Crater Lake National Park, United States

Crater Lake National Park Travel Guide

Trek Zone

National park

Facts and practical information

Crater Lake National Park, located in the beautiful Oregon region of the United States, is a breathtaking destination that promises an unforgettable experience for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike. This national park, which was established in 1902, is home to the stunning Crater Lake, formed within the caldera of an ancient volcano.

The main attraction of Crater Lake National Park is undoubtedly the mesmerizing Crater Lake itself. With its intense blue color and sheer depth, this lake is considered one of the purest and clearest bodies of water in the world. Visitors can explore the lake by hiking along the rim, taking in the panoramic views of the surrounding cliffs and forests. For a more immersive experience, boat tours are available to take you to the magical Wizard Island or the hauntingly beautiful Phantom Ship.

Apart from the awe-inspiring lake, Crater Lake National Park offers a plethora of outdoor activities to indulge in. The park boasts more than 90 miles of hiking trails, ranging from easy strolls to challenging treks, allowing visitors to explore the diverse landscape and encounter stunning vistas at every turn. Wildlife enthusiasts can spot a variety of animals, including black bears, elk, and birds such as bald eagles and ospreys.

During the winter months, Crater Lake National Park transforms into a winter wonderland, offering a whole new set of activities. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are popular ways to explore the park's snowy landscapes, while snowboarding and downhill skiing can be enjoyed at the nearby ski area.

For those seeking a deeper understanding of the park's geology and history, the visitor centers and ranger-led programs provide valuable insights. Learn about the cataclysmic eruption that created the caldera and the fascinating natural processes that have shaped the park over millions of years.

Alternative names: Established: 22 May 1902 (121 years ago)Area: 286.1 mi²Visitors per year: 720.7 thous.Elevation: 7106 ft a.s.l.Coordinates: 42°54'42"N, 122°8'53"W

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OregonUnited States

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Crater Lake National Park Top Attractions

Crater Lake National Park Attractions - What to See and Explore

Crater Lake National Park offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Crater Lake, Sinnott Memorial Observation Station, Mount Scott, Watchman Lookout Station. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.

Natural attraction • Nature • Lake
Crater Lake
Nestled in the heart of southern Oregon, Crater Lake is a crown jewel of the United States' natural wonders, located in the Crater Lake National Park. This pristine lake is renowned for its deep blue color and clear waters, which are a result of its formation in a...
Natural history museum • Museum
Sinnott Memorial Observation Station
The Sinnott Memorial Observation Station is a sheltered viewpoint built into the caldera cliff 900 feet above Crater Lake in southern Oregon, United States. It is located near the Rim Village Visitor Center in Crater Lake National Park.
Highest point in Crater Lake Park
Mount Scott
Mount Scott is a small stratovolcano and a so-called parasitic cone on the southeast flank of Crater Lake in southern Oregon. It is approximately 420,000 years old.

