Oregon
Oregon’s Crater Lake to close to swimming, boat tours starting in 2026: What to know
Video: Free divers explore underwater forest at Oregon’s Clear Lake
Here are some things to know about Clear Lake in Willamette National Forest and why it’s a haven for West Coast free divers.
This coming summer will be the last chance to swim or take a boat tour in the waters of Crater Lake for an extended period.
Cleetwood Cove Trail, the only legal pathway to the shoreline of the United States’ deepest lake, will close in 2026 and stay closed for years due to a construction project, according to parks officials.
“The park is planning on starting construction in 2026,” a news release from Crater Lake National Park says. “Due to the extent work to be completed and short construction seasons, trail closures will be required and are expected during the duration of the 2027 and 2028 summer seasons.
“During this time, no boat tours will be provided and the trail will be closed due to construction and rockfall hazards. If construction goes as planned, the renovated trail will reopen in summer 2029.”
In an email to SF Gate, Crater Lake information officer Marsha McCabe confirmed that all access to the lake will be cut off and that visitors will only be able to enjoy views of the lake from above. Park scientists will be the only ones allowed the approach the lake, she said.
Although the news release says the trail will reopen in 2029, there appeared to be some chance it could reopen in 2028.
The Cleetwood Cove Trail is the most heavily used trail with thousands of park visitors hiking the trail to gain access to lakeshore each summer. At the bottom, there is a place to jump into the lake. The Cleetwood Cove Marina is the launch point for the concession-provided boat tours of Crater Lake and the park’s boats.
It’s not legal to access the lake by going down the lake’s cliffs into the caldera, and in fact there have been a number of rescues, deaths and accidents from people attempting to reach the lake through that method in the past.
“This project proposes to rehabilitate the trail and related infrastructure to ensure safe access to the lake, provide needed visitor services, and to protect the environment,” the news release said.
The work proposed includes:
- Rehabilitation of the entire 1.1 mile trail including improvements to trail tread and retaining walls.
- Rockfall scaling and mitigation along identified high risk zones.
- Removal and replacement of the failed bulkhead/dock with a structurally stable marina.
- Replacing the outdated and undersized composting toilets located near the marina.
The planning, design and compliance have been completed for the project, with the next step being solicitation of the construction contract.
Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors and BlueSky at oregonoutdoors.bsky.social.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) —With Memorial Day comes the annual tradition of jet flyovers throughout Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington.
This year, the U.S. Air Force F-15EX Eagles will pass 1,000 feet above the ground, at a breakneck speed of 400 miles per hour, over select communities, per Memorial Day Oregon.
Below is the complete list of flyerovers slated for Monday, May 25, 2026:
10:31 a.m. — Vancouver, Washington
10:36 a.m. — Ridgefield, Washington
10:41 a.m. — Vernonia, Oregon, at Vernonia Memorial Cemetery
10:45 a.m. — North Plains, Oregon, at Veterans Memorial Park
10:46 a.m. — Forest Grove, Oregon, at Forest View Cemetery
10:49 a.m. — Beaverton, Oregon, at Veterans Memorial Park
10:51 a.m. — Portland, Oregon, at Willamette National Cemetery
10:52 a.m. — Oregon City, Oregon, at Mountain View Cemetery
10:55 a.m. — Woodburn, Oregon, at Belle Passi Pioneer Cemetery
10:58 a.m. — Salem, Oregon, first at WWI Memorial, then at Restlawn Memory Gardens
11:00 a.m. — Dallas, Oregon, at Dallas Cemetery
11:07 a.m. — Depoe Bay, Oregon
11:18 a.m. — Reedsport, Oregon, at Reedsport Masonic Cemetery
11:25 a.m. — Springfield, Oregon, at Veterans Memorial Plaza
11:26 a.m. — Eugene, Oregon, at Eugene Pioneer Cemetery
11:35 a.m. — Mount Angel, Oregon, at Cavalry Cemetery
11:36 a.m. — Molalla, Oregon, at Adams Cemetery
11:50 a.m. — Wasco, Oregon
The flyovers this year are incorporating the latest addition to the Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing, the Air Force’s all-new F-15EX Eagle II, making their debuts above Oregon skies this Memorial Day.
