An Explorer’s Guide to Crater Lake National Park

Welcome to beautiful Crater Lake National Park,
the jewel of Southern Oregon, and one of Oregon’s “Seven Wonders”!

Here you’ll find tips for the perfect one or two day visit in the park.
This information was posted in fall of 2020, so check the Crater Lake National Park website
for the most current information before you go.

ABOUT CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK

Crater Lake National Park is located in Southern Oregon’s Cascade Mountains. Around 7,700 years ago, Mount Mazama experienced an eruption so massive that its peak collapsed, creating an immense caldera. Over time, that caldera slowly filled with rainwater and snowmelt, creating the intensely blue lake we know and love today. Because Crater Lake is fed only by snowmelt and rain, its waters are exceptionally clear and pristine, and visibility can extend as deep as 100 feet, sometimes more.

Because Crater Lake is a National Park, you need either a valid National Parks Pass, such as the America the Beautiful Pass, or you can pay the $30 entrance fee. It’s well worth purchasing a pass if you plan to visit other national parks or monuments, or do much hiking in national forest lands. The standard annual pass costs $80. Check to see if you qualify for a free or less expensive pass. For example, fourth graders can get a free pass to use together with their families. Seniors can purchase a one-time lifelong pass.

This guide provides you with the information you need if you’re spending one or two days in the park during the peak summer season. Outside of summer, refer to the Crater Lake National Park website for detailed information about current conditions and activities.

If you’re looking for a guidebook or two to help plan your time, I recommend Moon Oregon by Judy Jewell and W. C. McRae and Moon Northern California Road Trips by Kayla Anderson and Stuart Thornton. These books are great for trip planning, as they include information about many other places in Southern Oregon. If you plan to visit more national parks, I also recommend Moon USA National Parks by Becky Lomax. It’s the book I turn to for a really solid introduction to any of our national parks.

WHEN TO GO

You can visit Crater Lake National Park any time of year, but summer is peak season, when trails are open and free of snow. This guide covers the basics for visiting during the summer season, which generally runs from sometime in June through roughly mid-October. This is when Rim Drive opens to car traffic, enabling you to visit many of the sights mentioned here. Weather ranges from chilly to hot, and from dazzlingly sunny to cloudy and occasionally rainy, sometimes within the same day. Be prepared with layers, water, sunscreen, and shade hats. It can also be quite crowded, especially on weekends and holidays. Visiting on weekdays will help you avoid the biggest crowds, as will arriving early and staying late.

If you’re visiting at another time of year, check out the Crater Lake National Park webpage for helpful information. Winter brings opportunities to snowshoe and see the lake covered in a blanket of white. In late spring, Rim Drive opens to bike traffic for a brief period before cars are allowed back on the road. Keep in mind that even without the car traffic, Rim Drive is a strenuous bike ride.

HOW TO GET THERE

The best way to reach Crater Lake National Park is to drive. Unless you’re going with a tour group or hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, plan on driving. To give you a rough idea of drive times, plan on almost six hours driving from Portland, four from Eugene, two from Medford, and one and a half from Klamath Falls. As you can see, it’s not especially close to any major urban areas, which is one reason I prefer to stay overnight nearby.

This also means that gas stations are few and far between. You won’t find many en route to the national park once you leave I-5 or any sizeable town. Fill up with gas ahead of time. Fortunately, there is a small gas station at Mazama Village, near the Annie Creek entrance station. It’s pricey, but you may need to stop there if you’re doing a lot of driving during your stay.

NATIONAL PARK PASSPORTS

Are you planning to visit more national parks? If so, collecting National Park cancellation stamps is a fun way to remember and track your visits. The parks offer a wide range of passport books and guides for purchase, enabling you to collect cancellation stamps and park stickers. Of course, you don’t need to buy a book to get a cancellation stamp – these are free to obtain at most park visitor centers. Create your own journal or keepsake for a low cost alternative. Fortunately, the passport books aren’t too expensive and the profits go toward the parks themselves. I also recommend purchasing your souvenirs from the America’s National Parks Stores when you visit a national park. Unlike the commercial gift shops at the parks, these shops are part of a non-profit organization that helps support the parks. They offer a well-curated selection of memorabilia, books, and gifts.

JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAM

Traveling with kids? The National Park Junior Ranger program is a must! It’s always a hit with my older son, J. My younger one, T, is starting to age into some of the programs and is absolutely thrilled. It’s also great for parents, as it helps the kids engage more with the park experience.

When you first arrive at the park, pick up a Junior Ranger booklet from one of the visitor centers. Activities vary by age, and many parks require that a specific number of activities in the booklet be completed to earn a badge. Some activities can be done simply by filling in the pages in the booklet, while others may require you to take a hike, record your observations, or attend a ranger program (although in 2020, these requirements were removed since ranger programs were put on hold due to the Coronavirus pandemic). Many parks now offer the option to earn Junior Ranger badges online as well.

