Visitor Guide

Crater Lake Crater Lake National Park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Refections Visitor Guide Summer/Fall 2021 Welcome to Crater Lake! ...Or in many cases, welcome back! Last year at this time many of us were hunkered Craig Ackerman Superintendent down or isolated trying to reduce the spread of the COVID virus and keep our family, friends, and neighbors safe. This year vaccinations and effective protocols are allowing more people to travel and visit our great public lands. We are expecting record visitation to our national parks! While we are more fully staffed than last year, we are still limited in the services and facilities that we can provide, so we ask you to exercise good planning, judgment, and patience while exploring the park and nearby areas. Please review the rules on page 2 to protect yourself from harm and park resources from damage. Be prepared with proper clothing and footwear, food, water, and sunscreen. And pack plenty of consideration and courtesy. Report problems to a ranger and offer help to people you observe who may need assistance. It will make the park a better place for everyone, and you will be rewarded in knowing that you contributed to the protection and enhancement of one of the most special places on Earth. Hours & Seasons The park is open year-round, 24 hours a day. Some roads, however, are closed seasonally due to snow. The park’s North Entrance and Rim Drive close for the season on November 1 (or earlier if there is signifcant snowfall). Crews start plowing these roads in April, but opening dates vary. The North Entrance and West Rim Drive open sometime between midMay and late June. The East Rim Drive opens sometime between mid-June and late July. Highway 62 and the road to Rim Village are plowed year-round. Rotary Plow at Rim Village Exploring Your Park 10 Great Ways to Enhance Your Stay Whether this is your frst visit to the park or your 50th, seeing Crater Lake from the rim of the caldera is likely to be an awe-inspiring experience. But there is also much to see and do here after the initial view. If you’ve been to the park in pre-COVID times, you’ll notice that some services and experiences are not available this summer in the interests of public health. For example, boat tours and trolley tours are not operating, Crater Lake Lodge is open to overnight Lodge guests only, and the park flm is not being shown. Fortunately, the pandemic has not afected the park’s outstanding scenery, hiking trails, roads, overlooks, and other recreational opportunities—many of which are described in this visitor guide. To get you started, here are 10 ideas for making the most of your stay: Circle the Lake Rim Drive is a 33-mile (53-km) paved road around Crater Lake. More than 30 pullouts ofer excellent views of the park’s scenery. Allow 2 to 3 hours (see page 5). Photograph the Pinnacles Formed by the same eruption that gave birth to the lake, these colorful volcanic spires are tucked away in the park’s southeast corner (see page 5). Find the Phantom Ship Anchored near the lake’s south shore is an island that seems to be sailing away. To see it, walk to Sun Notch or drive to the viewpoint named in its honor (see page 5). Have a Picnic The pullouts and picnic areas on the Rim Drive are perfect for outdoor eating. Stop by the Rim Village Café or Mazama Village Store for grab-and-go sandwiches. Visit the Sinnott Overlook Touch the Water Climb a Peak Savor the Sunset Watch for Wildfowers View the Milky Way Perched on a clif at Rim Village, this historic overlook features a dramatic view of the caldera and exhibits that explain its geologic features (see page 3). The summits of Garfeld Peak, Watchman Peak, and Mount Scott each ofer spectacular—and very diferent—views of Crater Lake (see page 4). From late June to early August, fowers line many of the park’s roads and trails. Take a short stroll on the Castle Crest Trail to view the park’s premier display (see page 4). Climate Chart The trail to the lake shore is steep and can be crowded, but the water at the bottom is some of the world’s purest. Swim, fsh, or simply dangle your toes (see page 2). Sunsets in the park can be spectacular— especially from the top of Watchman Peak and from roadside pullouts high on the Rim Drive (see page 2). On moonless nights, the park ofers some of the darkest night skies in America. Look up to see meteors, satellites, planets, and the starry arms of our galaxy. Most days in July, August, and September are warm and sunny. In May, June, and