About This Route
The PCT's Oregon segment along Crater Lake National Park's rim, from Rim Drive to Cloud Cap via PCT Trail 99, delivers 12-15 mile loops at 7,000-8,000 feet with minimal gain but epic caldera views. Snow arrives November through May, transforming the volcanic rim into a high-plateau snowshoe haven under NPS oversight.
Safety Considerations/h2>p>NPS winter closures limit access; check park alerts for rim stability, as cornices overhang the 1,000-foot drop to Wizard Island. Avalanche risk low but present on east rim chutes per NWAC forecasts. Hypothermia from lake-effect winds; a 2018 solo traveler required SAR after cliff-edge drift. Use Rim Village as base; Gaia GPS overlays for obscured cairns. Leave No Trace: no trace on fragile cryptobiotic soils./p>h3>Essential Gear
Yukiwa Expedition snowshoes for lake flats, BCA Tracker4 beacon. Kahtoola Nanospikes for crater edges, CAMP Corsa axe. Outdoor Research Crocodiles gaiters, Mammut Barryvox pack. Buff, Smith Wildcat goggles, Thermos for soups, Katadyn BeFree filter.
Emergency Tips
Cliff fall: arrest with axe/poles. Lost in storm: hunker rim-side, three blasts whistle. PLB to Mazama Village.