Crater Lake National Park | American Tour Association

A PLACE TO REMEMBER

Make room for the wonder.

A remarkably blue lake fills a volcanic caldera high in the Cascades. Rim viewpoints invite a leisurely visit, with time to appreciate the scale of the basin and the changing mountain weather.

A view of Crater Lake and Wizard Island — Looking at Crater Lake and Wizard Island from Discovery Point
NPS Photo · Photography credit

a view of Phantom Ship and Chaski Bay — A view from Garfield Peak along the rim of Crater Lake
NPS Photo · Photography credit

BUILD YOUR OWN PARK DAY

Places to consider

01Rim Village
02Rim Drive viewpoints
03Wizard Island views

Choose the stops that suit your time and your party. These are ideas for exploring, rather than a fixed itinerary or a promise that every road, trail or facility will be open.

Before you set out

Snow can limit road access well beyond winter. Check which rim roads and visitor facilities are open before planning a circuit.

Give the day room

Allow time for the approach, parking and breaks. Pick walks for the least mobile members of your party, and leave space for weather or a change of plans.

Bring your group

Confirm vehicle access, drop-off and parking with the park. Check any guided tours, transport and accessibility arrangements before fixing the rest of the itinerary.

Official park visitor guide ↗Current conditions ↗

Check the official NPS guide for current access, fees, passes, reservations and permits. Gateway names identify useful surrounding communities or access areas, not exact entrance directions. Photographs may show earlier seasons or conditions.