Crater Lake National Park rangers have started their free snowshoeing tours exploring Oregon’s lone national park, a popular program that doesn’t require participants to own snowshoes or have previous experience.

The two-hour guided walks offer people the chance to try snowshoeing in one of Oregon’s most beautiful locations – and in one of the nation’s snowiest. Crater Lake gets an average of 43 feet of snow every year. The current snow depth is about 8 inches.

Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States, reaching a depth of 1,943 feet.

It was once the site of a towering volcano. After the peak collapsed, the crater rapidly filled with water while lava continued to flow out of vents beneath the forming lake. Crater Lake has remained dormant since, though plumes of steam still rise from its vents.

The lake’s famous blue hue is due to its remarkable purity, as algal growth is limited to thick belts of moss on the crater walls.

The walks will be offered on Saturdays and Sundays until April 26, 2020. They’ll be offered daily from December 26 until Jan. 5, 2020 and from March 20 to March 29.

Routes vary, but most walks begin at Rim Village and explore the forests and meadows along the rim of the lake. Along the way, participants discover how winter affects Crater Lake and the park’s plants and animals.

Park officials require advance reservations, which can be made by calling the park’s visitor’s center at 541.594.3100. Participants must be at least 8 years old and be prepared with warm clothing and water-resistant footwear.

— Rob Davis

rdavis@oregonian.com

503.294.7657; @robwdavis

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