Top 38 things to do and attractions in Crater Lake National Park

Stunning. I was there in late June and some of the trails were closed as they were still covered in snow. The gift shop was busy, which is to be expected as it is a national park and when kids are out of school. Even so, the lovely people working the check out desk took their time explaining many things to do and had maps to explain in detail where various visitors could go and would be best for their specific needs. I unfortunately couldn’t explore any trails as I had a van full of dogs with me. I was able to park and get out and take some amazing pictures. I will definitely be back sans dogs!!

Being the deepest lake in the US and its clarity and deep blue color, it’s a must visit national park in the west coast. Breathtaking views on each overlook and hike trails. Cleetwood Cove trail takes you down the lake where you can get a boat tour in the lake, you even get a taste of the lake water as part of the tour!

One of the most spectacular sights to see. We came in early July and were treated to stunning views at every stop. We took the trolley tour which was a fantastic way to see a lot of the lake, especially because it was so busy later in the day and it would have been impossible to see as much with the traffic. Must see!

Crater Lake is absolutely breathtaking — a must-visit destination in Oregon. The views from the Rim Drive are spectacular, with unbelievably clear blue water and dramatic cliffs at every turn. The park is well-maintained, trails are clean and accessible, and the Visitor Center staff were friendly and helpful. We hiked a few rim trails — every viewpoint felt like a postcard. Great facilities, informative signage, and plenty of scenic pullouts for photos. Perfect for nature lovers, photographers, and families. Can’t wait to come back!

7/18/25 Crater Lake National Park -$30 park entry fee for a vehicle. Vehicle reservations not needed and plenty of parking around the lake at look-out sites. 
Crater Lake is renowned for its deep blue water color and dramatic volcanic landscape. 
Rim Drive is a scenic 33 mile drive around the lake with numerous viewpoints and pull-off areas. 
There are several short moderate hikes providing opportunities to explore and enjoy the different views of the lake. The visitor center can provide information. Many beautiful views around the lake!
The park is usually snowed in with limited access through winter and spring. Summer from July 1st - September 30th is the best time for a day trip when the park is fully opened. Consider the potential for fog and varying weather conditions in early mornings. There are 3 primary waterfalls within Crater Lake National Park: Vidae Falls, Plaikni Falls,and Duwee Falls. Another waterfall, Annie Falls, is also located within the park. Vidae Falls 100' tall: Easily accessible, a roadside falls. 
Duwee Falls 100' Plunge: One of the three primary waterfalls within the park. 
Annie Falls 53' tall: Located at the south end of Rim Village Historic District along Annie Creek. Plaikni Falls 20' tall: Accessible by almost a 2mi 45 min. round hike off Pinnacles Road. One of the park's primary waterfalls. 
*The Pinnacles in Crater Lake National Park are located east of the Rim Visitor Center along Wheeler Creek. Take a right turn off Rim Dr. onto Pinnacles Rd and drive south to the end of the road. Look-out site there. It is a .4mi hike -10 min. doing the trail. Enjoy!!

This place was absolutely magical, well worth the 9 hour drive to see it! Amazing what nature has been able to bring to life through many events. Believe it or not, this was created from a volcano inside another Volcano 🌋! I'll definitely come back to see this magical place again! Highly recommend camping nearby, its worth taking your time to see all the view points at different times of the day. Enjoy the trip!

Don't miss seeing this Wonderful place! You will never see a bluer blue or breathe air so clear. It's amazing.

I took the boat tour and spent 3 hours on wizard island and it was not enough. It’s a unique place as it’s a volcano inside a volcano.

How should I put it... I could not think of another name other than "Wizard Island" to describe this place. It's magical. First of all, we need to make a commitment by competing with the visitors all over the world to grab a limited ticket, which this part is already hard. Then we need to take enough courage to climb up the summit trail. Then we need the "wizard" of this place to give us dramatically nice weather to manifest the magnificent color of the surrounding. But when it does, oh my, it's absolutely astonishing.

We took the early shuttle to wizard Island and it did not disappoint. While everyone else on the shuttle was intent on hiking to the top, we had our fly fishing gear and traverse the lava rock until we reached a small private cove. For those who don't know, the trout are invasive, and fishing is managed by the National Park Service, not Oregon. The park service want you to take as many trout as you can out of the lake so there are no limits. The only restriction is non-organic bait and lures. The trout were abundant, and the water was so clear you could watch them swim to target your flies. The fishing was productive, can't wait to do it again!

