Est. 1902 | Oregon | 183,224 acres

Thousands of years ago, Mount Mazama erupted explosively covering the region in ash, collapsing under its weight and subsequently leaving behind the basin of Crater Lake National Park. Today, in the aftermath of such devastation, visitors enjoy the purest water of the deepest lake on the continent. Whether hiking along the 33-mile rim or boating to Wizard Island, there is no such thing as a bad view in Crater Lake. Swim in the pristine mountain water or chase wildflowers in the countless rim meadows. Whatever your idea of a mountain vacation looks like, Crater Lake National Park can deliver.

The park encompasses not only the crater of Mount Mazama, but the surrounding lands as well. Three entrances (north, west and south) each lead to the park’s main road encircling the crater at the center of the park, aptly named Rim Drive. This 33-mile loop holds countless overlooks, vistas, panoramas and pull-offs for anyone anywhere. The main stomping ground along Rim Drive is the historic district of Rim Village, a quaint plaza with a restaurant, lodge, visitor center and gift shop. Back downslope from Rim Village is its sister destination, Mazama Village, with additional accommodations. From these hubs, networks of trails diverge and converge all over the wilderness here waiting to be explored.

Park Highlights

1. Rim Trail—Running along the western rim of the caldera, Rim Trail weaves in and out of meadows and trees offering unparalleled peeks into the crater. With no official beginning or end to this trail, visitors can hop on and off at various pull offs. Eventually, the trail leads away from the crater and links up with the Pacific Crest Trail in the north.
2. Garfield Peak—Over a roundtrip distance of 3.6 miles, hikers ascend 1000 feet from the historic Crater Lake Lodge to Garfield Peak, a highpoint along the crater’s edge providing scenic views of the Phantom Ship rock formation and Wizard Island. Located on the southern edge of the rim, this overlook is ideal for both sunrise or sunset.
3. The Watchman—Only 1.6 miles roundtrip, this out and back trail leads up to a fire lookout above the western rim making it extremely popular at sunset—and for good reason. Looking east, the caldera rim ignites vividly with aplenglow. Looking west, the setting sun bathes the forests in golden hour light.
4. Cleetwood Cove Trail—As the only access point to the lake shore, this 1 mile down 1 mile back trail also serves as the launching point for Wizard Island Tours. Though the trail is steep and dusty, it is worth the waterfront view of the lake, granting a fresh perspective from the rest of the park’s overlooks.
5. Wizard Island—Like a floating wizard hat, Wizard Island is a dormant volcanic vent left over from Mazama’s eruption. Today, shuttles to the island offer visitors a chance to hike in the center of the lake among volcanic rock, mossy bays and bleached tree logs.

Best time to visit Crater Lake

Crater Lake is technically open year round, but the crater’s Rim Drive shuts down seasonally. The only view of the lake in wintertime is from Rim Village, though the road up to Rim Village can temporarily shut down due to storms. These limitations make summer the prime time to visit Crater Lake. Because snowpack lasts long around Crater Lake thanks to the park’s geography and location, the roads do not fully open until July. A short window of wildflowers, waterfalls, and summer heat lasts for just several months before succumbing again to winter closures at the end of October. Wildflowers hang on all summer but peak in mid-July.

How long should I visit Crater Lake?

Because Rim Drive offers easy access to all parts of the crater, the highlights of Crater Lake can easily be seen in 1–2 days. If Wizard Island is on the docket, allow a half day to explore the trails and bays from start to finish. Additional outlying trails and attractions are best explored in 3–4 days.

Getting to Crater Lake

Just under 2 hours away, Medford is the nearest major city by car. It also hosts the closest commercial airport, Rogue Valley-Medford Airport (MFR). Bend and Eugene are alternative options, but require a longer drive at 3 hours and 3.5 hours, respectively.

Where to stay in Crater Lake

The best place to stay is in the park. With over 100 rooms Crater Lake Lodge and Cabins at Mazama Village are the park’s two hotel-style accommodations. Crater Lake Lodge sits on the rim with night and day views of the crater. The Cabins at Mazama Village is located down the mountain in Mazama Village. Though they are not perched on rim, they have access to more amenities than Crater Lake Lodge.

Just as there are only two lodges, there are also only two campgrounds. With 214 sites, Mazama Campground is the larger and more popular of the two. It too sits below the rim in Mazama Village with convenient amenities. Located further away on Pinnacles Road, Lost Creek Campground is much smaller with only 16 campsites. Both campgrounds open around late-June and run through late-September.

Union Creek (to the west), Fort Klamath (to the south) and Diamond Lake (to the north) have lodging options available outside the park for last minute trips when park lodging is at capacity or during the winter season.

When should I book?

As one of the National Park system’s most iconic lodges and destinations, Crater Lake Lodge can book up months in advance, with cabins following suit soon after. The campgrounds however, retain availability fairly well. Mazama will usually have capacity a month prior. And Lost Creek is a first come, first served campground with no advance reservations.

How much should I budget?

A frugal 3-day trip can hover around $600 when factoring in costs. Here is a breakdown of what to expect:

Roundtrip Airfare to Medford	$250–$400
Car Rental	$50/day (not including taxes/fees)
Campsite	$35/night
Hotel Lodging	$200–$350/night
Restaurant Meals	$15–$30/meal

Packing list for Crater Lake

Each park requires different gear for its unique characteristics. For Crater Lake National Park we wouldn’t want to be caught without a rain coat, hiking shoes, sunscreen, sack lunches (to save money) and sunglasses.

Want to learn more? Check out our detailed trip report for a peek into Crater Lake.

For more detailed information on Crater Lake National Park, visit the official park website.