Crater Lake

Snapshot

Planning Your Visit

When we visited the park
We visited the park in early August.  This was a great time to visit Crater Lake!  We had sunny and warm weather, without it being too hot.  There was some road construction at this time of year that made it difficult to see parts of the park.  The weather allowed us to have sweatshirts in the morning and t-shirts by the afternoon.  With the park being higher in elevation, warmer months would be ideal to visit here.  

weather-us.com

Things to Consider
1. The first thing to know is, the lakeshore is not easily accessible.  To get to the lake, you have to hike the Cleetwood Cove Trail.  This hike is hard, with a 700 foot change in elevation in about a 2 mile hike. As of 2026, the trail is closed for maintenance.  
2. The weather can change quickly, depending on where you are in the park.  Bring layers.  
3. The Rim Drive can be narrow and has switchbacks.  There are places you can leave a trailer or RV, so you can access the drive more easily.  
4. We explored the Oregon Waterfall Highway (Hwy 138) and it was our favorite thing we did.  I highly recommend spending at least two days exploring this canyon.  
5. If you want to stay in the park, the lodge is limited and you need to book early!  This park makes a great day trip, so staying here isn't a must. 

How to Get There
From Bend
Drive south on Hwy 97 about an hour.  Turn right onto Hwy 138 towards Roseburg.  Turn left onto North Entrance Road.  After the entrance station, follow the road to Rim Drive. 
From Klamath Falls
Drive North on Hwy 97 towards Crater Lake.  Merge left onto Hwy 62 and follow to the South Entrance station.  Follow Hwy 62 until you reach Rim Drive, and turn right.  Follow Rim Drive to the lake and/or Village. 
From Roseburg
Drive east on Hwy 138.  It is one of the most beautiful drives, so leave time to stop along the way (about 1 hr. 45 minutes without stopping).  Turn right on North Entrance Road after Diamond Lake.  After the entrance station, follow the road to Rim Drive. 
From Medford
Drive east on Lake of the Woods Highway (Hwy 140).  Turn left on Westside Road.  Turn left onto Hwy 62 and drive until you reach the South Entrance station.  Follow Hwy 62 until you reach Rim Drive, and turn right.  Follow Rim Drive to the lake and/or Village. 
Additional Maps provided by the Park

Umpqua's Last Resort - Safari Tent

Where to Stay
Crater Lake Lodge
This 71 room historic building and restaurant has a beautiful view of the lake and is located in the Village.  The lodge will have the most amenities for staying in the park.  It will cost between $255-$300 a night depending on the size of the room and number in your party.  
The Cabins at Mazama Village
These 4 unit cabins in 10 different buildings are a more rustic stay in the park.  The cabins are located at the bottom of the Crater, about 7 miles from the Rim of the park.  It will cost between $200-$250 a night to stay in a cabin.  
Mazama Campground
This 214-site campground is located at the bottom of the rim, among the tall trees of the park.  It is about a 7 mile drive to get to the Rim. The campground is open late May until September.  It will cost between $35-$58 a night depending on the type of site you reserve.  The campground has running water, toilets, and showers available.  
Umpqua's Last Resort
This is where we stayed, and it was wonderful!  We rented a safari tent, and enjoyed some glamping along one of the most beautiful places I have been.  They have showers, bathrooms, and a variety of lodging experiences.  It will cost between $90-$265 a night depending on what type of accommodation you book.  It was near plenty of hiking, fishing, swimming, and waterfall spots.  I wish we would have stayed here longer.  
Diamond Lake Resort
Located about 30 minutes from the North Entrance is Diamond Lake.  This is a large lake, used recreationally.  If you are looking for a lake experience, this might be a great place to stay.  To stay at the lodge, it will cost between $150-$175 a night.  There are cabins available that vary based on size and time of renting.  There are also rentals available for water activities and options for eating here.  

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What We Did
We spent a day here, and were able to do most of the things we wanted to.  We entered the park from the North Entrance, after staying a long Hwy 138.  The drive from the North entrance gains elevation and requires driving some switchbacks.  We headed right away to Cleetwood Cove Trail, because the kids wanted to swim in the lake.  This was the last year the trail would be open before closing for maintenance for a couple years. We underestimated the popularity of the trail and the difficulty.  We had to circle several times before we could find parking for this hike.  The hike itself is about 2 miles, out and back.  The hike was very challenging for the kids, as it is about 700 feet of elevation change in a mile hike one way.  
When we finally made it down to the lake, the shore is very rocky and uneven.  We were able to scramble to a spot that we could put our things down and get in the water.  The water is not warm! We didn't last very long in the water, but it was so cool to spend time on the shore and swim in the clear water.  There is also a boat tour that departs from here.  We did not go on the tour because it was longer than my kids would want to sit, in a smaller boat.  However, it would be very interesting to learn about the lake, history, and life here.  
After swimming, we dried off and made sure to have a snack before trying to hike back up the cliff side.  There are some shaded areas along the hike, benches, and pull offs that allow you to take your time and as many breaks as you need to make it back to the top.  Make sure to pack extra snacks and water for the hike back.  We went through all of our food and four water bottles by the time we made it back.  We then headed to the Village at Crater Lake to find more food and water.  
As we were driving, we stopped and viewed Wizard's Island from Discovery Point.  This is an easy turnoff with great views.  There are hiking trails from here as well.  We continued on to the Village and got some snacks and food to go from the cafeteria there.  We also stopped at the Rim Visitor Center here to talk with rangers and get our Junior Ranger books.  We went and walked around the historic Crater Lake Lodge and took in more stunning views of the lake out the windows.  The last thing we did in the village was to go see the Sinnott Memorial Overlook.  It is a short walk down to this observation structure, and offers beautiful views of Wizard's Island with some interesting facts about the lake.  
One our way out of the park, we were going to stop and hike Castle Crest Wildflower Trail, but the kids were tired and not up for another hike.  I would still love to hike a long Anne's Creek Canyon here, and the kids would love the scrambling you can do a long the rocks.  

Where this fit in our Road Trip
This was the last stop on along Highway 97.  We had previously driven south from Bend, OR and stayed a long the Umpqua Waterfall Highway (Hwy 138).  We spent about a day in the park after getting breakfast at Steamboat Inn.  We headed down to Mount Shasta, CA after our day here.  

Oregon Road Trip

NPS App and All Trails Maps
​I highly recommend using the National Park Service (NPS) App, as well as the All Trails App for hiking.  There is limited service in the park, so planning ahead is helpful.  These two apps allow you to download sights, maps, and trails so that you can access information anywhere.  The NPS app also links to the full National Parks Website, with a plethora of information.

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