Can you touch the water at Crater Lake?

If you want to explore further, follow the crowds across the road and to the top of the trail. From there, you can descend 700 feet in just over a mile to the shores of Crater Lake—the only place in the park you can legally and safely get down to touch the water.



People Also Ask

Fishing is not allowed within 200 feet of the boat docks. and is not advised where people are swimming. During the summer when public boat tours are operating, fishing is permitted around the lake shore and from the docks and shore of Wizard Island.

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How cold is the water? The average temperature (below 300 feet deep) is 38°. In the summer, the surface can warm up to 55° or 60°. Review daily temps and other lake data at MESOWEST STATION INTERFACE (utah.edu) .

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How cold is the water? The average temperature (below 300 feet deep) is 38°. In the summer, the surface can warm up to 55° or 60°. Review daily temps and other lake data at MESOWEST STATION INTERFACE (utah.edu) .

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Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada The crystal-clear waters of Lake Tahoe reach a maximum depth of 1,645 feet at a height of 6,225 feet above sea level. The water of this long-existent lake is the cleanest in North America, making it one of the cleanest lakes in the United States.

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As you explore the park, you might spot bears, coyotes, elk, porcupines, amphibians, and more, plus a range of birds and insects. The lake and streams in the park are home to diverse species of fish and animals, including the endangered bull trout and the Mazama newt, which is only found at Crater Lake.

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Crater Lake is not only the deepest lake in the country (nearly 1,950 feet), but it is also one of the cleanest. The Crater Lake Institute reports, “It's not pure water, but it's close…with no sediments, algae, pesticides, or pollution.”

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However, between 1888 and 1941 the lake was stocked with seven different species of fish, only two of those species thrive today. It is currently estimated that the lake supports approximately 60,000 kokanee salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka; landlocked sockeye salmon) and rainbow trout.

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