October, clear days alternate with periods of rain and snow. Winters are long. Storms from the Pacifc Ocean dump an average of 42 feet (13 meters) of snow at Park Headquarters! The park’s tremendous snowfall is a result of its position at the crest of the Cascade Mountains. FAHRENHEIT Jan Feb Mar Apr Average Daily High (ºF) 34 35 37 42 Average Daily Low (ºF) 18 18 19 23 Average Snowfall (inches) 100 81 83 45 Avg. Snow Depth (inches) 78 100 115 110 Avg. Lake Surface Temp. (ºF) 39 38 37 38 CELSIUS Jan Feb Mar Average Daily High (ºC) 1 2 3 Average Daily Low (ºC) -8 -8 -7 Average Snowfall (cm) 254 206 211 Avg. Snow Depth (cm) 199 254 291 Avg. Lake Surface Temp. (ºC) 4 3 3 2... Activities, Rules to Know 3... Food and Other Services 4... Hiking Trails 5... Map, Scenic Viewpoints 6... Article: Whitebark Pines 7... Article: Submarine Voyage 8... Recommended Reading Look Inside!  Park Profle Crater Lake National Park protects the deepest lake in the United States. Fed by rain and snow (but no rivers or streams), the lake is considered to be the cleanest large body of water in the world. The water is exceptional for its clarity and intense blue color. The lake rests inside a caldera formed 7,700 years ago when a 12,000-foottall (3,600-meter) volcano collapsed following a major eruption. The eruption may have been the largest in North America in the past 640,000 years. Later eruptions formed Wizard Island, a cinder cone near the southwest shore. Today, old-growth forests blanket the volcano’s slopes, harboring more than 700 native plant species and at least 72 types of mammals. The park is central to the cultural traditions of local American Indian tribes, whose ancestors witnessed the lake’s formation. • • • • • • Park established: 1902 Size: 183,224 acres (74,148 hectares) Number of visitors last year: 670,500 Lake depth: 1,943 feet (592 meters) Lake width: 4.5 to 6 miles (7 to 10 km) Highest point: Mount Scott, elevation 8,929 feet (2,721 meters) May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 50 29 19 75 40 58 69 69 63 34 41 41 37 4 0.2 0.1 3 23 1 0 0 47 57 60 57 52 31 21 2 51 40 24 61 16 44 34 19 93 47 40 Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 6 -5 115 280 3 10 15 21 21 17 -2 1 5 5 3 49 9 0.5 0.3 7 191 59 3 0 1 4 8 14 16 14 11 4 1 -1 -5 -7 53 155 237 6 42 119 10 7 5 Air temperature and snowfall averages are from Park Headquarters, 1931-2019. Water temperatures are from 1965-2019. Artist Paul Rockwood’s conception of Mount Mazama, the volcano that collapsed to form Crater Lake. If you gathered up the ash from the mountain’s big eruption and spread it evenly across the state of Oregon, it would form a layer 8 inches (20 cm) thick. Bicycling Around the Lake National Park Service U.S. Dept. of the Interior Summer Sunset Activities Backpacking Crater Lake Visitor Guide Summer/Fall 2021 This is the offcial trip-planner and newspaper of Crater Lake National Park. It is published twice a year and funded through sales made in the Crater Lake Natural History Association store. Park Phone: 541-594-3000 Website: www.nps.gov/crla Mail: PO Box 7, Crater Lake, OR 97604 Email: craterlake@nps.gov Know the Rules National parks belong to everyone. We all share responsibility in protecting them. Please take a moment to become familiar with these important regulations. For a full list of the park’s rules, visit go.nps.gov/regs. Drones Operating remote-controlled aircraft in the park is prohibited. Guns Firearms are allowed in the park in accordance with Oregon state laws. They are prohibited, however, in all park buildings. Marijuana Possession of marijuana is prohibited. Oregon state laws allowing the use of marijuana do not apply in the park, an area of federal jurisdiction. Overnight Parking The park is open 24 hours, but overnight parking is not allowed, except in the park’s campgrounds, for guests at the park’s hotels, and for backpackers (permit required). Feeding Animals Do not feed wildlife, including birds and squirrels. Exposing them to our food alters their behavior, is bad for their health, and can be dangerous for you. Store food properly. Generally, this means in your vehicle or in a campground food locker. Backcountry campers should hang their food or use a bearproof canister. Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel Help keep wildlife wild. Please do not feed! Before setting out, all backpackers must obtain a permit, in person, from the Ranger Station at Park Headquarters. (The one exception is through-hikers on the Pacifc Crest Trail, who may instead sign a trail register as they enter the park.) Backcountry permits are free of charge and are available between 8 am and 4:30 pm daily. They are not available after hours or over the phone. Bicycling Bicycles are allowed on paved roads and the unpaved Grayback Drive. They are not allowed on trails, or of-trail. Helmets are required for riders under 16 years of age and are strongly recommended for all cyclists. The park’s paved roads are narrow with heavy automobile trafc. The most popular trip in the park is the 33-mile (53-km) Rim Drive, featuring spectacular views but also long climbs that gain a total of 3,800 feet (1,158 meters) in elevation. For a fatter, more relaxing ride, try the paved, 11-mile (18-km) bike path around Diamond Lake, 5 miles (8 km) north of the park. The closest place to rent bikes is Diamond Lake Resort. The park’s annual “Ride the Rim” event will be taking place on September 11 and September 18 this year. The East Rim Drive will be closed to automobiles, giving bicyclists and pedestrians a chance to enjoy 24 miles (39 km) of scenic roadway without vehicle noise and trafc. Visit www.ridetherimoregon.com to learn more. Enjoying the Park with Your Pet Pets are welcome in the park, but only in certain areas. Pets on leash are allowed on the Godfrey Glen Trail, Lady of the Woods Trail, Grayback Drive, and Pacifc Crest Trail (see page 4). Leashes must not exceed 6 feet, and only one pet per hiker is allowed. Pets are not permitted on other trails or of-trail. Pets on leash (or otherwise physically restrained) are also allowed in picnic areas, campgrounds, parking lots, on paved surfaces, and up to 50 feet (15 meters) away from paved surfaces. Popular places to walk a dog include Rim Village and Mazama Campground. Pets are not allowed inside buildings, including Crater Lake Lodge and The Cabins at Mazama Village. The preced- ing rules do not apply to service animals here to assist people with disabilities. Solid waste must be picked up immediately and disposed of properly, in a trash can or toilet. Junior Ranger Program Are you between 6 and 12 years old? Pick up a free Junior Ranger activity book! They are available 24 hours a day at Park Headquarters and at two places in Rim Village (outside the Rim Village Visitor Center and on the front porch of the Community House). To become a Junior Ranger and earn an ofcial badge, complete at least 7 pages as you explore the park. Then show your book to a ranger on the back porch of the Rim Village Visitor Center (9:30 am– 4:30 pm daily through September 6). Or, you can receive a badge through the mail if you put your fnished book in the 24-hour drop box outside the Rim Village Visitor Center, mail it to the address on the book’s front cover, or ask an adult to scan or photograph the pages and email them to craterlake@nps.gov. Other fun, Crater Lake activities are available online. Visit go.nps.gov/kids. Wildlife Viewing The park is home to a variety of animals, but they can be difcult to spot. Many are active primarily at night or shy away from humans. The most commonly seen animals are squirrels, chipmunks, marmots, ravens, jays, and deer. Lucky observers might spot a pika, porcupine, fox, coyote, wolf, marten (a type of weasel), bald eagle, owl, or herd of elk. Bobcats and mountain lions are present but are rarely seen. Approximately 50 black bears live in the park, but they also prefer to stay hidden. You might see one crossing a road. The only creatures that tend to pester people are mosquitoes (from mid-June to mid-July) and yellowjacket wasps (in August and September). Accessibility Except for the Sinnott Overlook, developed areas in the park are generally accessible to individuals with mobility impairments. The most accessible path for people using wheelchairs is the paved promenade at Rim Village. The Godfrey Glen, Sun Notch, Pinnacles, and Plaikni Falls trails are accessible to all-terrain wheelchair users with assistance (see page 4). Many pullouts on the Rim Drive have wheelchair-accessible wayside exhibits. We are working hard to improve our level of accessibility for all park visitors. We welcome your comments. Park Features Leave rocks, plants, animals, and artifacts undisturbed for others to enjoy. It is prohibited to collect, deface, disturb, or destroy natural or cultural features. Do not approach, touch, feed, or disturb wildlife. Sky Gazing With clean air and unobstructed views, the rim of Crater Lake is a great place to observe astronomical events. Discovery Point is a favorite spot to watch the