NOTE: There is no hiking trail that encircles Crater Lake in the summer. In the winter, you can ski or snowshoe out and back along West Rim Drive or East Rim Drive, or all the way around the lake.
People Also Ask
Is 1 day enough for Crater Lake? Yes! I spent 1 day in Crater Lake and I feel like it was a good amount of time to spend in the park. The park isn't too large like other national parks so it is very doable to drive around and do a few activities and enjoy your time at the lake.
The Rim Drive is one of the great things at Crater Lake as it allows you see the lake from so many angles without your needing to walk very much. There are overlooks all around the lake with plenty of parking and only short walks to the edge.
Cleetwood Cove Trail is the only legal access to the shore of Crater Lake. Depending on snow conditions, the trail is usually open from mid-June to late October. Swimming, wading and fishing are permitted in the lake.
Although an entrance fee or NPS pass is required to enter Crater Lake National Park, vehicle reservations are not needed. You are encouraged to pay the entrance fee or purchase an NPS pass before arriving to save time, but you may also purchase passes at any entrance station upon arrival.
A seven-day pass for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, or members of non-commercial organized groups is currently $5.00. Children under 16 years old are entitled to free entry. The Crater Lake annual pass, valid for entry to the park for one full year from the date of purchase, is $20.
It really isn't until you reach the rim of the crater, and look down nearly 1,000 feet to see that a magnificent blue lake, 6 miles across, fills the top of the mountain, that you realize how unique and special Crater lake is, and why it is indeed worth visiting!
What part of Crater Lake can you swim in? There are only two places you can swim in Crater Lake National Park. The first is Cleetwood Cove, accessible only by hiking down the Cleetwood Cove trail. The other area to swim is off of Wizard Island, a small island in the middle of Crater Lake.
Boat tours to Wizard IslandThe most photographed perspectives on Crater Lake are seen from the many pull outs along Rim Drive. But if you want to get a different point of view, book a guided boat tour via Crater Lake Hospitality, the official concessioner for the park.
Cleetwood Cove Trail is the only legal access to the shore of Crater Lake. Depending on snow conditions, the trail is usually open from mid-June to late October. Swimming, wading and fishing are permitted in the lake.
Some drive around the rim and take 3-4 hours. Some spring for a long lunch break at the lodge, fit in a hike and take all day. It's a simple itinerary with only one road and a few activity options. You can easily see Crater Lake in 5-8 hours.
Widely known for its rich blue color and extreme clarity, which averages 102 ft (31m) deep, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States. It is one of the top ten deepest in the world.
Lodging and CampingThe lodge is typically open mid-May through early-October and is managed by Crater Lake Hospitality. Learn how to reserve a room. The Cabins at Mazama Village are typically open mid-May to late September, & are managed by Crater Lake Hospitality.
There are three primary waterfalls within the park's borders including Vidae Falls, Plaikni Falls & Duwee Falls. Vidae Falls is the easiest to access as it is a roadside waterfall that cascades 100 feet down the outside of the caldera to a crystal-clear pool of water.
Short answer, yes, but there is actually only one place where it is safe and legal to get down to the lake shore and swim at Crater Lake National Park. It is the Cleetwood Cove Trail, which usually opens mid to late June.
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.
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.