This year, there are no Southwest Oregon flyovers as the 173rd Fighter Wing based in Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls is currently making a transition to newer aircraft.
Oregon
‘Resources were protected’: Salem firefighters respond to blaze at Oregon State Fire Marshal warehouse
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Salem Fire Department said they helped protect millions of dollars’ worth of equipment and infrastructure when they put out a fire at the Oregon State Fire Marshal warehouse.
The commercial building associated with the statewide wildland fire response is located in Salem.
City firefighters responded at 11:18 a.m., finding the warehouse emitting a heavy deluge of black smoke from the roof.
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The Salem Fire Department put out a blaze at the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s warehouse in Salem on May 23, 2026 (courtesy Salem Fire Department).
“Crews quickly located and extinguished the fire, minimizing damage,” the Salem Fire Department said. “Through these quick actions, crews were able to protect millions of dollars in equipment for the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office and prevented millions of dollars in damage to the building.”
Officials said that with wildfire season upon us, it is as vital as ever to protect vital equipment and resources.
The fire remains under investigation.
EUGENE, Ore. – Another Oregon Ducks recruiting target announced his commitment in May after listing the Pacific Northwest program among his finalists.
Like the success coach Dan Lanning and the program had with the offensive line recruiting announcements, things swung in their favor once again with three-star safety Malakai Taufoou’s decision, who announced his decision on the Rivals YouTube channel.
Three-Star Safety Malakai Taufoou Announces Recruiting Decision
Taufoou decided between the Ducks, the California Golden Bears, the Washington Huskies, the BYU Cougars and the Penn State Nittany Lions. The Golden Bears were for a long time considered the favorites in the recruiting race to land the in-state recruit, but Oregon has gained momentum this spring.
The elite recruit is ranked No. 38 at his position and the No. 436 recruit nationally by Rivals. He cited the Ducks’ development and the opportunity to step out of his comfort zone as the big factors in his decision during the announcement with Rivals.
Dan Lanning Wins Recruiting Battle vs. Tosh Lupoi
The Ducks’ former defensive coordinator, Tosh Lupoi, is shaping up to be a formidable foe in recruiting. Lupoi’s Cal squad is pursuing similar targets to Oregon in the state of California, with the Eugene team winning this round.
Between the Golden Bears, the USC Trojans and the UCLA Bruins, the California programs are reclaiming their advantage with in-state recruits in the 2027 recruiting cycle. There were some concerns that the Ducks wouldn’t be able to have the same success they’ve had in years past with targets from California, with those teams on the rise, which makes Taufoou’s decision more notable.
Oregon Ducks Safety Future
The starting safety position has been a carousel for the Ducks in recent years. Dillon Thieneman starred at the position in 2025 as a transfer, but played his way to a first-round NFL Draft selection.
Lanning secured another standout Big Ten transfer in the offseason with the addition of Koi Perich. If Perich has a breakout season like many expect him to in 2026, he could have the same fate as Thieneman and be one-and-done for Oregon.
Peyton Woodyard and Aaron Flowers are among the returners in the safety room entering 2026, who may also compete for a starting role. They could be back in 2027 and provide the team with stability.
Lanning also has redshirt freshman Trey McNutt as a long-term option at safety that Ducks fans have long been excited about. He missed 2025 due to injury, but is set to make his debut in the fall after catching fans’ attention in the Spring Game.
The Ducks may elect to look in the transfer portal again next spring in search of their next star safety, given the success they’ve had. If they do rely solely on internal development, they have Taufoou, McNutt, as well as 2026 five-star Jett Washington, and secured another commitment from 2027 four-star safety Semaj Stanford.
The 2027 recruiting cycle is far from over. Lanning and the program might still push hard to get an additional safety commitment, either from one of their uncommitted targets or via a recruiting flip.
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