START
East Rim, the official vehicle free route and approximately 25 miles, will open at 8:00 am and will remain closed to vehicles until 4:00 pm. The East Rim can take roughly 4 hours to complete, give or take an hour based on individual experience levels. Please plan accordingly and start at an appropriate time. Riders can choose to continue past the vehicle free portion and complete the entire Rim Drive, which makes the ride a total of 33 miles. The additional stretch of riding with traffic and no shoulder does have a significant incline in narrow switchbacks for a small section, but is a great accomplishment for those that complete it. You can refer to the map to help better understand where the Start locations are located.
CHECK IN
We ask that ALL riders, runners and walkers, registered or not, please check in the morning of the ride at either the North Junction or Park HQ.
EQUIPMENT
Please perform a thorough inspection of your equipment BEFORE event day. Check your equipment and don’t forget your helmet. It is a good idea to come prepared to fix a flat or tube, however, each rest stop will have a basic bike repair kit available (but will not be for every bike type).
PARK FEES
Park Fees still apply to anyone entering Crater Lake National Park during the Ride the Rim event. It is strongly encouraged to purchase your pass online ahead of time to help cut down the time at the entrance stations. You can both view and purchase your passes HERE
TIPS ON PURCHASING AN ONLINE PASS:
- Per Person Pass ($15) is good for individuals, or 4 cyclists.
- Private Vehicle Pass ($30) is good for one private vehicle, or 4 cyclists.
- Crater Lake Annual Pass ($55) is good for one private vehicle for 12 months, or 4 cyclists for 12 months
PARKING
Vehicle Parking is located at the Steel Visitor Center/Park HQ (larger parking lot), North Junction (limited parking) and Picnic Hill (between Rim Village and Crater Lake Lodge). We highly recommend ride sharing if you know someone else attending. Please refer to the map for parking area locations.
SHUTTLE SERVICE
A shuttle service will be provided along the West Rim Drive only and will only transport people, not bikes. There will be pick-up/drop-op locations at Park HQ, Rim Village, and North Junction. There will be multiple shuttles in a constant rotation throughout the day to help move as many people as quickly as possible, however, keep in mind, the shuttle can only move as fast as traffic will allow and there will be some cyclists on West Rim Drive which can slow the shuttle down. Please be patient.
RIDE SAFETY
Please be aware this ride, although not long at approximately 25 miles, has steep inclines and declines. With roughly 3,500 feet in net elevation gain this ride is for intermediate to advanced riders. Exercise caution on downhill grades, as speeds of over 40 mph are likely, which can cause injury or death in the event of a crash. Be alert for less-experienced riders. Stay well-hydrated, as inclines are steep and long, and you will be riding at elevations above 5,000 feet where the air is thinner. Apply sunscreen liberally, as skin exposed to UV rays at higher elevations can receive severe sunburn.
EMERGENCY NUMBER (9-1-1)
While cell phone service is spotty within park boundaries at Crater Lake National Park, dialing 9-1-1 will still work in case of an emergency no matter your location. Today’s technology can provide a 9-1-1 operator your location where they can easily dispatch help to your location, even if you don’t actually talk to a person.
ELECTRIC BIKES
While this is a pedestrian friendly event, we realize you may need some assistance from time to time. We do allow E-bikes with a Pedal Assist where the assist is only activated through a pedaling action and is limited to relatively low speeds. In order to keep this event vehicle free, we do not allow any bikes to be self-propelled. If your bike comes with an optional throttle, we ask that you disable the throttle before getting on the course so that you do not accidently use it. If you have additional questions whether your electric bike is allowed, please contact us.
Individuals with disabilities may utilize an e-bike for the Ride the Rim event without pedaling if they have an impairment which prevents them from pedaling.
MERCHANDISE PICK-UP
At this time we do not offer local pick up. We unfortunately CANNOT allow pick-up at the event itself. If you have any questions about this, please contact us.
BIKE RENTALS
Bike rentals will be available from the following businesses for those that do not want to bring their own bikes. Arrangements will need to be made in advance. Because of the popularity of Ride the Rim, it is possible these bike shops may not have rentals available when you call.
Zach's Bikes
Klamath Falls, OR
541.851.9200
Hutch’s Bicycles
Bend-Eastside 541.382.6248
Bend-Westside 541.382.9253
Redmond 541.548.8200
Cycle Portland
Coming from or going through Portland? Rent bikes and racks if needed to bring to the event. Must pick up in Portland and will not be available in the park.
844.739.2453
REST STOPS
5 rest stops will be on the East Rim located at North Junction, Cleetwood Cove, White Bark Pine, Dutton Ridge, and Park HQ behind the Steel Visitor Center. Each stop is staffed with volunteers including members of Friends of Crater Lake because of their tremendous knowledge of Crater Lake.
Each rest stop will also have:
- Restrooms
- Snacks (limited)
- Waste Receptacles
- Basic First Aid Kits
- Basic Bike Repair Tools
- Encouragement & Support
- Bulk Water (bring refillable bottles)
- NO SAG WAGON IS AVAILABLE
GPS ROUTE INFO
You can export the route to your GPS by going to https://ridewithgps.com/routes and choosing the export option.
RULES OF THE ROAD
A bicycle rider is considered traffic. Along the route, you may encounter other riders traveling in the opposite direction. So be SMART! Please adhere to the “Rules of the Road”. Follow the strict centerline rule and ride to the right of the centerline AT ALL TIMES. Ride no more than two abreast.
SAFETY
Please be sure to be extra careful coming down after the Dutton Ridge rest stop as you can pick up higher speeds and the road can be narrow and curvy in spots. Riders MUST OBEY ALL POSTED SPEED LIMIT SIGNS and stay on the proper side of the road. DO NOT cross the center-line since our route is multi-directional. This is for your safety and the safety of others.
BIKE CORRAL
We offer free, unfenced bike corrals located at the North Junction and Park HQ rest stops. You can use these bike corrals while you are parking your vehicle or riding the shuttle to retrieve your vehicle. For questions on how the bike corrals operate please contact us. Please refer to the map for the North Junction and Park HQ rest stop locations.
If you use the bike corral at the end of the event, please plan to pick up your bike no later than 4:15 pm. Rest stops including North Junction and Park HQ will begin breaking down promptly at 4:00 pm when the event is over.
When placing your bike in the bike corrals you do so at your own risk. Ride the Rim, Crater Lake National Park and event volunteers do not assume responsibility for any bikes placed in the bike corral at any time and are not liable for any damage or theft while in the bike corrals. It is recommended that one person stay behind from a group to monitor the safety of the bikes.
MEALS
Food can be found immediately within Crater Lake NP after the ride at the following locations:
- Rim Village Cafe
- Crater Lake Lodge Dining Room
- Annie Creek Restaurant (located near the South Entrance pay station)
- Mazama Village Store
You can also find food nearby Crater Lake NP at the following locations:
Fort Klamath:
Chiloquin:
- Crater Lake Junction Travel Center
- The Potbelly Cafe
- Peak to Peak Restaurant inside Kla-Mo-Ya Casino
- Family Food Center
Rocky Point:
- Rocky Point Resort Restaurant
- Harriman Springs Resort Restaurant
- Odessa Market at 28200 Hwy 140W
More Food Options in Klamath County