Tower
Watchman Lookout Station
The Watchman Lookout Station No. 168 is one of two fire lookout towers in Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon. For many years, National Park Service personnel used the lookout to watch for wildfires during the summer months.
Collapsed volcano with Crater Lake
Mount Mazama
Mount Mazama is a complex volcano in the state of Oregon, United States, in a segment of the Cascade Volcanic Arc and Cascade Range. Most of the mountain collapsed following a major eruption approximately 7,700 years ago. The volcano is in Klamath County, in the southern Cascades, 60 miles north of the Oregon–California border.
Natural attraction • Nature • Volcano
Garfield Peak
Garfield Peak is a mountain peak on the south end of Crater Lake in Crater Lake National Park, Oregon. The top of the peak reaches 7,976 feet above sea level.
Natural attraction • Nature • Volcano
Union Peak
Union Peak is a heavily eroded shield volcano in the Cascade Range of central Oregon, located along the Cascade Crest less than 7 miles southwest of the rim of Crater Lake.
Natural attraction • Nature • Waterfall
Duwee Falls
Duwee Falls is a steep tiered waterfall on Munson Creek, a tributary of the Klamath River, that plunges into a gaping canyon within the Crater Lake National Park in the U.S. state of Oregon.
Park
Annie Falls
Annie Falls, is the tallest of three waterfalls so named, located along Annie Creek in the Crater Lake National Park at the south end of Rim Village Historic District, in Klamath County, in the U.S. state of Oregon.
Neighbourhood
Rim Village Historic District
Rim Village is the main area for tourist services in Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon, United States. It is located on the southwest rim of the caldera overlooking Crater Lake. The National Park Service designed Rim Village to concentrate park services at a location that provided easy access to rim trails and view points.
Natural attraction • Nature • Forest
Crater National Forest
Crater National Forest was established by the U.S. Forest Service in Oregon on July 1, 1908 with 1,119,834 acres from portions of Cascade, Klamath and, Siskiyou National Forests as well as all of Ashland National Forest.
Tree
Old Man of the Lake
The Old Man of the Lake is a 30-foot tall tree stump, most likely a hemlock, that has been bobbing vertically in Oregon's Crater Lake since at least 1896.
42°54'40"N • 122°8'46"W
Comfort Station No. 68
Comfort Station No. 68 is a historic visitor services building in Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon, United States. It was built in 1938 to provide a public toilet and shower facilities for park visitors.
42°54'40"N • 122°8'49"W
Comfort Station No. 72
Comfort Station No. 72 is a historic visitor services building in Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon, United States. It was built in 1930 to provide a public toilet and shower facilities for park visitors.
Natural attraction • Nature • Waterfall
Plaikni Falls
Plaikni Falls, is a waterfall located along the East Rim Drive within the Crater Lake National Park at the south end of Mount Scott, in Klamath County, in the U.S. state of Oregon.
Interesting neighbourhood
Munson Valley Historic District
Munson Valley Historic District is the headquarters and main support area for Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon. The National Park Service chose Munson Valley for the park headquarters because of its central location within the park.
42°54'1"N • 122°8'13"W
Crater Lake Superintendent's Residence
Crater Lake Superintendent's Residence, is "an impressive structure of massive boulders and heavy-handed woodwork" at Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon.
Volcanic island with seasonal trails
Wizard Island
Wizard Island is a volcanic cinder cone which forms an island at the west end of Crater Lake in Crater Lake National Park, Oregon. The top of the island reaches 6,933 feet above sea level, about 755 feet above the average surface of the lake. The cone is capped by a volcanic crater about 500 feet wide and 100 feet deep.
Island
Phantom Ship Island
Phantom Ship is a small island in Crater Lake in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is a natural rock formation pillar which derives its name from its resemblance to a ghost ship, especially in foggy and low-light conditions.

Day trips

Crater Lake National Park – popular in the area (distance from the center)

In the vicinity of Crater Lake National Park, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Mount Thielsen (Mount Thielsen Wilderness), Mount McLoughlin (Sky Lakes Wilderness), Watson Falls (Umpqua National Forest).

17 milesN
High peak with climbing trails and views
Mount Thielsen, Mount Thielsen Wilderness
Mount Thielsen, or Big Cowhorn, is an extinct shield volcano in the Oregon High Cascades, near Mount Bailey. Because eruptive activity ceased 250,000 years ago, glaciers have heavily eroded the volcano's structure, creating precipitous slopes and a horn-like peak.
33 milesS
Nature, Natural attraction, Volcano
Mount McLoughlin, Sky Lakes Wilderness
Mount McLoughlin is a dormant steep-sided stratovolcano, or composite volcano, in the Cascade Range of southern Oregon and within the Sky Lakes Wilderness. It is one of the volcanic peaks in the Cascade Volcanic Arc, within the High Cascades sector.
26 milesNW
Nature, Natural attraction, Waterfall
Watson Falls, Umpqua National Forest
Watson Falls is a 272-foot waterfall on Watson Creek, a tributary of the Clearwater River, in Douglas County in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is located at an elevation of 3,353 feet.
28 milesNW
Natural attraction, Waterfall, Park
Toketee Falls, Umpqua National Forest
Toketee Falls is a waterfall in Douglas County, Oregon, United States, on the North Umpqua River at its confluence with the Clearwater River. It is located approximately 58 miles east of Roseburg near Oregon Route 138. Toketee, is a Chinook Jargon word meaning "pretty" or "graceful".
17 milesN
Nature, Natural attraction, Volcano
Mount Bailey, Umpqua National Forest
Mount Bailey is a relatively young tephra cone and shield volcano in the Cascade Range, located on the opposite side of Diamond Lake from Mount Thielsen in southern Oregon, United States.