Once your child has completed their required activities, return to the visitor center or other designated location so they can be sworn in as a Junior Ranger. They’ll receive their badge, which they can wear as a point of pride for the rest of the trip!

When we visited Crater Lake National Park, J was easily able to complete the Junior Ranger activities over the course of our one-day visit. He was sworn in, but unfortunately the staff didn’t have badges to hand out. Instead, you must mail or email in your completed activity booklet and the park will mail you a badge in return. I imagine that will be different in 2021, and even during the pandemic, different parks had their own ways of managing the badges.

WHAT TO DO

It’s all about the lake, of course! Actually, Crater Lake National Park does offer some fun trails and viewpoints beyond the lake itself, but let’s admit that the impossibly deep blue water is what draws people here. The number one activity is to drive the full circle around Rim Drive (ideally clockwise, so that it’s easier to pull over at most of the viewpoints) and stop at as many viewpoints and trailheads as you’d like. There are also a few detours off Rim Drive that are well worth adding to your tour. If available, taking a boat cruise is a great way to experience Crater Lake from a different vantage point.

As a general rule, I recommend allowing one day to do the Rim Drive with stops. If you are doing a boat tour of Crater Lake that includes time on Wizard Island, you should plan one day for that and one additional day to cover more of the sights along Rim Drive.

Please keep in mind that these are summer or early fall activities. Rim Drive typically closes by mid-fall and reopens in the late spring or early summer. Boat tours are offered only in summer season, and in 2020 they weren’t offered at all due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Here’s some additional information to get you started:

• Rim Village makes a good first stop if you enter the park from the Annie Springs entrance. You can get the latest information and updates as well as the Junior Ranger booklet if you’re traveling with kids. You may prefer to wait until later in the day to visit the gift shop and visitor center exhibits in order to get an earlier start on your hikes, as many trails are busiest around mid-day. But don’t neglect the walking tour at Rim Village itself. This paved path features stunning views of the lake and takes you past the historical buildings that make up the village. Be sure to stop by the Sinnot Memorial Overlook for an unobstructed view of the lake below you, as well as historical exhibits.

• Rim Drive is the biggie, as mentioned above. Plan for a full day to do the 33-mile drive, including stops for a few short hikes, viewpoints, and a picnic lunch. The drive is winding with steep drop-offs in places, so trailers and large RVs aren’t recommended. In summer, you can also take a trolley tour around Rim Drive.

• Pinnacles Overlook shows you a different kind of volcanic terrain. Pumice spires rise from the canyon walls, creating an otherworldly landscape. To reach the overlook, follow the turnoff for Pinnacles Road from the southern section of Rim Drive. The Pinnacles trail is short and flat, but you get a good view from the parking lot, too. If you walk briefly along the trail, the second viewpoint offers the best vantage point over the valley. After that, there isn’t much reason to continue unless your goal is to reach the official sign marking the eastern boundary of Crater Lake National Park. The total mileage from the parking lot to the sign is 1.2 miles out and back.

• Crater Lake boat tours give you a completely different way to experience the vast scale of the lake. The standard tour is two hours in length, but you can also opt to disembark at Wizard Island. This gives you three hours to explore the island, enough time to hike the 2.2 mile round trip trail to the summit and enjoy a leisurely picnic. If you aren’t interested in the two hour boat cruise around the lake, you can shuttle directly to Wizard Island instead. Tour options range from $28 to $55 for adults and $18 to $37 for kids. Reserve online in advance. Important note: In order to take a boat cruise, you must be able to hike the 1.1 mile Cleetwood Cove trail down to the dock and back up again upon your return. Boat tours were cancelled in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic, but will hopefully run again in 2021.

• Crater Lake Trolley tours offer a fun way to see the views along Rim Drive without having to drive it yourself. The trolleys are ADA compliant, so this is a great option for someone with limited mobility. The tour takes about two hours and stops at some of the best viewpoints. Book tours in advance. Tickets cost $18 for kids age six through thirteen, $29 for adults, and $26 for seniors. Please note that the trolley does not stop at trailheads, so if you plan to hike, plan to drive on your own. Similar to the boat tours, the trolley did not run in 2020 due to the pandemic, but will hopefully run again in 2021.

WHERE TO STAY

Many people visit Crater Lake National Park as a day trip from other Southern Oregon locations, or en route to another destination. It’s doable, but I recommend spending a couple nights nearby if you can. If you’re looking to splurge, stay at Crater Lake Lodge, but be sure to reserve far in advance. Otherwise, there are wonderful camping options in the region, both within the borders of the national park and beyond.

