The Basics
Crater Lake National Park: Rim Drive, Hikes, and Overlooks
Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States, formed when Mount Mazama collapsed into itself about 7,700 years ago. There's no river feeding it, just snowmelt and rain, which is part of why the water is so clear and such a beautiful blue color. A 33-mile road circles the rim, and most visits here are a mix of driving that loop, hiking out to a viewpoint, and lingering at an overlook far longer than you planned.
Best For: Overlooks, Hikes + Volcanic Scenery
Things to Do
Crater Lake Travel Basics
Entrance is $30 per vehicle for 7 days in summer (roughly late May through October), dropping to $20 in winter. An annual Crater Lake pass runs $55, or get the America the Beautiful pass for $80 if you're visiting other national parks the same year. The gate doesn't take cash anymore, card or mobile pass only.
The park sits above 6,000 feet, and Rim Drive climbs as high as 8,000 feet in spots, so expect wind, sun, and cold that don't match what the forecast says for the valley below. The full Rim Drive loop usually isn't open until late June or July, and can close again as early as October, so if you're visiting outside peak summer, check road status before you go.
One thing worth knowing before you plan around it: the Cleetwood Cove Trail, the only way down to the water, is closed for rehabilitation through the 2026, 2027, and 2028 seasons. That means no swimming, no boat tours, and no access to Wizard Island during that window. Everything else in the park, Rim Drive, the overlooks, the rim hikes, stays open as normal. It's expected to reopen in 2029.
Start at Rim Village on the south rim, it's the easiest stop for most visitors and home to the Sinnott Memorial Overlook, a short paved walk to your first real look into the caldera. From there, driving the full Rim Drive is the main attraction, with stops at Discovery Point, Sun Notch, Cloudcap Overlook, and Phantom Ship Overlook. If you're able to stay late, Crater Lake is a beautiful place for stargazing due to the elevation and lack of light pollution.
Outdoors
Best Hikes at Crater Lake
Garfield Peak Trail is one of the best hikes in the park. It's 3.5 miles round trip with about 1,000 feet of elevation gain, starting right behind Crater Lake Lodge at Rim Village. It's steep, but the summit view takes in the lake, Wizard Island, and on a clear day, Mount Shasta more than a hundred miles south.
Watchman Peak Trail is our favorite: 1.7 miles round trip with about 400 feet of gain, leaving from the Watchman Overlook parking area on the west side of the rim. It climbs to a historic fire lookout with a view straight down onto Wizard Island. Amazing views for a fairly easy hike, and it's usually way less crowded than the drive up overlooks or main hikes around the lake.
Two other great hikes are the Discovery Point Trail follows the rim from Rim Village for an easy, mostly flat walk with lake views the whole way and the Annie Creek Canyon Trail near Mazama Campground is a 2.2 mile loop with 298 feet of elevation gain through a volcanic canyon that has nothing to do with the lake itself but is a nice change of scenery.
Base Camp
Where to Stay
Crater Lake Lodge is the only lodging right on the rim, and it books out 6-12 months ahead for summer. It's historic, a little rustic, and worth it for the location alone if you can get a reservation. Mazama Village, about 7 miles south of the rim, has cabins and a campground, more basic, but close and usually easier to book. Outside the park, Union Creek and Prospect, both about 30 minutes from the south entrance on Highway 62, have resort lodging and cabins if the in park options are full.
Food
Best Food to Eat
Inside the park, the Crater Lake Lodge Dining Room is the nicer option, with a menu that's better than you'd expect for how remote it is, and the Annie Creek Restaurant at Mazama Village covers casual meals. But the real destination stop is Beckie's Café in Union Creek, a log cabin restaurant that's been serving homestyle food since 1926. It's known nationally for its huckleberry pie, and people genuinely drive out of their way just for a slice.
Spend Smarter
Ways to Save Money
If you're only visiting Crater Lake this year, the $55 annual Crater Lake pass is cheaper than paying the 7 day $30 fee twice, useful if your trip spans more than a week or you think you might swing back through. If you're hitting multiple national parks on the same trip, the $80 America the Beautiful pass covers all of them and pays for itself after two or three stops. And since Wizard Island boat tours aren't running through 2028 anyway, you're not missing out on anything by skipping that expense this year.
Local Tip
Bring Layers Even in Summer
The rim sits well above 7,000 feet, and wind picks up fast up there regardless of what the weather's doing down in the valley. Bring a jacket for Garfield Peak or Watchman Peak even on a warm day, the summit of Garfield in particular is known for high wind and a noticeable temperature drop from the parking lot.
