Things to do at Crater Lake National Park

Are you looking for the best things to do at Crater Lake National Park? In this blog I will tell you all you need to know in order to prepare for your visit to Crater Lake in Oregon. From the best activities at Crater Lake National Park, best hikes to do, to where to stay, where to camp, how to get there and more. I visited Crater Lake for the first time in the summer of 2017 and more recently in the fall of 2024. It’s definitely one of my favorite places in the United States and I hope I can return someday again in the future.

Note that this article was first published in 2019 and updated in 2024 after my most recent visit.  

Where is Crater Lake National Park?

One of the questions most often heard is ‘Where is Crater Lake National Park?’ as it’s much lesser known that many other national parks in the Pacific Northwest. Crater Lake is located in southern Oregon in the western part of the United States. It’s quite far away from everything (at least, for European standards) and the nearest big city is Portland. Portland to Crater Lake National Park is about a 250 mile or a 4.5 hour drive. I left Portland super early in order to arrive in Crater Lake on time to grab a camp site, however failed hopelessly but more on that later. Smaller towns that are closer by are Klamath Falls (1.5 hrs) and Eugene (2.5 hrs).

How was Crater Lake formed?

Another question you may wonder about is ‘how was Crater Lake formed?’ Or better said: how did a mountain become a lake? Because before the massive volcanic eruption, this used to be a mountain peak. This eruption occurred some 7.700 years ago, resulting in the deepest lake in the United States. Some other interesting facts about Crater Lake National Park are:
 
– Crater Lake is 6.02 miles across maximum and 4.54 miles across minimum
– It’s 1.943 feet deep at its deepest point
– It holds 4.9 trillion gallons of water
– The tallest point on the rim is 1.978 feet above the lake
– The lowest point on the rim is 507 feet above the lake
– The Park Headquarters is located at 6.450 feet
 
An interpretive sign with more information can be found at the south rim of Crater Lake. Just imagine that there was once a massive mountain here!

Entrance into Crater Lake National Park

There are two main entrances to Crater Lake National Park. The most important and year round accessible one is the Annie Spring Entrance Station along Highway 62 located in the southwestern part of the park. When coming from Portland to Crater Lake, the easiest access, if open, is the North Entrance. An annual national park pass can also be used and will give you access to all US national parks at just USD 80 so is well worth the money if you plan on visiting other US National Parks on your trip.

When I visited in October 2024 the North entrance was open but I was not allowed to buy an entrance ticket there however as the station was unmanned.
 

When is Crater Lake National Park open?

Crater Lake National Park is open year round, however not always easily accessible. Due to its high altitude, some roads, facilities and trails are closed during periods of snow falls. For your information: I visited late July and there still as plenty of snow left in certain places. The later in the season you go, the easier it will be to get to Crater Lake National Park. The last time in October I got quite lucky as it was very warm, however usually it can also be that there’s the first snowfall of the season by then.
 
Much of the year, the North Entrance Road and the Rim Drive are closed to cars, usually they close around November 1st or earlier if there’s snowfall. The North Entrance and West Rim open between mid-May and late June. The East Rim opens between mid-June and late July. Highway 62 and the Rim Village are open year-round.

Things to do at Crater Lake National Park

Most people who travel to Crater Lake National Park are lovers of the outdoors. As mentioned before it’s quite far from the rest of the world (at least, that’s what it felt like to me) so getting there takes a bit of an effort. There are plenty of amazing things to do at Crater Lake National Park and will mention them in more detail below.
 

The Rim Drive in Crater Lake National Park

The Rim Drive in Crater Lake is a 33 mile road that encircles the lake. It’s one of the most scenic byways in the US and offers spectacular views in all directions. The full loop is usually open from early July until to late October. If you plan in just driving it, you could technically drive the whole loop in about an hour. However, when taking stops along the way, count at least 2-3 hours for the whole drive without time for walks. There are some 30 scenic pullouts along the road and various information panels. Some of the most scenic stops along the Rim Drive include:

• Discovery Point
• Watchman Overlook
• Cloudcap Overlook
• Pumice Castle Overlook
• Phantom Ship Overlook
• Pinnacles Overlook
• Videa Falls
  

The best hikes in Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake offers some amazing hiking trails however keep in mind that many will be closed well until late July because of snow. My main goal was to hike to the summit of Mount Scott, the highest point in the park, but I was advised not to as there was still snow on the track. Same was for Garfield Peak which is closed to the Rim. Eventually I ended up doing four different hikes during my two visits For a full overview of hiking trails in Crater Lake and a Crater Lake hiking map, visit the National Park website.
 
The most amazing hike in Crater Lake National Park that I did was the trail to the summit of Mount Scott. I solo-hiked it despite some people telling me not to. Luckily there was barely any snow left on the trail so it was not as hard as I imagined. However, it still is a long way up and should only be done by fit and experienced hikers. The view from the top is simply awesome! The trail will take you some 3/4 hours and gains 1.250 feet in altitude.
 
Another great hike is the one to Discovery Point from where you’ll have amazing views on the lake. The trail is 2 miles long and relatively easy. Gold prospector John Wesley Hillman first spotted Crater Lake from here back in 1853.

In 2024 I did the Cleetwood Cove Trail. This trail is 1.7 kilometers one way and is the only trail that takes you to the lake itself. The path is not technical anywhere but quite steep in some places. Descending is fast, walking up is a bit tougher, you climb about 200 meters. Once at the lake you have to cross some rock fields to actually get to the water. Note that I heard that this trail may be closed in the near future for repairs. 
 