If you prefer to be close to the action, book in advance for Mazama Campground. Located near the Annie Springs entrance, this is the largest campground in the park. As you can imagine, summer reservations fill up fast. Reservations can be made online six months in advance, so plan accordingly. Mazama Campground has a range of amenities, including showers (although these were closed in 2020) and a nearby camp store. The other campground within Crater Lake National Park is Lost Creek Campground. It was closed in 2020, but may open again in 2021.

If you can’t get a site at Mazama or Lost Creek, never fear; there are many other campgrounds located within a 30 to 60 minute drive of the park.

We stayed at Farewell Bend Campground on the Rogue River during our visit. It’s a beautiful location, with river access and a playground. Find out more about our experience here.

There are numerous other campgrounds along the Rogue, at nearby Diamond Lake, and along the North Umpqua River. We also stayed at Susan Creek Campground on the Umpqua. It’s a wonderful place, and although it’s a bit further from Crater Lake National Park, it’s a great option if you plan to explore the North Umpqua region.

FOOD & DRINK

As with most national parks, Crater Lake is not known for its restaurant scene. It’s all about the scenery itself, after all! If you’re circumnavigating Rim Drive or taking the boat to Wizard Island, I recommend packing a picnic lunch. This is by far the most convenient option, and you’ll find many picnic spots in the park. Buy your supplies before heading to the national park, as grocery stores in the area are limited and expensive.

If you want to get food at the park, there are cafes at both at Rim Village (Rim Village Cafe), and Mazama Village (Annie Creek Restaurant). There’s also a small store selling groceries and camp supplies at Mazama Village. If fine dining with a view (and a price tag to match) is more your style, make advance reservations for dinner at Crater Lake Lodge. No reservations are taken for breakfast or lunch, which provide a more casual experience at this historic lodge.

Elsewhere in the area, there aren’t many restaurant options, as Crater Lake is far from any major towns. But there are a few fun places to try if you’re so inclined. Here are some we recommend:

• Beckie’s Cafe
  Located at Union Creek Resort, about 30 minutes west of Crater Lake National Park, Beckie’s is close to both Farewell Bend and Union Creek Campgrounds. We stopped by for dinner when we did the “Rogue Ramble” from Farewell Bend. Beckie’s features home-cooked meals, with favorites sure to please children and adults alike. Don’t miss out on the homemade pie for dessert!
• Cones & Co. Ice Cream Shop
  Right next door to Beckie’s, you’ll find this cute little shop serving Umpqua ice cream and smoothies.
• Steamboat Inn
  If you’re traveling along the North Umpqua and crave delicious food in a relaxed, natural setting, Steamboat Inn is the place to go. Unfortunately, this area was greatly damaged due to wildfires in September, 2020. They plan to reopen, but don’t yet know when. Our family enjoyed a wonderful brunch at Steamboat Inn in August, 2020, and I hope they receive the support they need to reopen. It’s a beautiful, special place for many.

HIKE

Crater Lake National Park offers many short hikes with amazing views. As you would expect, most hikes are focused on the lake itself, taking you to different vantage points around Crater Lake’s rim. But there are also a few charming, less traveled paths that feature wildflowers, waterfalls, and the simple beauty of the forest. The PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) also passes by Crater Lake.

Important Note: Pets are not allowed on the majority of the hikes at Crater Lake, including the ones listed below. For detailed information about pets in Crater Lake National Park, please refer to the park website.

Here are some recommended hikes, including two we did in August 2020, and a few I’ve either done in the past or hope to do in the future. Click on the links for further information about each trail:

• Cleetwood Cove Trail
  This is a Crater Lake classic, and one of the most popular trails in the park. It’s the only trail that will take you to the water’s edge, giving you the opportunity to swim in Crater Lake, or to take a boat tour.
• Sun Notch Trail
  If you’re looking for a short jaunt with incredible views, including Phantom Ship and Wizard Island, don’t miss Sun Notch. Because it’s less than one mile round trip, it’s an easy stop to include on your drive around the lake.
• Watchman Peak Trail
  We planned to do this hike in the evening to catch the sunset, but approaching thunderstorms changed our plans. If the weather works out, Watchman Peak offers a prime spot from which to view the sunset and excellent views of Wizard Island. It’s fairly steep, but shorter than hikes to other peaks around the rim, such as Garfield Peak or Mount Scott.
• Plaikni Falls
  This lovely short hike takes the focus away from Crater Lake for a bit. Instead, follow this trail through the forest to a delicate waterfall. The total trip is two miles out and back.
• Castle Crest Wildflower Garden
  In summer, this 1.2 mile trail is a showcase for wildflowers. Since flowers are the big highlight here (this is another one that doesn’t include lake views), check with a ranger first to see what’s currently in bloom.

I hope you enjoyed my mini-guide to Crater Lake National Park. Have you visited Crater Lake? Let me know if you have any favorite hikes or campgrounds to share. And if you haven’t yet been, I hope this guide encourages you to start planning for a future trip!