🧙‍♂️ Wizard Island: A Volcano Inside a Volcano Wizard Island is a striking cinder cone that rises 755 feet above the surface of Crater Lake. It formed after Mount Mazama’s cataclysmic eruption 7,700 years ago, and it’s one of the few places where you can actually walk on a volcano inside a caldera. Size: About 316 acres Elevation: 6,940 feet above sea level Access: Only reachable by boat via Cleetwood Cove Trail (1.1 miles down to the lake) The island’s name comes from its mystical silhouette—especially when viewed from Rim Drive. It looks like a sorcerer’s hat rising from the lake’s impossibly blue waters. 🥾 What to Do on Wizard Island Once you land, you’ve got a few hours to explore before the boat returns. Here’s what adventurers rave about: 1. Hike to the Summit A steep but short trail (about 0.9 miles) leads to the top of the cinder cone. At the summit, you’ll find a small crater and panoramic views of Crater Lake’s rim. Expect loose volcanic rock and minimal shade—bring water and sturdy shoes. 2. Lava Rock Exploration Traverse the rugged lava fields around the shoreline. Some visitors find secluded coves perfect for fly fishing or quiet reflection. 3. Swimming & Snorkeling The water is cold year-round, but crystal clear. Brave souls jump in from the dock or wade in from rocky beaches. 🧭 Visitor Experience Feature Details Boat Tours Operated by Crater Lake Hospitality, typically July–September. Time on Island Usually 3 hours—enough for hiking, exploring, and a snack break. Facilities No restrooms, no food vendors—pack in and pack out. Wildlife Sparse—mostly birds, insects, and the occasional wizard (according to lore). 🧙‍♀️ Local Legends & Humor Wizard Island has inspired plenty of tongue-in-cheek tales: One reviewer joked that to find the wizard, you must “spin counterclockwise 17 times and offer a human sacrifice”. Another claimed their wife was turned into a frog by a bearded man with a pointed hat. And yet another swears they were served “magic tea and biscuits” by a kind soul living on the island. Clearly, the island’s mystique fuels the imagination. 📸 Photography Tips Best Viewpoints: Watchman Overlook and Sinnott Memorial Overlook offer stunning perspectives. Golden Hour: Early morning or late afternoon light makes the island glow. Drone Use: Not allowed—stick to handheld shots. 🧳 Tips for Visiting 🥾 Fitness Required: The hike down to Cleetwood Cove and up Wizard Island is strenuous. 🧢 Sun Protection: No shade on the island—bring a hat and sunscreen. 🥪 Pack Snacks: No food services on the island or boat. 📶 Offline Mode: No cell service—download maps and info ahead of time. 🧼 Leave No Trace: Respect the pristine environment. 🧠 Final Verdict: Is It Worth It? Absolutely. Wizard Island is not just a hike—it’s a portal into Oregon’s volcanic past and a rare chance to stand inside a caldera. Whether you’re chasing geology, solitude, or a sprinkle of fantasy, this island delivers. .

Crater Lake features two small islands. Wizard Island, is near the western edge of the lake, (and views of it are accessible from the Rim Drive) is a cinder cone approximately 316 acres in size. It is separated from the caldera wall by Skell Channel. The other island is Phantom Ship. Wizard Island's s tallest point is 6,940 feet, but it looks small compared to the height of the caldera. It is also accessible from the water by boat trip and private fishing craft. (Inquire about these at the Visitor Center).

The hike to the boat dock and also the hike up and down the Wizard Island cinder cone was challenging. The final obstacle was the climb up from Cleetwood Cove, we succeeded with patience and arrived happy hikers back to the trailhead. It's good to be back in Oregon.

No access to this part of Crater Lake during covid. But how it came about after the lake had formed is pretty cool.

Mother nature at her finest, sharing all her beauty to mankind. If you haven't had the chance check out this are aod the world , bucket list it for sure . Next time I will come back and do the Watchman Peak trail . Unbelievable how hard they worked to build that watch tower. Id love to learn some more history Defintely will be back to explore more and you should to . Thank you mother nature 🤙🌀

Probably the best spot from which to view Crater Lake. The view straight down to Wizard Island, and all of the "sub islands", with all of the different shades of green, blue, and teal water is the most breathtaking of all the scenic viewpoints, IMO. The hike up to the watchtower is just under a mile one way, and about 420' of elevation gain, but it's spread out over several switchbacks, and not very difficult. The trail is in very good condition, and fairly smooth dirt. Not too many rocks or roots or steps, until the final ascent up to the tower. Best time to go is the late afternoon, the sun is mostly as your back, so you aren't looking directly at it. There are some cool objects inside the watchtower building, there is a sign saying NPS personnel only, but my assumption is this is simply for legality reasons, it's completely safe to go up the set of stairs, and you can't get inside the locked building anyway. It is a popular trail, which is another reason to go later in the afternoon once most tourists have started to leave.

