We are driving from San Francisco, North to Vancouver at the end of February & March 2013. I will be in Medford and Portland the first week in March 2013 and was wondering if the conditions will allow us to visit Crater Lake, that time of year?
I have looked at a few websites that state Highway 84 is open year round but will that give me a vantage point to see the lake?
I will be driving a mid size SUV, however I have not driven before with snow chains and do not wish to do so.
Could you also let me know the best place to set out on the journey? Unfortunately we will not be able to do any hiking on this trip, so It will only be a brief stop this time round. Our trip North includes San Francisco - Medford (1night) - Portland (3 nights) then onto Seattle.
This is my first post, so if I have missed anything let me know.
Crater Lake OR
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You may see the lake- you may not. Weather changes pretty fast up there. I have been there in April when you could not see the lake for snow flurries and I have been when its warm and sunny- but still lots of snow.
I think I would not take time to stop there in Feb or March for just a drive in and look .
The south entrance to Crater Lake is open all year long. There is a gate which is closed when the rotary plow is in use or the road up to the Crater Lake Lodge parking lot has too much snow. The north entrance will not be open until about July 1.
There is about 6 feet of snow in most of the park right now.
There is a Ranger led snowshoe hike every Saturday.
The ranger led shoeshow hike is very nice- usually quite slow as they make lots of stops to explain the flora and fauna.
Would say go for it - and check when you pull into Medford for the latest road conditons. It's one of the three bluest lakes in the World - the other two being Lake Tahoe and Lake Baikal, Russia. It takes the great depth to give it the deep shade of blue. Crater Lake is really a volcanic cauldron filled in by years of snow melt.
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Do you mean Hwy 62? Things should be fine by then, though they'll be snow in the high country.
Use http://www.tripcheck.com/Pages/RCmap.asp?curRegion=0&mainNav=RoadConditions
Thank you for your responses, apologies I mentioned the incorrect highway number. Will keep time for the drive but check road conditions and temps, might be best left to another trip. Sounds magnificent though!
Even if you don't stop at Crater Lake you could travel up US 97 from Weed and spend a night in Bend. There is already over 100" of snow on Mt. Bachelor if you want to ski or snow shoe.
What is the plan for Portland?
Thanks Tom, No firm plans for Portland, looking at the area I thought we could head across to the coastline. We read about a terrible accident on one of the mountain roads last week but if the conditions improve in the next couple of months we will take a drive up into the mountains too. We have never been to the area so if you have any suggestions, I would be very grateful.
I'd stay in Ashland instead of Medford. More to do, eat, and see.
We're used to snow in the mountains here, so unless you come in the middle of a blizzard the roads are usually clear and dry.
And you can head over to the coast, either on 199 to see the tip of the redwoods or head up I-5 to OR 38.