Crater Lake fills the collapsed caldera of ancient Mount Mazama with the deepest lake in the United States — 1,943 feet of startlingly blue water unmatched anywhere in the world. The blue is not a trick of the light: fed entirely by rain and snowmelt with no inlet or outlet streams, the water is so pure that sunlight penetrates hundreds of feet deep, absorbing all colors except the deepest blue. On clear days the lake becomes a perfect mirror reflecting the surrounding cliffs and the volcanic cinder cone of Wizard Island rising from its western shore. The 33-mile Rim Drive circles the caldera with over 30 overlooks and pullouts, each offering a different perspective on the lake and its 2,000-foot-high enclosing walls. The Cleetwood Cove Trail, the only route to the water's edge, drops 700 feet over 1.1 miles to a boat dock where visitors can swim in the frigid water or catch a ranger-guided boat tour to Wizard Island. The Pinnacles, a valley of volcanic spires east of the lake, adds a dramatic side trip. Crater Lake sits at 7,100 feet and receives an average of 43 feet of snow per year, making it one of the snowiest places in the Cascades. Rim Drive typically opens in full by mid-July and closes by late October. The park is open year-round, and winter visits offer a quiet, snow-covered wonderland — though only the south entrance and a short section of rim are plowed.
Sites available
Sites available
Snowshoeing is a popular activity during the long winter at Crater Lake National Park.
The historic Rim Drive includes 33-miles (53-km) of lake views, panoramic vistas, forests and meadow...
Each year, increasing numbers of cyclists come to Crater Lake National Park to ride around the lake ...
Cascading water is heard rising up through the tree-covered canyon. Glimpses of the waterfalls can be seen down through ...
The Cabins at Mazama Village are nestled in an old growth forest of lodgepole pines. The rustic-style exterior opens int...
A wildflower meadow with an abundant array of flowers and pollinators is encircled by a .041 mile trail, multiple spring...
The final eruption and collapse of Mount Mazama over 7,700 years ago created a deep caldera (crater). No river or other ...
The historic Crater Lake Lodge overlooks the deepest lake in the United States and the most pristine in the world. Open ...
Keep an eye out for these animals during your visit:
Heavy snowfall from October through June. Summer highs reach 60-75°F on the rim. The lake surface never freezes due to its extreme depth. Afternoon clouds are common.