What is the easiest way to see Crater Lake?

Rim Drive is the best way to see Crater Lake from every angle! The 33-mile road loops around the caldera and has 8 main viewpoints and 15 turnout vista points, each offering more stunning views than the last. Take your time driving the road, and expect some traffic.



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Boat tours to Wizard Island The 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.

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Allow a minimum of two hours (including sight-seeing stops) to circumnavigate the lake by car or motorcycle, and longer if you are driving a larger vehicle or towing.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Most visitors reach Crater Lake National Park by car. With a car, you can explore the scenic, 33-mile Rim Drive that circles Crater Lake and offers magnificent views.

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Of course, with so many hiking trails and blue beauty views that'll never bore you there's no punishment in staying a bit longer than 2 days. In fact, you could even hike some miles of that famous Pacific Crest Trail if that's something you've always wanted to do. The PCT leads in the valley right next to the crater.

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Check out this 2.1-mile out-and-back trail near Volcano, Hawaii. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 50 min to complete. This is a very popular area for walking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring.

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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.

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Pass Information All visitors at Crater Lake National Park are required to pay an entrance fee. Please be prepared to show your physical pass or digital pass on your mobile device. Photos of physical passes will not be accepted.

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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!

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Last year, Crater Lake National Park was the quietest it's been in a decade. A total of 527,259 people visited the park in 2022, according to National Park Service data, a 19% decrease from 2021 and a 30% decrease from 2016, when a record 756,344 people visited the beautiful blue-hued lake in southern Oregon.

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During the summer, the Wizard Island shuttle gives you plenty of time to hike to the summit and take in the panoramic view, fish, swim, and explore this unique part of Crater Lake National Park.

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The cost for The Shuttle from Klamath Falls is $40 for adults and $30 for seniors and children ages 2-12. This price is not included in the Crater Lake Trolley tour price. Tickets for the trolley tour are $27 for adults, $24 for seniors, $17 for children ages 6-13, and children under five ride the trolley for free.

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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.

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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.

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Crater Lake, at 1,943 feet (592 meters) deep, is one of the deepest lakes in the world and the deepest in the United States. The lake averages more than five miles (8 km) in diameter, and is surrounded by steep rock walls that rise up to 2000 feet (600 meters) above the lake's surface.

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Klamath Falls is not only the closest city to Crater Lake but also nearest to the year-round accessible southern entrance to the park.

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