Travel Guide: Exploring Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake National Park is a stunning park beyond compare! Gorgeous views with water that is so blue it looks fake combined with hiking, picture taking, shopping and camping, and a historic hotel with rustic accommodations make Crater Lake National Park a tourist's haven. Crater Lake was formed when a massive eruption of Mount Mazama thousands of years ago caused the mountain to collapse into itself, leaving a scorching crater. Hundreds of years of rain and snow filled the crater creating the spectacular Crater Lake. The lake's average depth is 1,148 ft. and is the deepest lake in America and the 7^th deepest lake in the world.

Getting There:

Crater Lake National Park is located 60 miles from Klamath Falls, Oregon and 80 miles from Medford, Oregon, both of these cities have airports. The south rim of Crater Lake is open year round to get to the south rim from Medford, Oregon take Highway 62 north and then head east continuing on highway 62 to the park's west entrance. It is a very scenic and beautiful drive. Huge fir trees line the highway and make you feel very much in the deep woods. From Klamath Falls take highway 97 north to highway 62 north and then continuing west on highway 62 to the park's south entrance.

Fees and Reservations:

Entrance to the park is per;

Car - $10.00 (7 day pass)
Motorcycle - $5.00 (7 day pass)

There are also passes available. Reservations are strongly recommended for accommodations at Crater Lake Lodge, the Mazama Village Motor Inn and the campgrounds.

Operating Hours:

The park is always open but some of the roads and facilities close in the winter due to snow. Check the park's current condition web link to find out the exact conditions at any time.

Steel Visitor Center - Open from early May through early November, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, daily. Winter hours are early November through early May, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM, daily except Christmas Day. Inside the visitor center building, the US Post Office is open Monday through Saturday, 9:00AM -12PM and 1:00 PM to 3:00PM.

Rim Visitor Center - Open late May through late September, 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM, daily. This visitor center is closed October to May.

Rim Village Cafe and Gifts - Open daily, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm mid October to May. Often times there are extended hours in the spring and summer.

Hiking Trails:

Crater Lake National Park has more than 90 miles of hiking trails. Most of these hikes are steep and strenuous. Be sure to know your limits and decide accordingly on which trail you will enjoy and be able to accomplish. You can check the park's website hiking link for different difficulty levels and choose which trail is best for you.

My personal favorite is Cleetwood Cove Trail. It is the only trail that takes you lakeside. Many people hike this trail so they can actually reach the water and take a swim. A few brave souls in my party jumped in. The water was 62 degrees the day we visited in mid-summer and I wasn't bold enough to take the plunge. But it sure felt good to stick my feet in for a moment. This trail is 1.1 miles one way. Remember going down is much easier than coming back up! It takes about an hour and a half to hike down and back out. This is a strenuous hike with an 11% grade, but my grandson who was only 3 years old at the time did most of it on his own steam, so it can be done!

The Rim Drive:

You must take the full 33 mile rim drive if the time of year you visit the park allows you to do so. This drive is totally breathtaking and if you can plan it to experience the sunset, do so! The drive in it's entirety is usually open by July.

The Pinnacles:

I have visited Crater Lake National Park many times and only on my last visit did I venture to see the The Pinnacles. The Pinnacles can be reached in the summer from the Rim Drive on a paved, 6 mile long road. These strange pinnacles of eroded ash, rise from the edges of Sand and Wheeler Creeks and reminded me of giant ant hills.

Picture Taking Tips:

Make sure to bring your camera! The photo opportunities are endless at Crater Lake National Park. It does not matter what time of the year you visit you will have your shutter finger clicking away stunning photo after stunning photo that you could frame as wall art, create a calendar or make your own picture postcards!

My favorite spot for taking the best panoramic shots of the lake including Wizard Island is at the first vista point next to the Rim visitor center. You will see everyone at this spot with their cameras out.

Shopping:

In the gift shops you can by trinkets and souvenirs as well as clothing and books. The camper store has some groceries and camping supplies. We bought our smores supplies there.

Annie Creek Gift Shop (at Mazama Village) - Open daily, 9:00am - 8:00pm from late May to mid September. There are extended hours in July and August. The gift shop is closed mid September to mid May.

Mazama Village Camper Store - Open daily, 8:00am - 8:00pm from late May to late September. The hours are extended in July and August. The camper store is closed from late September to May. Gasoline is available late May to mid October.

Rim Village Cafe and Gifts - Open daily, 10:00am - 5:00pm in May. Open from 9:00am to 6:00pm from late May to mid October. And open 10:00am - 4:00pm mid-October through May. This shop is a one stop souvenir shop! They have all the neat Crater Lake trinkets.

Lodging:

Crater Lake Lodge has 71 rooms and is usually open May 21 through the middle of October. Advance reservations are strongly recommended. Phone: (888) 774-2728
Mazama Village Motor Inn has 40 units and is located in the Mazama Village complex. It is open late May through early October, and reservations are recommended. Phone:(888) 774-2728

I have never stayed in either of these accommodations, but I must say the Crater Lake Lodge looks very rustic and inviting.

Camping:

Mazama Campground has 200 sites and is open mid-June through early October. Amenities include running water, flushing toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. Reservations can be made calling 1-888-774-2728 or on-line at www.craterlakelodges.com.

My experience camping: Mazama Campground is where I stayed when we visited the park. We made reservations and it is strongly recommended that you always make reservations as the campgrounds can fill up quickly in the summer months. This campground is beautiful and has a lot of wild life all around. So be mindful of your food and use the metal lock boxes provided so that bears don't come and eat your smores in the middle of the night. Also watch small children closely as there are sharp cliffs and drop offs on the far edge of the campsites. And lastly don't be surprised if a humming bird does not come right up to your face if you are wearing a colorful hat! I loved camping in Crater Lake National Park, it was fun and exciting.

Here is another campground inside the park:

Lost Creek Campground has 16 tent sites and is open from mid-July to early October. This campground is first come, first serve only.

Please Note: Weather can impact the opening and closing dates of the campground.

Sources:

My own experience

http://www.nps.gov/crla/