Only in Oregon: Ride Crater Lake Vehicle-Free

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Üma Kleppinger, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Credit: mateoutah of Flickr © (CC BY 2.0) creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Only in Oregon: Ride Crater Lake on Vehicle-Free Days

What do you get when you take a massive volcano, blows the top off, and fill it with water? Why Crater Lake, of course. Located in Central Oregon, Crater Lake National Park is one of Travel Oregon’s official “7 Wonders of Oregon” tour stops and for any serious recreational cyclist who appreciates stunning views and challenging rides, it’s got to be on your bucket list. There's only one chance left this month to do this ride without vehicular traffic harshing your altitude-and-scenery induced buzz.

For the ultimate ride without vehicular traffic, get there this Saturday, September 27th, as the park closes 20 miles of the East Rim Drive from the Cleetwood trailhead parking area to the park headquarters.

Though not a particularly long ride, the narrow, 33-mile Rim Drive encircling Crater Lake is a challenging ride requiring fitness, stamina and the right bike. The Rim Drive offers spectacular views with many scenic overlooks along the way. With rolling hills and long, steep grades to climb, even the fittest riders will appreciate the opportunity to catch their breath, take in the scenery and update their Instagram with photos that are sure to make their followers #jealous.

The best way to do this ride is to start at Park Headquarters and ride around the lake clockwise. This gives you the advantage of getting through one of the steepest and longest grades at the beginning of your ride. By the time you come full circle, you’ll have ridden 3,300 feet of elevation gain.

To comfortably do this ride, you’ll want a road, cyclocross or touring bike—not a mountain bike. The climbing sections are tough—the lighter you can make your bike the more easily you’ll grunt up those hills. Take plenty of snacks and water, too, because even though the total mileage is low, your caloric output will be high. Stay hydrated and refuel often in order to stay strong.

Be advised: The weather is always a tough thing to prdict. Before you go, check the National Forest service’s website for updates on the current road conditions and weather.

The entrance fee into the park is $10 per vehicle or $5 per person ($10 per family) if walking or bicycling into the park. Information is available at both the North and South Entrance Stations and at the visitor information centers located at Rim Village and Park Headquarters. Lodging in and around the park books up early each year, when the car-free ride dates are announced, however numerous camping options about in the nearby areas.

Lodging at Crater Lake

Üma on her bike

Üma Kleppinger is a Portland-based copy writer and advocate for full-contact anti-bummer living. She is a recovering sesquipedalian who writes about life in the saddle and outdoor adventure. She is also the author of BikeYoga, a yoga program for cyclists. When not writing, she can be found riding and racing her mountain bike throughout the Pacific Northwest.