Pinnacles To Liars Niche
Another one of the best rides came a day later when we went farther north and rode out of Annie Creek Sno Park. We covered a lot of territory that day, from the Pinnacles to Liars Niche. Liars Niche is just a few miles north of Pelican Butte but we approached it from the north, out of the sno park.
This area is closest to Crater Lake National Park, with some trails leading up to the edge or going along the boundary of the Park. Of course, riding in this part of the Park is off limits to snowmobiles but you can ride up to the boundary.
Our first destination on day two was the Pinnacles, really cool and unique geological features that are visible from just off the Pinnacles snowmobile trail (whoever named the trails in Klamath County didn't complicate a thing), along Sand Creek. The Pinnacles were sculpted by volcanic gasses and then erosion. Spires are all that are left from the hot gasses which spewed out of vents, which solidified the rock. Erosion then took over, cutting away the softer outer rock.
From there it was south to Sand Ridge, a fun play area with some open hillsides and lots of trees. On Sand Ridge (6,300 feet), we left the snowmobiles for a short hike through the trees to an open hillside on the south side. Once out of the trees, we could see Pelican Butte, the mountains in Sky Lakes Wilderness, Klamath Point and a peak named Goose Nest (7,249). There are a few markers on trees letting you know where the CLNP boundary is, but you still have to pay attention so as to not wander inside the boundary.
Some of the best snow of the two days of riding was at Liars Niche. We found some ridges to play on and pounded on a hillside for quite a while before it was time to head back to the truck. Along the way, you'll hit Dwight's Flight, a fairly steep section of trail that is groomed. You just have to ride it to appreciate how on earth a groomer smoothes that section out.