sunrise. For sunsets and moonrises, try Watchman Overlook, Cloudcap Overlook, or hike to the top of Watchman Peak. Fishing Crater Lake is home to rainbow trout and kokanee salmon. Neither is native to the lake. Fishing is allowed at the bottom of the Cleetwood Cove Trail, where you’ll fnd a short stretch of rocky shoreline. Fishing licenses are not necessary. There are no restrictions on the size, number, or type of fsh taken. Fish may be released or kept. To prevent the introduction of other nonnative organisms, no organic bait of any kind may be used. This includes fsh eggs, PowerBait, and live or dead fsh. Fishing is limited to artifcial lures and fies only. Swimming Swimming is allowed in Crater Lake, but the water is cold! Most people swim for just a few minutes. Swimming is permitted only at the bottom of the Cleetwood Cove Trail. The shoreline is rough and rocky; there are no beaches, and no lifeguards are on duty. Swimmers must stay within 100 yards (91 meters) of shore and not venture out of Cleetwood Cove. Long-distance swimming is prohibited. To prevent the introduction of non-native organisms, the use of equipment other than standard swimsuits is forbidden. Wetsuits, snorkels, fns, goggles, life jackets, and other fotation aids are not allowed, as well as other gear—such as rafts, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards—that could serve as potential vectors for invasive species. Hiking to Cleetwood Cove The Cleetwood Cove Trail is the only legal access to the shore of Crater Lake. The hike is steep and strenuous: in 1.1 miles (1.7 km) it drops 700 feet (213 meters) in elevation. Walking back up is equivalent to climbing 65 fights of stairs! The trail is recommended only for those in good physical condition. It should not be attempted by anyone with heart, breathing, or walking problems. It is not accessible for people with mobility impairments. Hikers should wear sturdy shoes and carry water. Vault toilets are located at the top of the trail. Depending on snow conditions, the trail is usually open from mid-June to late October. For public health reasons, boat tours on Crater Lake are not operating this year. Rim Drive Lake Shore The strenuous trail to Cleetwood Cove drops 700 feet (213 meters) in elevation. Fishing at Cleetwood Cove 2 Touring the East Rim Black Bear Crossing the Pinnacles Road SKETCH FROM ROAD GUIDE TO CRATER LAKE Hiking and Climbing Stay on trails. This prevents erosion, protects vegetation, and protects other hikers. The Cleetwood Cove Trail is the only legal access to the lake shore. Hiking and climbing inside the caldera is otherwise prohibited. The walls consist of unstable rocks and loose soil. Over 95% of the park is managed as wilderness. Although some trails and locations are closed to backcountry camping (for example, there is no camping in the summer with a view of the lake), exploring the park’s old-growth forests and volcanic landscapes can be a rewarding experience. Generally, backpackers must travel at least 1 mile from their vehicle in order to camp. Junior Rangers Ask the Ranger How deep is Crater Lake? Sinnott Overlook Services & Facilities This information was accurate at the time of publication but is subject to change. To fnd out the current status of park facilities and hours of operation, check one of the 12 information boards located around the park. Emergencies Dial 911 to report any emergency, 24 hours a day. First aid is available at the Ranger Station at Park Headquarters (8 am– 4:30 pm). Restrooms Restrooms with fush toilets and running water are open 24 hours a day at Rim Village and Mazama Campground. Vault toilets are located near all three park entrances (West, South, and North) and at 8 other places around the park (see map on page 5). Drinking Water A water bottle flling station is available 24 hours outside the Mazama Village Store. At Rim Village, water from the restroom sinks is safe to drink. Bottled water can be purchased at the Mazama Village Store, Annie Creek Gift Shop, Rim Village Café, and Rim Village Community House (see hours below). Food & Dining The Rim Village Café serves grab-and-go sandwiches, salads, and snacks. May 14 –Sept. 26 . . . . 10 am–6 pm Sept. 27–Oct. 31 . . . . 10 am–5 pm The Annie Creek Restaurant in Mazama Village serves pizza, burgers, and other entrees from May 22–Sept. 26. Lunch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 am–3 pm Dinner . . . . . . . . . . . 5 pm–8:30 pm The Mazama Village Store sells groceries, snacks, ready-made sandwiches and salads, camping supplies, frewood, and gasoline. May 21–June 10 . . . . 