National Park · NPS · OR · Roosevelt connection
Crater Lake National Park
Photo: NPS Photo, Wizard Island
Alerts and conditions
Park Closure Rim Drive and North Entrance Road are CLOSED for the Season.
Winter road closures are in effect. The park's North Entrance Road, most of the Rim Drive, Cloudcap, and Pinnacles Road are closed to automobiles. The park's West and South Entrances are open, as is Hwy 62 through the park. These roads will not reopen until mid-June or early July depending on the snowpack.
Park Closure Cleetwood Cove Trail is CLOSED for Rehabilitation
The Cleetwood Cove Trail is CLOSED for construction. This critical project will fully rehabilitate the trail and marina to ensure safe access to the lake, provide a much-improved visitor experience, and protect the environment.
Overview
Crater Lake inspires awe. Native Americans witnessed its formation 7,700 years ago, when a violent eruption triggered the collapse of a tall peak. Scientists marvel at its purity—fed by rain and snow, it’s the deepest lake in the USA and one of the most pristine on Earth. Artists, photographers, and sightseers gaze in wonder at its blue water and stunning setting atop the Cascade Mountain Range.
From the National Park Service
History
The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.
The Roosevelt connection
Protected by T.R.
- May 22, 1902: as President, Theodore Roosevelt signed the act creating Crater Lake National Park. A collapsed volcano holding the deepest lake in the United States. Roosevelt signed the bill creating the park on May 22, 1902.
craterlakeinstitute.com · nps.gov · Roosevelt’s Public Lands
What to see and do
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Boating
- Boat Tour
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- RV Camping
- Compass and GPS
- Orienteering
- Fishing
- Food
- Dining
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Self-Guided Tours - Auto
- Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour
- Boat Tour
- Hands-On
- Citizen Science
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Off-Trail Permitted Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Skiing
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Snow Play
- Snowmobiling
- Snowshoeing
- Swimming
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
Plan your visit
Hours
Crater Lake National Park: Crater Lake National Park is open year-round, 24 hours a day. Some roads, trails, and facilities, however, are closed seasonally due to snow. North Entrance Road, and West and East Rim Drives close for the season on November 1 (or earlier if there is significant snowfall). Crews begin removing snow from these roads in April, but opening dates vary. The North Entrance Road and West Rim Drive tend to open in early June. The East Rim Drive typically opens in early July.
West Entrance: The park's West Entrance on Oregon Highway 62 is open year round.
South Entrance: The park's South Entrance on Oregon Highway 62 is open year round.
North Entrance: The park's North Entrance, off of Oregon Highway 138, is usually open from June through October. It is closed in the winter due to snow. Opening dates vary each year depending on snowfall and road conditions.
Fees and passes
- Entrance - Private Vehicle — $30.00
- Entrance - Private Vehicle — $20.00
- Entrance - Motorcycle — $25.00
- Entrance - Motorcycle — $15.00
- Entrance - Per Person — $15.00
- Entrance - Snowmobile — $15.00
- Commercial Entrance - Sedan — $25.00
- Commercial Entrance - Van — $75.00
- Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus — $100.00
- Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach — $200.00
- Annual Entrance - Park — $55.00
The America the Beautiful pass covers entrance fees at federal recreation lands across all four agencies.
Getting there
From the west (Medford) - Take Hwy 62 to the West Entrance. Open year-round. From the south (Klamath Falls) - Take Hwy 97 north to Hwy 62 to the South Entrance. Open year-round. The North Entrance is on Hwy 138 and is accessed from Interstate 5 east at Roseburg or Hwy 97 south from Bend and Chemult. Winter travelers from Roseburg take Route 138 east to Route 230 south to Route 62 east to the park's west entrance. Travelers from Bend take Route 97 south to Route 62 to the park's south entrance.
Visitor centers
Campgrounds
- Lost Creek Campground (16 sites)
- Mazama Campground (214 sites) — reserve
Weather
July, August, and September are your best bets for warm, dry weather. In May, June, and October, sunny days alternate with periods of rain and snow. Winters at Crater Lake are long and snowy. Storms from the Pacific Ocean dump an annual average of 41 feet (13.5 meters) of snow at park headquarters. When it's raining or snowing, the lake is usually hidden by clouds. Crater Lake is completely invisible about 50% of the time in the winter!
Phone: 5415943000
Whose lands these are
These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.
Photos
Pair it with
- Rogue River National Forest USFS · 20 miles
- Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge FWS · 24 miles
- Winema National Forest USFS · 24 miles
- Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge FWS · 28 miles
- Umpqua National Forest USFS · 30 miles
- Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument BLM · 58 miles