Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake holds the deepest, and arguably the bluest, water in the United States, a nearly 2,000-foot (600 m)-deep lake filling the caldera of a volcano that collapsed some 7,700 years ago. Ringed by cliffs and fed only by snow and rain, its astonishing clarity and color have made this southern Oregon landmark one of the most striking natural sights in the country.
Fast facts
- Established: 1902, the sixth U.S. national park
- Size: about 183,000 acres (741 km²) in the Oregon Cascades
- The lake: 1,943 feet (592 m) deep, the deepest in the U.S.
- Origin: the collapsed caldera of Mount Mazama
- Gateways: Klamath Falls and Medford, Oregon
- Managed by: National Park Service
The landscape
The caldera cliffs plunge to the intensely blue lake, with Wizard Island, a cinder cone, rising from the water near the western shore. Around the rim spreads a high volcanic landscape of pumice slopes and old-growth forest, buried under some of the deepest average snowfall in the country. Beyond the rim lie quiet backcountry forests, meadows and the Pacific Crest Trail.
Best time to go
Summer and early fall are effectively the season: the Rim Drive and most trails are buried in snow much of the year and typically open only from around July into October. Once clear, the rim offers hiking, boat tours and swimming access. Winter is long and snowy, drawing snowshoers and skiers to the rim under massive snowpack.
Getting there and around
The park is reached via OR-62 in southern Oregon, with the south entrance open year-round to the rim and the north entrance and Rim Drive seasonal. A vehicle is essential to reach and circle the rim; the 33-mile (53 km) Rim Drive, when open, is the classic tour, with overlooks and trailheads all along it.
Things to do
Drive the Rim Drive for ever-changing lake views, hike to Watchman Peak or Garfield Peak for panoramas, and descend the steep Cleetwood Cove trail, the only lake access, for a boat tour to Wizard Island or a bracing swim. Backpackers walk the Pacific Crest Trail, and winter visitors snowshoe the snowy rim.
Top 10 things to do in Crater Lake National Park →
Staying safe
The caldera rim has steep, crumbling, often snow-corniced edges, so stay back and on trails. The lake water is cold and deep, and the Cleetwood Cove trail is a strenuous climb back out. Weather turns fast at altitude, snow lingers into summer, and deep snowpack shapes any shoulder-season or winter visit. Come prepared.
Know before you go
A park pass is required, backcountry camping needs a permit, and the Rim Drive’s opening date varies each year with the snowpack. Always check before you go. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report; always confirm current road status, conditions and permits with the National Park Service before your trip.
- Coordinates
- 42.9287, -122.1342
- Magnetic declination
- 13.9° E (2026)
Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.
How declination works, and how to navigate with a map and compass
A spread of the park’s main places shows straight away, and the rest appear as you zoom in. You can also search above, or pick any place from the lists below, and the map will go to it. Places in bold, marked , have a short description.
Getting there 6
Park entrances
Visitor centres
Ranger stations
On the trail 32
Trailheads
Routes
Campgrounds
Picnic sites
Sights 49
Viewpoints
Waterfalls
Lake
Heritage site
Islands
Peaks 28
Map data comes from third-party sources and may be incomplete or out of date, so carry a current official map (terms).
Looking for one of these closer to home?Destinations near me by trip type →
- Best seasons
- Summer, Early fall
- Difficulty
- Easy to strenuous
- Access / trailheads
- In southern Oregon’s Cascades via OR-62; only the south and (seasonally) north entrances reach the rim. Nearest hubs are Klamath Falls and Medford.
- Water
- Potable water at developed areas; treat backcountry sources. Do not rely on the lake.
- Cell / satellite coverage
- Little to no cell service. Carry a map and share your plans.
- Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency
- Contact park rangers; life-threatening emergencies: 911.
- Permits & regulations
- Per-vehicle entry fee (America the Beautiful pass accepted); backcountry camping needs a permit. The Rim Drive and most services are closed by snow much of the year.
- Leave No Trace
- Stay on trails and back from crumbling rim edges, pack out all waste, and follow Leave No Trace.
January
- Below-freezing nights
February
- Below-freezing nights
March
- Below-freezing nights
April
- Below-freezing nights
May
- Below-freezing nights
June
July
August
September
October This month
- Below-freezing nights
November
- Below-freezing nights
December
- Below-freezing nights
What to bring depends on your trip: how long you’re out, where you sleep, and how far you go from the road. The planner builds the list for yours.
Plan a trip here →Averages for 1991–2020 from NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, measured at the Crater Lake NPS HQ station, 1 miles (2 km)2 km (1 miles) away at 6,485 feet (1,977 m)1,977 m (6,485 feet). Higher trails run colder, by about 3.5°F for every 1,000 ft (2°C per 300 m)2°C for every 300 m (3.5°F per 1,000 ft) of climb. Daylight runs from sunrise to sunset on the 15th, on the park’s own clock, for a level horizon. Valleys and slopes facing away from the sun are in shade earlier.
Nearby parks
-
Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument
Where three mountain ranges meet above Ashland, Oregon, with Pacific Crest Trail walks to Hobart Bluff and Pilot Rock.
-
Newberry National Volcanic Monument
A caldera with two lakes, a glassy obsidian flow and a mile-long lava tube, just south of Bend, Oregon.
-
Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve
A rare marble cave and old-growth forest trails in the Siskiyou Mountains of southwest Oregon.
-
Lava Beds National Monument
More than 800 lava tube caves in far northern California, from a lit, paved cave for families to tight crawls for experienced cavers.
Straight-line distance between park centres. Road distance is usually longer.
Looking for somewhere closer to home?
See every park and monument within a day’s drive of where you are.