After carfree success, Crater Lake National Park officials make it an annual event

Reader Sally Hunt and a friend took
full advantage of a carfree Rim Drive
back in June.

After the resounding success of its first-ever carfree weekend this past June, Crater Lake officials now plan to make it an annual event. And, as a bonus, they’ll host another carfree weekend next month.

Travel Oregon is set to announce tomorrow morning that Crater Lake National Park will hold another carfree weekend on September 21st and 22nd this year and that, “Going forward, the third weekend in September will be preserved for non-motorized enjoyment of the park.”

Park Superintendent Craig Ackerman, who told us back in June that, “Bicycle use fits well into our sustainability and emission reduction goals for the park,” said that June’s trial was so popular it will now become a tradition. “After an outpouring of positive feedback from the many people who participated in this rare opportunity,” states Ackerman in a Travel Oregon news release, “we decided to make it an annual occurrence.”

Here’s more from Travel Oregon:

Under the plan, East Rim Drive will be open to non-motorized vehicles only (except for administrative and emergency vehicles) from North Junction around the East Rim of Crater Lake all the way to the intersection at Crater Lake National Park Headquarters and the Steel Visitors Center. Hwy 62 through the south end of the park, West Rim Drive and the North Entrance Road will be open to vehicles. Regular parking areas will be open, but generally fill up quickly. Normal park entrance fees apply.

For more on parking, fees, and other Crater Lake information, check out the official National Park Service website.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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SilkySlim
SilkySlim
10 years ago

Great news! I suggested a similar event for the Going-To-The-Sun road at Glacier National Park while visiting this summer. Let’s hope this trend continues throughout all our National Parks.

Granpa
Granpa
10 years ago

The best ride in Oregon (And half of it is downhill!)

Dan
Dan
10 years ago

That’s fantastic news! Thanks Crater Lake NP!

Spiffy
Spiffy
10 years ago

it won’t be as successful in September… but it’s still a good idea…

John Lascurettes
10 years ago
Reply to  Spiffy

Indeed. Harder for families to do it once the school year starts. Still, I’d like to try.

Aaron
Aaron
10 years ago
Reply to  Spiffy

Seems pretty positive all around to me. You can’t beat the weather in September either.

Maks
Maks
10 years ago
Reply to  Spiffy

while its a school year, it means less kids to worry about cutting you off should it be packed. i’m thrilled. i hope to make this trip.

Craig Ackerman
10 years ago
Reply to  Spiffy

Spiffy,

I agree that June is great for families and the scenery with lingering snow makes it an even more spectacular ride. Unfortunately, that same snow makes it almost impossible to set aside a weekend in advance, as June conditions are extremely variable with periodic late blizzards and continuous rock falls. September allows us a far greater certainty that snow, ice or rock slides won’t cause a cancellation. And another bonus, no mosquitoes!

gl.
gl.
10 years ago
Reply to  Craig Ackerman

that “no mosquitos” thing can’t be underestimated!

TonyH
TonyH
10 years ago

Now for the shuttle bus to get us all there (with our bikes!).

Brandon Van Buskirk
Brandon Van Buskirk
10 years ago

That’s great news….let’s do the same for Historical Hwy 30!

Annee von Borg
10 years ago

Awesome! How do you get there carfree from PDX? Alternatively, anyone planning something local for World Carfree Day 9/22? Want to plan something? http://www.facebook.com/CarfreeFamily

Nathan Broom
Nathan Broom
10 years ago

Super! But if you can’t make that particular weekend, don’t be deterred from riding the rim. We’ve ridden it comfortably on a July Saturday with kids in trailers. The east rim is lightly traveled even on busy days. I rode it at sunset/moonrise one September evening, and I don’t think we saw a single other soul on the east rim. The carfree times are a wonderful thing, but they’re not the only way to enjoy this superb ride.

Alli
Alli
10 years ago

So excited! We missed the last one but this one is on our calendar now and we will be there.

GlowBoy
GlowBoy
10 years ago

Yay! This is awesome news. After a fantastic ride over McKenzie Pass back in May, I’m excited about more opportunities to ride spectacular roads without traffic. North Cascades Highway, anyone? Hello, WSDOT!

grimm
grimm
10 years ago

I lucked out and east rim drive was still closed to traffic after the car-free weekend (I think they were still filling a few holes so the gate was closed) and it was the most magical miles I have had the good fortune to ride. Thank you to Travel Oregon and the Parks Dept!

PorterStout
PorterStout
10 years ago

Yes! Some friends and I were already looking to do a ride this very weekend but hadn’t selected location yet. There must be some kind of offering I owe to the biking gods for dropping this jewel in our laps.

Biker
Biker
10 years ago

Thanks for the post. Please correct it to indicate only about 2/3rds of the road will be car free.
http://www.nps.gov/crla/planyourvisit/upload/Bike-Map.pdf

SilkySlim
SilkySlim
10 years ago

So… Any chance this gov’t shutdown will cause them to close the gates on the park? Gates that I could easily walk my bike around for a very quiet visit? Hint hint.