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Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon is home to the deepest lake in the US! It sits inside a caldera which was formed when Mount Mazama erupted thousands of years ago. As it is only fed by precipitation, it is also one of the cleanest and clearest in the world. You only need one look at the gorgeous blue water to believe that statistic.

In 2022 Crater Lake had about 527,000 visitors. While it isn’t one of the most visited US National Parks, it really should be! It is one of the most scenic places I have ever visited. The green, old growth forests surrounding the pristine lake enhance the beauty of the crystal clear waters. Go hiking in Crater Lake to fully experience this natural wonder.

With over 90 miles of hiking trails, it can be hard to choose the best hikes in Crater Lake National Park. This guide includes the best Crater Lake hikes and viewpoints to experience the beauty of the park from up close to the lake, along the caldera rim, high above the lake, and in the surrounding forests. Trail stats are from the National Park Service and include round-trip distances.

The Best Crater Lake Hikes & Viewpoints

Rim Village Promenade & Sinnott Memorial Viewpoint

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: .4 miles (plus short trail to viewpoint)

Elevation Change: N/A

Parking: There are paved parking lots and off street pull in spots all the way between the Crater Lake Lodge and the Rim Village Cafe & Gift Shop.

Trailheads: Crater Lake Lodge to Discovery Point Trailhead

Restrooms: Restrooms at Crater Lake Lodge, the Crater Lake Trolley Office, the Rim Village Cafe.

Start your visit at Crater Lake National Park south of the lake at the Crater Lake Lodge. Walk along the Rim Village Promenade trail for .4 miles. On the way take a quick peek inside the Rim Village Visitor Center gift shop.

Then head behind the Visitor Center to the Sinnott Memorial Viewpoint. A short trail downhill will take you to the natural stone memorial that was built 50 ft below the caldera’s walls. Exhibits on the creation of the lake, the history of the indigenous people who lived in the area, and scientific research are inside the viewpoint. As you read about the lake you’ll be treated with some of the best views. It’s a great spot to have your first look at this magnificent body of water.

Continue heading west along the rim to the start of the Discovery Point Trail.

Discovery Point

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 2 miles

Elevation Change: 100ft

Parking: There are paved parking lots and off street pull in spots all the way between Rim Village Cafe & Gift Shop and the Crater Lake Lodge. There are also a couple pull-out viewpoints along the Rim Trail with parking.

Trailhead: Discovery Point Trailhead near the Rim Village Cafe.

Restrooms: Bathroom building near the Crater Lake Trolley Office and another one near the Rim Village Cafe.

From the Rim Promenade begins the Discovery Point Trail, one of the best hikes in Crater Lake National Park. The trail continues west for about one mile where it connects with the Rim Trail to Watchman Peak (described below).

The NPS classifies the trail as moderate. I agree more with the AllTrails rating of easy. While the trail isn’t entirely flat, there isn’t too much elevation change and it’s not that long.

As the name implies, the hike follows the southwestern rim of the lake. Almost the entire trail is right along the edge with terrific views of the lake and Wizard Island, a volcanic cinder cone. It’s hard not to stop every few feet to admire the lake and take photos.

Crater Lake Rim Trail

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 18 miles

Elevation Change: N/A

Parking: (see Discovery Point Trail above and Watchman Peak below)

Trailhead: Discovery Point

Restrooms: (see Discovery Point Trail above and Watchman Peak below)

After about one mile you’ll know you hiked the full Discovery Point trail when you reach the Rim Trail sign. At this point you can turn around or continue farther on the Rim Trail. The trail becomes a little rockier and steepier in parts. There are also quite a few sections through the forests and some open areas with views of the surrounding mountains. The excellent views of Crater Lake continue with closer views of Wizard Island the farther you hike.

Hiking another 2.4 miles will lead you to Watchman Peak (described below). A trail junction will point you to the right to start climbing the peak. If you continue straight for about .4 miles you’ll reach the Watchman Peak trailhead. You don’t need to hike this section to hike Watchman Peak, but there are information signs and restrooms here.