Great outlook point that one shouldn’t miss. The outlook is in very high place so it offers a great view to the lake and the island. The tree here looks white. We thought it is covered by snow but actually it is ice.

One of my favorite lookouts over Crater lake. It's a .8 mile trail to the top of Watchman Peak lookout. (1.6 mile roundtrip) It has some elevation gain but that makes the view that much better.

Free parking lot close to the trail. You take the rim trail a little ways south alongside the east side of the road and the hang a left at the sign and start the ascent via a series of varied length switchbacks until you reach the fire lookout. You will get some crater views to the east but do not forget to look west as there are great views too especially at sunset.

The Trail was still closed due to snow and ice when we visited, so we didn't get the full experience from the higher elevation. However, we enjoyed the views from the lookout point and a little higher from the side of the hill.

The trail is very well maintained. It's easy at the beginning and then becomes slightly moderate, but nothing too challenging. Our 5-year-old hiked it easily. From the top, there's a beautiful view of Wizard Island. There is also a fire lookout at the summit, but it's only accessible to staff.

Loved this easy/few steep spot waterfall hike. Water was cold and refreshing. Beautiful falls

Easy hiker. Nice gravel packed trail. Great with kids. They can see nature, accomplish a hike, but avoid tired legs. The hardest part is parking is limited.

Easy hike with not much elevation change. The falls and wildflowers around it are amazing.

Go early before others arrive! Small area to view falls. Pretty easy hike in with just a short uphill at the end.

I mean... it’s beautiful but definitely not as big as I hoped. It’s more like a stream with one good access point (the actual falls) and a nice trail with many signs telling you to stay on the gravel path

Very pretty waterfall with wildflowers growing all around it.

I’m 66 and this was a great hike for us. 1 1/2 miles each way. Well maintained path through beautiful woods. There’s a fairly steep incline when you first see the creek as it climbs to the falls. This was a perfect hour or so walk as we drove around Crater Lake.

Did the boat tour out to Wizard Island, hiked there, and then came back up Cleetwood Cove Trail. The views of Crater Lake are amazing the whole way, and it’s the only way down to the water. The trail is steep, so some might find the return climb tough, but it felt fine to me, just a steady uphill walk. Totally worth it for the unique chance to hike the island and see the lake up close.

Drop dead gorgeous views from the very top. Hike going down is not too steep. Spent about 2 hours swimming and fishing once we got to the bottom. If you’re not an experienced hiker I’d recommend going at a steady pace. Not slow. Still get a workout in but just steady. Do not stop. You’ll definitely feel the incline. It’s about a 750 ft elevation gain in about 20ish minutes.

The only permitted place to get down to the water of Crater Lake. It's very popular, and hence very crowded. The trail starts out about 700' above the lake, so it's easy to get down, not as easy to get back, so take that into consideration, don't spend too much time and energy in the hot sun and swimming, because you still have to make the trek back up to the parking lot. The facilities down at the docks are old and falling apart, so be aware that this trail will be CLOSED through 2027 from what is published on the NPS website. There are rock outcroppings from which people dive into the water, people more brave than me! The water is incredibly blue and clear, you can see a hundred feet or more down into the water. If you walk along the rocky shore away from the dock, it's possible to find a spot further away from the crowds, we did just that, and took a quick dip into the water. Even on an unusually hot day for mid September, the water was very cold, but also very refreshing. This is one of those bucket-list type things for visitors, to go swimming in Crater Lake, it was something I'm glad we did but I wouldn't do this regularly, as the trail is long and steep to get down to the water.

Yes it’s quite steep and gets crowded in the summer, but well worth it as it’s the only place to access the Crater Lake shoreline. Recommend going for a refreshing swim in the chilly water for the full experience, remarkable how clear it is. However, note that the trail will be closed until 2027 as per the NPS for maintenance - all the more reason to put it on the list and look forward to enjoying the improved hike.

Absolutely incredible trail with views almost the whole way. Once at the bottom, we swam in the crystal waters and were shocked that even up-close, the water is still such a deep blue. We wore our swimsuits on the walk down and up, though there are restrooms at the parking lot and at the bottom so you could change there, but I bet that it is a tight spot to do it and honestly, pit toilets are always a little gross. Do not underestimate the difficulty of this trail. We saw three people who had passed our and another being carted back up the trail by rangers on a special cart that looked like wheelbarrow on tank treads. It is doable, we are two adults, two teens and a 12 year old but be prepared to take your time on the way up, bring plenty of water, and expect it to be hard.

What a wonderful experience. People of all ages can be seen on the trail. I had to come before the trail closes for the next few years. Going down the trail is the easiest part. Be prepared to take twice as long going back up. I went down early am, back up a few hours later. I had a nice little visitor while watching the water. Suggestions: wear good walking shoes. Take plenty of water for the trail back up. Even if it’s not hot, going back up you’ll need it.