10 am–5 pm June 11–Sept. 6 . . . . . . 8 am–7 pm September 7–26 . . . . 10 am–7 pm The Crater Lake Lodge Dining Room also serves meals, but only for Lodge guests. The nonproft Crater Lake Natural History Association sells books, maps, postcards, and souvenirs. This summer, it’s operating out of the Community House in the middle of Rim Village (9 am–5 pm daily). The park’s concessioner, Crater Lake Hospitality, also ofers a range of merchandise at the Rim Village Gift Shop (which has the same hours as the Rim Village Café, see above), the Annie Creek Gift Shop in Mazama Village (open 11 am–8:30 pm daily through September 26), and the Mazama Village Store (see hours above). Post Offce A US Post Ofce window is open daily (except on Sundays and holidays) at Park Headquarters. At some point this summer, it might be moving to Mazama Village. Hours are 9 am–2 pm in June, then 9 am–12 pm & 1 pm–3 pm the rest of the summer. Lost & Found Visit the Ranger Station at Park Headquarters (8 am– 4:30 pm) or call 541-594-3060. Visitor Centers With public health in mind, both park visitors centers are currently closed, but rangers are stafng an outdoor information desk on the back porch of the Rim Village Visitor Center. It’s open 9:30 am– 4:30 pm daily through September 6. The park’s 22-minute flm is not being shown this year, but you can view it on the park’s website (www.nps.gov/crla) or purchase the DVD for half price ($7.50) at the nonproft store inside the Community House in the middle of Rim Village. The Community House is also where you can fnd the park’s souvenir passport stamp (9 am–5 pm daily). Exhibits Many pullouts in the park have roadside exhibits. The Sinnott Overlook, perched on a rock ledge behind the Rim Village Visitor Center, has geology exhibits, a relief model, and a spectacular lake view. It’s open 9:30 am– 4:30 pm daily through September, unless the stairs to the overlook are covered by snow. For overnight guests at Crater Lake Lodge, 24-hour exhibits on the history of the Lodge can be found on the ground foor, west of the lobby. Lodges The park has two hotels, both operated by Crater Lake Hospitality. Crater Lake Lodge (71 rooms) overlooks the lake at Rim Village. Rooms begin at $200. This year, it will be open May 14 –October 10. The Cabins at Mazama Village (40 rooms) are $165 per night and will be open May 21–September 26. For both facilities, advance reservations are highly recommended; call 866-292-6720 or visit www.travelcraterlake.com. Where does the water in the lake come from? About 83% of the water comes from rain and snow falling directly on the surface. The rest is runoff from precipitation landing on the slopes above the lake. Is it clean enough to drink? Gasoline & EV Self-serve, unleaded gasoline is available at the Mazama Village Store during business hours (see above left) from May 21–September 26 and then 10 am–5 pm from September 27–October 11. A charging station for electric vehicles is located in front of the Annie Creek Gift Shop, also at Mazama Village. It has one standard connector and one Tesla connector. Phone & Internet Cell reception in the park is spotty. You may have luck at overlooks on the Rim Drive. Free public WiFi is available outside the Rim Village Café and the Mazama Village Store. Password-protected WiFi is available for guests at the park’s hotels. Is Wizard Island the former summit of Mount Mazama? Wizard Island is not the peak of the old mountain. It’s a newer volcano—a cinder cone—that erupted out of the lake around 7,300 years ago. Three other eruptions have occurred in the lake since its formation, all underwater. The most recent was a lava dome that grew to within 95 feet (29 meters) of the surface 4,800 years ago. Since there are no inlets carrying silt, sediment, or pollution into Crater Lake, its water is very clean: cleaner than the water that comes out of your faucet at home! Even so, drinking from the lake at Cleetwood Cove is not recommended due to the presence of swimmers. How clear is the water? When an 8-inch-wide plate called a Secchi disk is lowered into the lake (see photo on page 7), the average depth at which it disappears is 103 feet (31 meters). Some days, readings surpass 130 feet (40 m)! Why is the water blue? The lake appears blue because it is very clean and very deep. When sunlight enters the lake, most of the red, orange, yellow, and green light waves are absorbed by the water and converted into heat. Blue light waves are not absorbed; they