That beginning section is what you’ll need to hike if you want to continue on the West Rim Trail. After about 5 miles the Rim Trail will connect to the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail.

The rim trail from the Visitor Center to Watchman Peak is about 8 miles round-trip, plus the 1.6 miles to climb Watchman Peak. I thought that was the perfect amount for one day. We were able to see a good portion of the southwest side of the lake.

Watchman Peak

Difficulty: Moderate

Distance: 1.6miles

Elevation Gain: 420ft

Parking: Paved parking lot with about 28 spots.

Trailhead: Watchman Peak

Restrooms: Yes, pit toilets at the trailhead.

Watchman Peak is one of the best Crater Lake hikes to admire the lake from above. It also offers the best views of Wizard Island. The short trail is switchbacks all the way to the top. The peak is home to a historic fire lookout. Built in 1932 it is still used by rangers today. Informational panels at the lookout explain more about it.

Unlike the more strenuous Crater Lake peak hikes, Watchman Peak is a moderately challenging hike and doable for many hikers. It works well to start the hike from the rim trail. It was convenient to park once at the beginning of the day at the Visitor Center and not worry about finding parking at this trailhead.

If you are planning to stay in the park for sunset, Watchman Peak is a great spot to be!

Cleetwood Cove

Difficulty: Strenuous

Distance: 2.2 miles

Elevation Gain: 700ft

Parking: A large paved lot.

Trailhead: Cleetwood Cove

Restrooms: Yes, pit toilets on two sides of the parking lot. Additional pit toilets at the bottom of the trail along the lake.

Cleetwood Cove is one of the best hikes in Crater Lake National Park. As it is the only Crater Lake hike that goes down to the lake and the only way to reach the boat tours, it is quite popular. The trail is only 1.1 miles one way, but it is quite steep. A good portion of the trail is in shade cover and there are a few benches for rests.

The only way to go out on the lake is with one of the official park boat tours. The first is a two hour lake cruise that travels around the perimeter of the lake. The Wizard Island cruise goes around the lake’s perimeter and makes a 3 hour stop at the island. It allows plenty of time to hike on the island. There is also a Wizard Island shuttle that goes directly to the island without a cruise around the lake.

Even if you don’t want to take a boat cruise the Cleetwood Cove trail is still worth the hike to be able to touch some of the purest water in the world. Swimming is allowed near the rocky shoreline. Even during the summer the water is quite cold so you will have to be brave to swim in it! Many daredevils even jump off the cliffs. I stuck my feet in the water and that was enough to quickly cool me down.

The area would be perfect for a relaxing rest and snack, but there are way too many ground squirrels. Unfortunately they are not scared of you one bit and will climb right into your backpack…..or on you!

If you have two days at Crater Lake, I recommend saving the Cleetwood Cove trail for your second day. I always enjoy seeing places from different vantage points and it’s cool to see the lake from above on your first day and then see it up close the next day.

Phantom Ship Overlook

Parking: There are no trailheads here so the small parking lot usually has enough space.

Restrooms: No

You’ve seen the park from the south, west, and north. Now it’s time to get a view from the east. Only a couple feet of walking is needed to see the Phantom Ship, one of Crater Lake’s two islands.

It looks so much like a ship that you might actually think there is a ship out there. In reality it’s an interestingly shaped rocky remnant of a volcanic cone that came from within Mazama Volcano.

Plaikni Falls

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: 2 miles

Elevation Change: 100 feet

Parking: Small parking lot with about 15 spaces.

Trailhead: Plaikni Falls

Restrooms: No

The majority of the best hikes at Crater Lake include views of the park’s namesake. While that’s the real reason to visit the park, you might be surprised to know there are many Crater Lake hikes without lake views.

Before dismissing this hike, hear me out. While the lake is the main attraction of the park, several other trails feature other natural wonders that are worth your time.

Plaikni Falls is a short hike through an old-growth forest to a waterfall. It’s an easy, peaceful hike to do at the end of the day with a nice waterfall at the end as a reward.

Vidae Falls

Parking: Side of the road pull off. Visitors usually just take a quick look at the falls, so the small area doesn’t fill up.