The last trail I hiked was The Pinnacles. This area is some 6 miles off the Rim Drive but well worth the detour. The Pinnacles are a bunch of fossil fumaroles where volcanic gases once rose up through a layer of volcanic ash, cementing the ash into solid rock, resulting in these bizarre formations. The trail is easy and gets unpaved after a while and you’ll exit the park at some point. From here it’s not really worth continuing though so I turned back the same way.

A boat tour on Crater Lake

Those who wish to explore Crater Lake by boat can do so by joining a park ranger led boat cruise on the lake. Unfortunately during my visit there was too much wind and the boat tours were cancelled so I cannot tell you first hand what it was like. However those I’ve spoken to and who’ve done it all said it was well worth the time and money. Tickets can be bought by phone or from the self serve kiosk at Crater Lake Lodge and Annie Creek Gift Shop. The boat departs from Cleetwood Cove and you can only get here if you have reasonable fitness.

Anyone who has seen the movie Wild will recognize Crater Lake National Park in it. The image of Cheryl (Reese Witherspoon) camping at the Rim with a view is not entirely realistic because this is not allowed. The Pacific Crest Trail does run through Crater Lake National Park, but not along the lake itself. If you still want to walk a part of this iconic hike, you will find a part of it just past the northern entrance of the park.

Can you swim in Crater Lake National Park? Absolutely! The only place where this is legally possible is at the Cleetwood Cove Trail. If you descend here, you will come to a number of rock formations (where the boat also departs, see below) where you can also swim. I did this on October 1, 2024 and it was cooling but chilly. Keep in mind that there is no changing room and that the water gets really cold as it gets deeper.

Other things to do at Crater Lake National Park

Other things to do at Crater Lake National Park are backcountry camping (only possible with a backcountry permit), bicycling, fishing, swimming and sky gazing. Make sure to check out the most current version of the park newspaper for the best options and more details on what activities can be done during your visit.
 
There are also plenty of ranger-led activities such as talks at the Rim, afternoon hikes, a trip on the Rim Drive Trolley Tour and junior ranger activities.

Places to stay near Crater Lake National Park

I found out hat accommodation in and around Crater Lake National Park is quite scarce. Below you will find the best options for staying in or near Crater Lake National Park, both for lodging and camping.
 

Crater Lake lodging options

If you wish to stay inside in a hotel inside Crater Lake National Park, there are two options: the Crater Lake Lodge near the Rim Village and the Cabins at Mazama Village. They can both be booked online at the Crater Lake National Park Official Lodging website. Accommodations should be booked well ahead as they are quite popular and have limited space.

If you wish to stay outside the park, you can find plenty of accommodation options around the park, all located at least at 20 mile distance from the park. A list of accommodations suggested by the Park Service can be found here, current rates and availability for lodging near Crater Lake National Park can be found here.

In 2024 I stayed at the historic Prospect Hotel, about a 45 minute drive from the national park. This hotel is creaky on all sides, but what a cool experience this was. It is one of the oldest hotels in America and the food is excellent. This hotel can only be booked directly, click here for more information.
 
Note that many accommodations will only be open during summer season, including those inside the park.

Crater Lake camping options

As I hadn’t booked my campsite ahead, I decided to leave Portland in the early morning in order to make it in time to Crater Lake to find a campsite. However, upon arrival in Mazama Village (where the main campsite is located) it turned out that they were already fully booked for the day. They gave me some suggestions for nearby campsites and I ended up staying at Farewell Bend Campground, some 30 minutes away from Mazama Village. I really enjoyed my time there but since it took me quite a bit of a drive each day, I definitely recommend booking your camp site well ahead. Another option is to stay at Lost Creek however that site was closed during my visit so cannot tell much about it.

Is there cell phone coverage in Crater Lake National Park?

Upon arrival I did not have cell phone connection in Crater Lake, however in some higher elevation areas I would sometimes pick up a signal for a short period of time. Outside the park there was no signal most of the time so this is definitely something to consider when going to Crater Lake.

Restaurants, shops and gas

Those traveling to Crater Lake National Park will notice once again that it’s quite far away from everything. Having said that, it’s best if you bring all supplies you need from outside the park. Inside the park you’ll find some cafes, gift shops and a restaurant near the Rim Village and Mazama Village. Gas is available at Mazama Village but super expensive. Make sure to fuel up well before Crater Lake for the best prices as what they have at Mazama Village is only to be used to emergencies.

Weather in Crater Lake National Park

Generally, it’s rather chilly in Crater Lake National Park. The Rim Village is located at 7.100 feet (2.165m) making it quite a bit cooler than you would think. Weather changes fast and always make sure to bring a rain jacket and warm gear when hiking. When I did the trail to Mount Scott it was thunderstorming in the distance and before I got back to my car, it was pouring with rain, while it started out as a sunny day. Summers are short yet generally sunny, but due to the altitude it can snow at any day of the year.
 
Before going to Crater Lake National Park, order your Crater Lake National Park map here and your guidebook here.

• Flights from Europa to the Pacific Northwest can best be booked via Skyscanner. 
• For the best accommodations on the Pacific Northwest, please check Booking.com for a large variety of options. It’s recommended you book your accommodation well ahead as especially in the summer finding last minute availability is almost impossible. 
•  You will need a rental car to get around, check availability and rates here. I usually rent with Alamo.

Conclusion and disclaimer

I hope you find this guide with things to do at Crater Lake National Park useful. If you have any questions, concerns or additional information for other readers, feel free to leave a comment below.
 
Want to read more blogs about the Pacific Northwest and the USA National Parks? You may also enjoy these posts:

• East Glacier: the best base for exploring Glacier National Park
• 7 Awesome things to do in the American Pacific Northwest
• The perfect two week Pacific Northwest road trip itinerary
• A road trip from Salt Lake City to Seattle: the best route + highlights

Alternatively, visit my America page with more than 30 articles about my active travels in the United States.

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