are scattered by the water molecules, which sends some of them out of the lake and into our eyes. If Crater Lake was dirtier (or shallower), other colors would be returned to our eyes, too. They’d be scattered by particles (or refected off the bottom) before being absorbed. Campgrounds Mazama Campground has a total of 214 sites for tents ($22 per night) and RVs (starting at $32). It is operated by the park’s concessioner, Crater Lake Hospitality, and will be open this year June 4 –September 26. In June, all sites are available on a frstcome, frst-served basis starting at 12 pm each day at the Mazama Village Store. For July–September, all sites are reservable in advance (www.travelcraterlake.com or 866-292-6720), with any remaining sites available at 12 pm. The campground has drinking water and fush toilets, but, with public health in mind, no showers or laundry this year. The park’s other campground, Lost Creek Campground (16 tent sites), will not be opening in 2021. A list of lodging and camping options outside the park can be found on the park’s website, www.nps.gov/crla. growing on the mountain. The age of the eruption has been determined by carbon-dating tree remains buried in the ash deposits. Wizard Island Could Mount Mazama erupt again? According to geologists, future eruptions are almost guaranteed. This is one of 18 volcanoes in the United States that the US Geological Survey considers to pose a “very high threat” to human life and property. A major eruption, however, is not likely to happen again for thousands of years; the magma reservoir beneath Crater Lake has not had suffcient time to recharge itself. Has the bottom of the lake been explored? In the summers of 1988 and 1989, a oneperson submarine called Deep Rover made 47 trips to the bottom of the lake. There, researchers discovered some amazing features: hydrothermal springs, 30-foot-tall chimneys of rock precipitated from the upwelling fuids, blue pools of mineral-rich water, and puffy mats of yellow bacteria surviving in the dark by oxidizing iron for energy. To learn more, read the feature article on page 7. Does anything live in the lake? Does the water level vary? Each year, the level of Crater Lake fuctuates by only 2 to 3 feet. (Winter storms make it rise; dry summers cause it to fall.) Crater Lake is just like your bathtub—halfway up the side, there is an overfow drain! The lake experiences twice as much precipitation as evaporation, but the caldera doesn’t fll up because water seeps out through a porous layer of rock along the north shore. Water leaks out of Crater Lake at a rate of 2 million gallons every hour! The water goes deep underground and does not feed any nearby springs or rivers. Crater Lake is home to a variety of insects, worms, snails, small crustaceans, and amphibians, including a type of salamander found nowhere else in the world (the Mazama newt, a proposed subspecies of the rough-skinned newt). Most of the lake’s biomass, however, is plant-based: aquatic moss carpets the foor at depths of 80 to 460 feet (see the photo on page 7). Nowhere else in the world does moss grow so far below the surface, a testament to Crater Lake’s clarity and transparency to sunlight. © WILLIAM FLAXINGTON Gifts & Books Rim Café & Gift Shop Crater Lake is 1,943 feet (592 meters) deep. It’s the deepest lake in the USA— 300 feet deeper than Lake Tahoe, which ranks 2nd—and the 9th deepest lake in the world. It’s also the deepest lake in the world formed by volcanic activity. Does the lake freeze? Ice rarely forms on Crater Lake, except during the coldest of winters. The lake contains a tremendous amount of water (5 trillion gallons), but it has a relatively small surface area (21 square miles). The lake has not frozen over since 1949. How did Crater Lake form? Crater Lake occupies the shell of Mount Mazama, a collapsed volcano. The volcano once stood 12,000 feet (3,600 meters) tall, but its summit imploded after a major eruption 7,700 years ago. The eruption was about 100 times the magnitude of the 1980 eruption at Mount St. Helens. How do we know the eruption was 7,700 years ago? Mount Mazama’s caldera-forming eruption produced pyroclastic fows of ash and pumice that fattened the forests Rough-Skinned Newt Are there fsh in the lake? Crater Lake contained no fsh until it was stocked for recreational fshing between 1888 and 1941. Six species were introduced, but only two have survived: rainbow trout and kokanee salmon. In 1915, crayfsh were also added to the lake (as trout food). Recently, their population has exploded: 80% of the shoreline is now crayfsh territory, and they’ve been found living at depths of up to 800 feet (250 meters). Like miniature vacuum cleaners, they eat everything in their path, reducing the abundance and diversity of native organisms. Unfortunately, crayfsh are swiftly pushing the lake’s native newts toward extinction. 