Restrooms: No. Closest restrooms are across the street in the Vidae Falls Campground. The campground is down Grayback Dr about .3 miles.

Vidae Falls is another beautiful waterfall just off the rim road. Note that if you are traveling clockwise the falls are on the right and the Vidae Falls campground is on the left.

The Pinnacles

Difficulty: Easy

Distance: .8 miles

Elevation Change: 10ft

Parking: Mid-sized lot at the end of the road with side of the road parking and pull-in parking spots.

Trailhead: The Pinnacles

Restrooms: No

Another cool Crater Lake hike that doesn’t feature the lake is the Pinnacles. While you won’t see the lake, you will see another effect of the Mount Mazama eruption. The hike is along the rim of Pinnacle Valley which is full of volcanic spires.

When Mount Mazama erupted and created Crater Lake, volcanic matter also filled the surrounding valleys. The material eventually hardened and created these unique shaped pinnacles you can see today. The trail follows the rim with some sections jutting out to obtain the perfect views of the many spires.

The flat trail is accessible to all-terrain wheelchair users. An overlook in the parking lot offers similar views as what you can see on the trail. At the park boundary sign the trail ends.

Crater Lake National Park Visiting Information

How do I get to Crater Lake National Park?

Crater Lake is in southern Oregon. The closest regional airport is in Medford, about 1 hour and 40 minutes away. There are direct flights from about 12 destinations.

Portland International airport is about 4 hours and 15 minutes north of the park. There are also airports in Eugene and Redmond.

Amtrak and Greyhound make stops in some Oregon cities, but there is no public transportation to the park (or close to the park).

You’ll need to rent a car to visit Crater Lake, unless you take a guided tour.

Where should I stay when visiting Crater Lake?

Accommodations in and around Crater Lake are very limited. There are two options within the park and a few campgrounds nearby.

Medford has a lot of good options. Springhill Suites and Courtyard are both by the airport and on the northern end of the city (closest to the park). Springhill Suites is a brand new hotel with breakfast included. Courtyard is a very clean hotel with renovated rooms and excellent staff. Breakfast is included if you are an elite member. I really enjoyed the different made-to-order breakfast items there.

How much does it cost to visit Crater Lake?

A 7 day vehicle pass is $30 from May through October. In the winter it is $20. It is valid for everyone in your vehicle.

If you plan on visiting more national parks or national lands buy the America the Beautiful annual pass. It’s valid from the month you buy it to the end of that same month the following year. It grants you free access at hundreds of national sites from national recreation lands to national monuments.

How much time do I need at Crater Lake?

I always say the more time, the better. If you are tight on time, this is one park you can do in one day if you start early and end late. Two days is ideal though to experience the variety of Crater Lake hikes.

What else is there to do at Crater Lake?

Driving around the park, visiting the overlooks, and hiking in Crater Lake are the top things to do. Trolley tours are the perfect way to see a good portion of the park without driving or hiking. The two hour tour makes five to seven stops at scenic overlooks.

Boat tours are offered during the summer. All the boat tours require hiking the Cleetwood Trail. Read the Cleetwood Trail description for more information.

A plethora of winter adventures including snowshoeing, snowboarding, and sledding, are available from November through May.

Ranger events take place year-round, but the majority are held during the summer.

When should I visit Crater Lake?

While the park is open year-round, it receives a lot of snow. It is one of the snowiest places in the USA! The north entrance and the rim drive are typically closed for vehicles from October or November to June or July.

Crater Lake trails are snowfree for only a few months and often close in the winter. September, after students are back in school, is a great time to visit.

What should I bring to Crater Lake?

Check out my day pack hiking list and my hiking attire guide if you are visiting in the summer. For winter visits you’ll need to come prepared with snowshoes, spikes, and winter attire.

Crater Lake is one of the most beautiful national parks. You can’t go wrong when hiking at Crater Lake. If I helped you choose the best Crater Lake hikes and viewpoints, please consider supporting me by buying me a coffee!

The Best Crater Lake Hikes & Viewpoints

The Best Crater Lake Hikes & Viewpoints