, Chris Bennett shed the pack to earn a few turns off of the Rim Drive, Crater Lake National Park, Oregon.
Mount Scott (8,934‘), the highest point in Crater Lake National Park, looms over the Cloudcap area of the park and the lake itself.
We kept things ultralight by utilizing one single Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 4-person tent for our shelter.
We always sought out the most scenic perch for cooking dinner, soaking in the views and the final light of the day. Crater Lake, Oregon.
One of the more challenging aspects of this trip was finding suitable campsites. The park asks that you do not camp directly on the Rim Drive (for obvious reasons like human waste etc.) which forced us to spend some extra time each evening searching for an appropriate location. Once the task of setting up camp was complete, we would always return to the crater rim to cook dinner and enjoy the sunset over the lake.
The unseasonably mild weather meant we had clear skies for sunsets and star gazing. Sunsets over Crater Lake National Park, Oregon in February.
Having three days for this ski circumnavigation allowed for a more casual pace and meant we could take our time in the mornings. Only having to cover 10-ish miles a day gave us ample time to stop and photograph/film when the opportunity presented itself. It also allowed wiggle room for any unexpected hiccups- since we knew we could make up time and mileage if necessary.
Chris Bennet and Chris Shane pause to take in the beautiful scenery found on our ski circumnavigation of Crater Lake in Oregon. You can see more of their adventure on their YouTube channel, The Adventures of Chris and Chris.
On the second day, we encountered a few unexpected difficulties in the way of extremes. The north side of the lake had seen a good amount of sun and had melted out in places- requiring navigation around dry asphalt. While on the other hand, in the thick of the trees, the road was an undulating mess of snow drifts. These difficulties were navigated as they presented themselves, and in hindsight, helped keep the adventure fresh and exciting.
Chris Bennett navigates the frequent snow drifts encountered along the Rim Drive, requiring patience and lots of short burst of skiing with the skins on. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon.
Chris Shane avoiding the dry road by sticking to a short scree-laden hillside. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon.
A mirror-like reflection of Wizard Island and the caldera rim on Crater Lake, Crater Lake National Park, Oregon.
A tired Chris Shane contemplates the long day over a hot beverage.
A feature called the Phantom Ship sits adrift on the mirror-like surface of Crater Lake, Crater Lake National Park, Oregon.
Once again, we scouted out a nice place to camp making sure to be 100 feet back from the edge of the caldera. We were all quite tired from the day, and everyone’s feet were hurting. Aside from the pain we were all in good spirits and looked to make the most of our final night out in this unique and beautiful place.
A snowy Phantom Ship accentuated by the evening colors on Crater Lake.
As the evening progressed the colors only got brighter and more vivid. Wintertime is a magical time to visit Crater Lake National Park.
Icy reflections of an unforgettable sunset at Crater Lake National Park, Oregon.
Beacons of a great day scattered amongst camp. The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 4 taking good care of us throughout the three-day ski circumnavigation around Crater Lake in Crater Lake National Park, Oregon.
We were advised by the ranger to travel in a clockwise direction to enjoy the most downhill travel possible- especially on the final leg back to the parking area. This proved to be very true! The only consideration against this direction of travel is the Dutton Cliffs area which can prove to be quite dangerous when avalanche danger is present. In this case, you may choose to go counter-clockwise to ensure safe passage before completing over 3/4 of the mileage only to have to backtrack the way you came. The park has established avalanche bypass routes for those dangerous areas, but I can say after seeing the trail for myself, having to take the Dutton avalanche cutoff would be a real pain- forcing one to drop nearly the entire distance back down to the valley floor before reascending back up to the caldera proper. We were fortunate that at this time avalanche consideration was minimal and so traversed the cliffs (narrow roadway) with no issue.
Collin Blunk, Chris Shane, and Chris Bennett after a successful circumnavigation of Crater Lake on skis in February.
Before we knew it we were back at the parking lot. I was surprised it came so quickly, I was pumped to get out my boots, but I was also a bit sad this great adventure had come to a close.
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