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![]() | Visitor GuideSummer/Fall 2021 |
Summer/Fall Visitor Guide to Crater Lake National Park (NP) in Oregon. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
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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