Crater Lake Winter Tour - 4 days / 3 nights, Guided or Self-Guided

This Oregon winter adventure takes you through beautiful regions of waterfalls and rivers, and on to Crater Lake National Park.

Snowy fun combined with easy waterfall hikes provide great variety, and many optional activities (including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, innertube sledding and bird watching) make this itinerary a fully customizable treat perfect for individual and family travelers. Departures are available from Seattle, WA and Portland, OR, with your choice of a self-guided or privately guided tour. Our tour experts are here to assist you in putting together all of the details – accommodations, hikes, maps, activity reservations and in-depth itineraries with background information – leaving you the most important job of all: packing up and heading out on a relaxing, exciting vacation!

Itinerary Overview

Day 1: Explore and Hike Amazing Waterfalls
Drive from Seattle/Portland to a state park that features several magnificent waterfalls and is considered one of the most scenic areas in Oregon. Winter time offers solitude and lovely scenery while hiking through a canyon and grottos. Depending on the temperature, the mist of the waterfalls will cover the area with tiny crystals and icicles, turning this temperate rain forest into a magic winter wonderland. Your local guides will assist you in choosing your equipment and the best trails. Before darkness drive to one of Oregon’s quaint historic towns with an amazing main street and several covered bridges, all on the National Registry of Historic Places. Get a warm welcome and stay for the night.

Day 2: Scenic Highway and Crystal Clear Rivers
Drive along a wild river on a scenic Oregon Byway and stop for a short hike to one of the most breathtaking waterfalls along the road. For a quick lunch stop at at a lake resort and check out their winter activity options. They include: snow tubing with a conveyor lift (#1 family activity), snow shoe or cross country ski rentals with many x-country ski trails, or snowmobile rentals with trails starting at the resort’s shop. For the most adventurous, there is cat skiing available on the longest running snow cat skiing adventure in the Northwest with the best back country skiing or board riding. Your local guides will assist you with detailed information and pre-registering where required. In the late afternoon drive past a historic fort and check-in at your comfortable cabin with kitchenette.

Day 3: Crater Lake National Park – Winter
Today, you are exploring scenic overlooks at Crater Lake National Park protecting the deepest lake in the USA in the caldera of a collapsed volcano, part of the Cascades volcanoes. Crater Lake Rim is at an elevation of 6,200 feet with a tremendous snowfall during the winter of an of 42 feet due to moist Pacific air flowing toward the Cascade Mountains. Rent your snow shoes or bring them with you for a walk along the fantastic rim of Crater Lake. Warm up at the cafeteria at the rim village (COVID-19 restrictions might apply). Our local experts will suggest the best trails fitting your interests. Later in the afternoon, drive to a mountain lake for more snow activities as listed on day 2. For those who are into fishing, there is ice fishing equipment available.

Day 4: Scenic drive home with stop at State Park/Arboretum
Check-out from your cabin starting your journey home. Drive on a scenic road to lower elevations and explore a state park on a walk or hike through wetlands along a river. Spot Ospreys, blue herons and other birds in this natural habitat. On to a nearby arboretum enjoy some quiet trails. Stop in Eugene, Oregon’s Emerald City surrounded by greenery all year round and eat lunch (or take out) in one of the many excellent restaurants. Continue your drive home and take along wonderful memories of winter in Oregon…

Customizations


Fully customize your Oregon winter adventure to match your interests!

Here are just a few of the optional activities we can reserve for you…

  • Skiing, including back-country skiing and boarding options, cat skiing
  • Sledding and tubing
  • Snowshoeing
  • Snowmobiling

This adventure can be customized to match your start and end destination, and can include additional nights to give you extra time for winter fun. There are many different waterfall hikes available and we will assist you in selecting the ones that best match your adventure style. As with all of our custom tours we can adjust the itinerary to match special interests and needs. If you are traveling with children or pets let us know. Our experts also know all of the interesting historical sites and can share information about the flora/fauna and geology of the region. Ask about our custom guided tour options!

Accommodations

Specially selected privately owned accommodations reflecting the local area:

  • 1 night in a comfortable hotel in Cottage Grove, Oregon, a  National Historic Place
  • 2 nights in a cozy cabin with kitchenette near Crater Lake NP

*dependent on availability at the time of booking
**accommodation upgrades available

Crater Lake Area Cabins

Costs and Dates

Winter Departures from December 2022 to March 2023
Self-guided or privately guided tour available. Please inquire for availability and pricing.

Contact us at 541-535-2015 (toll-free 1-877-538-5353) or email us at info@traveldreamwest.com

We are happy to answer your questions and customize your itinerary to match your needs! Your tour will include a detailed itinerary prepared by a knowledgeable local expert, complete with background information and maps for the area. We will make adjustments as needed for closures and COVID-19 concerns. Custom tour options are available in a range of budgets and final cost will vary dependent on the number of travelers, accommodations and activities.

Contact us at info@traveldreamwest.com with any questions, we are always happy to help you put together your perfect winter getaway.