OREGON
Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake is one of the oldest national parks in North America and one of the most unique. Crater Lake has become famous for its deep blue color and impressive ride of mountains that surround the lake. And all that is draped in a heavy blanket of snow during the winter as the park averages 533 inches of snow each year, making it the snowiest place in all of Oregon.
Snowmobiling is limited to one road in the park but it's where that road leads that makes a trip to Crater Lake so cool. The view from the North Rim Overlook offers great views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Sites along the road include the Pumice Desert, Red Cone (8,763 feet) and Grouse Hill (7,412 feet).
While Roseburg is the closest full service town, the Diamond Lake Resort (800-733-7593) has nearly everything a snowmobiler needs, including food and fuel.
CLNP General Information
Snowmobile use is permitted in Crater Lake National Park only on the North Entrance Road from the park boundary to North Junction, where the entrance road meets Rim Drive.
Snowmobile use is limited to the unplowed roadway only.
Both headlight and taillight must be illuminated while the snowmobile is in operation.
Operators must carry a valid state registration for each snowmobile.
Maximum speed is 45 mph.
Operators must possess a valid state license or proof of state certification by an authorized state snowmobile safety officer.
Snowmobiles must be equipped with a muffler in good working order.
Crater Lake National Park
Elevation 5,850-7,025 feet
Snowfall 533 inches
Trails 10 miles
Location Southcentral Oregon
Entrance Fee None
Closest Trail System Diamond Lake
National Park Established 1902
Size 183,224 acres
Full-Service Town Roseburg (79 miles
west via Hwy 138)
Nearest Airport Redmond (140 miles)
Information Crater Lake National Park
(541) 594-3100 or www.nps.gov/crla
Newberry National Volcanic Monument
Created about a dozen and a half years ago, Newberry National Volcanic Monument is a geological wonder with cinder cones, pumice cones, caves, streams, lakes, lava flows, waterfalls, mountains and spectacular geological features. Managed by the U.S. Forest Service, the monument is located in central Oregon.
The two largest lakes are located in the southern part of the monument, as are many of the geological features visitors like to see.
Snowmobile trails, groomed and ungroomed, lace Newberry National Volcanic Monument and take sledders past most of the monument's geological features. For the best view of the monument's caldera, ride to the top of 7,985-foot Paulina Peak, where you can also get a bird's eye view of the Oregon Cascades and the High Desert. Another good viewpoint is Cinder Hill. Or try the ungroomed Roller Coaster trail, which takes you past the Obsidian Flow.
And, unlike many other national parks and monuments, sledders are allowed off-trail to play in several areas, all of which are clearly marked on the trail map.
NNVM General Information
While off-trail riding is allowed, stay on the trails where required.
No snowmobiling is allowed on Paulina or East Lakes. Water under the ice is soft.
Trails are clearly marked on the trail map. Trails numbered with single digits means they are groomed on a regular basis. Trails numbered with double digits are occasionally groomed and trails numbered with triple digits may be poorly marked and never groomed.
Newberry National Volcanic
Monument Elevation 4,700-8,000 feet
Snowfall 110 inches
Trails 175 miles in Paulina system
Location Central Oregon
Closest Trail System Paulina
National Monument Established 1990
Size 50,000 acres
Full-Service Town LaPine, Bend
Nearest Airport Redmond (44 miles)
Information Newberry National
Volcanic Monument (541) 416-6500 or
www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/recr
ation/winter/area-newberry.shtml