Crater Lake National Park is so beautiful that it’s truly difficult to describe. This is some of the bluest water you will ever see! The crater has been filled exclusively with rainwater and melted snow over hundreds of years so the water is about as clear as it gets.
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Crater Lake’s History:
Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the U.S., formed when Mt. Mazama erupted and collapsed. The Klamath tribe called the lake Giiwaas and considered it a powerful and sacred place. The lake has two islands: Wizard Island, which is also a volcano, and Phantom Ship, a natural rock formation that resembles a ghost ship in the fog. It was given the name Crater Lake in 1869 and became a national park in 1902.
Crater Lake Visitor Guide:
The best time to visit Crater Lake is during their peak season from July to September, because Crater Lake snow is still being plowed during May and June. It’s worth the wait though, because our favorite lookout points were on East Rim Drive, which is the last portion of Rim Drive to be plowed.
If you don’t have a national parks pass, the entrance fee is $30 (May 22 to October 31) for a 7 day pass. November 1 to May 21 the pass is $20. When entering, you’ll be given a newspaper visitor guide, which contains a lot of really helpful information (like where the bathrooms are!), trail descriptions, and a map detailing many of the popular overlooks.
The drive from Portland to Crater Lake will take about 5 hours. If you’re driving from Crater Lake to Portland, check out our Oregon blog series below. We have an incredible 4 day Oregon Road trip from Portland to Crater Lake to the coast and back!
Where to Stay Near Crater Lake National Park:
If you can, the best places to stay near Crater Lake are inside the national park at Crater Lake Lodge. Crater Lake camping is available at Mazama Village Cabins and Campground. (Backpackers are also able to camp with a permit.) Other camping near Crater Lake includes Crater Lake RV Park, Crater Lake Resort and campgrounds around Diamond Lake.
We stayed in Eugene, which has a big selection of Airbnbs as well as several great hotels, although it isn’t really lodging near Crater Lake. Eugene is a 2-2.5 hour drive to Crater Lake National Park, but this might be the closest option if you want to stay in hotels near Crater Lake.
For the closest Crater Lake hotels and rentals, look for lodges, cabins, and other rentals in Prospect and Fort Klamath. If you’re going during peak season, you’ll need to plan well in advance if you want to book lodging near Crater Lake.
Things To To at Crater Lake National Park:
When you visit Crater Lake National Park, you can drive either direction around the Crater Lake caldera. National Parks Service recommends allowing 2 hours for the drive, but we spent 4 and we didn’t stop at every overlook. If you want to do some hiking on your visit to Crater Lake, I’d recommend allowing for 6 or more hours here. Taking this scenic drive is one of the best things to do in Crater Lake National Park.
Must stop overlooks (going counterclockwise from the North Entrance, since that’s the route we took): Watchman overlook, Lightning Springs overlook, Sinnott Memorial Observation Station, Phantom Ship Overlook, Victor View, Pumice Castle Overlook, Cloudcap Overlook.
Some of the overlooks (like Cloudcap Overlook) will have small trails leading off to the side. We enjoyed taking some of these for a different view of the lake as well as a more private nature experience than the parking area provides. Victor View was my favorite spot for Crater Lake pictures. We walked out on the point and sat on a rock enjoying a view of the entire lake. Ryan’s favorite spot was the trail to the right of Cloudcap Overlook. This was the only spot where I felt like I was standing right on the edge of a precipice, but the views (and the Crater Lake photos) were truly spectacular.
Take a break from your drive by hiking one of the many trails throughout the park, which range from a half mile loop to nearly 10 miles. If I could pick just one to do on our next trip, I would choose Watchman Peak, one of the best things to do at Crater Lake National Park. It’s a 1.6 mile out and back trail to a fire lookout with panoramic views of the entire lake with Wizard Island front and center. If you’ve seen Crater Lake National Park photos of the entire lake, they were likely taken from this spot (and still with a wide-angle lens).
If you want to get closer to the breathtaking beauty of Crater Lake, hike the Cleetwood Cove Trail to access the shoreline. Many visitors want to know, “Can you swim in Crater Lake?” Yes, swimming and fishing are permitted. But reaching the shoreline is no easy feat! The 1.1 mile Cleetwood Cove trail descends 700 feet to the shore and then of course, you have to take the switchbacks all the way back up. That’s the equivalent of 65 flights of stairs! This trail is the only way to access Crater Lake swimming and is closed for construction until 2028.
If you love narrated tours, boat and trolley tours are also available during summer months. To take the Crater Lake boat tour, you must take the steep Cleetwood Cove Trail down to the shoreline. As this trail is closed until 2028, the Crater Lake boat tours will not be available for a few seasons. Trolley tours stop 5 to 7 times around the 33 mile rim drive, and we always recommend buying tour tickets in advance.
You’ll see more than just beautiful blue water at Crater Lake National Park. Driving around the caldera, you’ll also pass Vidae Falls, a roadside waterfall in the forested part of Rim Drive. A hike to Plaikni Falls is just a short detour off of the main road.
Crater Lake National Park Tips:
We highly recommend bringing your own picnic lunch. You could also eat at Annie Creek Restaurant or Rim Village Café, but both will be very crowded during lunch hours and you’ll have to time your drive around the caldera with your lunch stop. If you’re in a pinch like we were, you can also purchase pre-made sandwiches at Mazama Village.
If you have a wide angle lens for either your camera or cell phone, bring it. I took most of my images at 24mm and it wasn’t wide enough to capture the entire lake in one shot. Taking panoramic Crater Lake photos will probably be the best way for most people to take pictures of the entire lake.
It’s best to visit Crater Lake National Park on a clear sunny day for best visibility of the entire lake. If you go on a foggy or smoky day like we did, your Crater Lake pictures will not be as crisp.
Crater Lake is such a beautiful spot for a day trip from Portland! But next time I hope we can bring the boys (and Bex!) and camp in the park for a few days. It’s hard to see all of Crater Lake in one day!
If this is your first National Park family vacation, here are 10 more things you’ll need to know to have a great National Park trip.
See more of our Oregon Series:
Four (+ More) Day Oregon Itinerary
Crater Lake National Park
Oregon Coast Road Trip Scenic Stops
Cannon Beach
Portland Area Waterfalls
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Things To Do in Crater Lake National Park