3 Swimmers at Cleetwood Cove Let’s Go for a Hike! Hi, I’m Ranger Stephanie. We have 90 miles (145 km) of hiking trails here at Crater Lake. Our most popular day hikes are listed on this page. If you are visiting in June or early July, be aware that some trails might still be closed by snow. Please help us protect this special place by following a few important rules: Lewis Monkeyfower on the Castle Crest Trail  No hiking or climbing inside the caldera! The walls are dangerously steep and unstable. The one exception is the Cleetwood Cove Trail, the only legal access to the lake shore.  Leave all rocks, plants, animals, and artifacts undisturbed for the enjoyment of future hikers.  Overnight backpacking requires a permit, available at Park Headquarters between 8 am and 4:30 pm. Some areas are not open to backcountry camping.  Pets are allowed on the Godfrey Glen Trail, Lady of the Woods Trail, and Pacifc Hiker atop Garfeld Peak Crest Trail. Pets must be leashed; only one pet per hiker is allowed (see page 2).  To protect vegetation and prevent erosion, please stay on the trails. Castle Crest Lady of the Woods Sun Notch 0.5 miles (0.8 km) loop trail 0.7 miles (1.1 km) loop trail 0.8 miles (1.3 km) loop trail 100 feet (30 meters) 120 feet (37 meters) 150 feet (46 meters) 20 minutes 30 minutes 30 minutes Flowers, Meadow, Creek Historic Architecture Views of Phantom Ship Loop trail through a lush meadow. Abundant wildfowers from late June through July. The trail is rocky and slippery in places. Self-guiding brochures are available at the trailhead. Loop trail around Park Headquarters. Self-guiding brochures, available at the trailhead, describe how early park architects integrated their designs with the natural landscape. Short uphill walk through a meadow to the rim of Crater Lake. Great views of the Phantom Ship. Use caution near cliff edges. Accessible to strong, all-terrain wheelchair users with assistance. East Rim Drive, 0.5 miles (0.8 km) east of Park Headquarters. Can also access from the Steel Visitor Center. Behind the Steel Visitor Center, on the south side of the building. East Rim Drive, 4.4 miles (7.1 km) east of Park Headquarters. The fowers here are nourished by springs emerging from the hillside. The trail’s name refers to a sculpture of a woman carved into a boulder along the trail. This U-shaped valley was carved by glaciers that once fowed down Mt. Mazama. Trail The Pinnacles Godfrey Glen Plaikni Falls Roundtrip 0.8 miles (1.3 km) 1.1 miles (1.8 km) loop trail 2.0 miles (3.2 km) Elevation Gain 10 feet (3 meters) 50 feet (15 meters) 100 feet (30 meters) 30 minutes 30 minutes 1 hour Volcanic Spires Peaceful Forest Waterfall, Flowers Easy walk along the rim of Pinnacle Valley. Great views of volcanic spires. Use caution near cliffs. Trail ends at park boundary. Accessible to all-terrain wheelchair users with assistance. Easy stroll through an oldgrowth forest, with some canyon views. Accessible to all-terrain wheelchair users with assistance. Self-guiding brochures are available at the trailhead. Easy walk through an oldgrowth forest to a waterfall. Many fowers in July. The frst 3 is accessible to allterrain wheelchair users with assistance, but the fnal ¼ might be too steep. End of the Pinnacles Road, 6 miles (9.7 km) southeast of the Phantom Ship Overlook. 2.4 miles (3.9 km) south of Park Headquarters. Pinnacles Road, 1.2 miles (1.9 km) southeast of the Phantom Ship Overlook. The Pinnacles are chimneys formed when hot ash cooled after the big eruption. Trail is named after William Godfrey, a ranger who died in a blizzard here in 1930. Snowmelt, not Crater Lake, is the source of Plaikni Falls’ water. Time Highlight Description Trailhead Location Nature Note Easy tom Ship The Phan Notch from Sun Easy Discovery Point 2.0 miles (3.2 km) 100 feet (30 meters) 1 hour Lake Views Plaikni Falls Trail Roundtrip Elevation Gain Time Highlight Watchman Peak Annie Creek Boundary Springs 1.6 miles (2.6 km) 1.7 miles (2.7 km) loop trail 5.0 miles (8.0 km) 420 feet (128 meters) 200 feet (61 meters) 400 feet (122 meters) 1 hour 1½ hours 3 hours Panoramic Views Creek, Canyon, Flowers Springs, Stream, Flowers Moderately strenuous hike through a deep