This was are first time on this trail. It's the only way to reach the lake's edge and we wanted to do so before the trail is closed for the next three years for improvements. The trail is mostly in the trees. It is rated as strenuous, but is manageable if you take your time on the way back. It is 1.1 miles each way on packed dirt, with benches every so often. The water is stunning blue and cold. Many hikers were testing the water, with some swimming. A large parking lot has valted restrooms. There are some at the bottom of the trail also, but I don't recommend them except as an emergency. It took us 25 minutes to go down and 50 to walk up. We are 70 years old in average shape.

Camped at the end of D loop in late September. The site and campground were beautiful and the location made going for hikes and excursions around Crater Lake super easy. There was even a hiking trail that ran right behind our site and looped through the canyon below. My main complaint was the single bathroom for the entire loop with only one sink in each side. It also only had cold water and one of those faucets that you have to hold down constantly to keep the water running. There was also no where to dump dish water! Our reservation said each bathroom had a grate for dumping dish water, but it did not. This feels like a major oversight and made doing dishes safely a real hassle. Otherwise though the campground was great. The nearby village store had gas, ice, firewood and free hot showers.

I wish the website would be more clear about when the fcfs spots would start being dealt out. It says check in is at 4pm but when talking to them they said that they usually run out before 4pm. On the morning we left at 9:30am and overheard them already checking in a fcfs spot. Overall though, it was a great site and had everything you could need!

We camped. The bathrooms were a bit of a walk but very clean. There was bear boxes and water spigot very close to each camp site. And trash as well. They come and pick up very often. They definitely keep the campsites clean. There’s no phone service we have AT&T the whole time we were there. Free showers and clean. The store had what we needed and gift shops 5/5. The laundry mat was out of service when we went.

One of our favorite national Park campgrounds. We stayed in the tent only G loop. If you stay there try to grab sites G1-15 or so, those have the most space and privacy. We stayed in G11 which was a huge site with room for two, maybe three cars and a few full size tents. Still plenty of shade. Water and trash cans readily available. Bathrooms are clean with running water and a short walk from most sites. Showers are available at the campground store.

They kept the campground clean which was a nice change of pace. They picked up garbage at least twice a day and I was so thankful for that. Love having a bear locker. I will say the price of ice is insane and too the price of a small bundle of wood. Overall it was a good experience though. The yellowjackets were a bit insane though. I understand we were in the middle of no where but wow 😮 if we go back we will bring something for the insane amount of Yellow jackets lol

We stayed 2 nights. Super quiet and quaint campground close to all the attractions crater lake has to offer. Despite limited availability on RV sites with electric, we’d book again!

Had a good camping spot, busy but quiet. Ground is very fine and dusty (volcanic ash) so expect to bring that back home with you on shoes and equipment. Bear lockboxes supplied in each site

3.6 miles of strenuous, although a bit less brutal that Wizard Summit, walking up to the peak is well worth the trip. Along the way we were bombarded with tortoiseshell butterflies that made the trip even more special. Since they only come around every 5+ years we were very lucky! Even in early August, we had to cross a small patch of snow to get all the way to the top, but take it slow and it isn't that bad. Once you reach the top, you are rewarded with the full view of the rim of Crater Lake. Great place for a little snack and a photo opportunity. Deer, butterflies, ground squirrels, and marmots were all seen on the way up. Make sure you have enough water and snacks to help with energy.

944 ft elevation gain from Crater Lake Lodge. Moderate to slightly difficult hike but SO worth the effort! You won’t regret making the 1.75 hr hike up. We came on a perfect day. Low 80’s (Fahrenheit) and cool shade for breaks. Bring lots of water. 😊

This hike has stunning views along the way and at the peak where trail ends. The vistas will amply reward hikers for the effort required to hike the trail.

Garfield Peak is a 1.7 mile hike each way with 1070 feet of elevation gain (3.4 miles round trip). The trail takes you from near the Crater Lake Lodge up to the top of Garfield Peak, where you have expansive views of Crater Lake and the surrounding landscape. It's considered a moderately challenging trail due to the elevation gain, and it usually takes about 3 hours to complete plus whatever time you want to spend at the top. Sunsets are amazing from up here, and it's definitely an underrated spot for that (if there is such a thing in the park). The view of Crater Lake and Wizard Island is absolutely amazing up here. If you enjoy moderately challenging hikes, this is definitely one more to miss!!

Trailhead starts at Crater Lake Lodge. You can get to it by following the pavement around the rim of the Crater. Due to its proximity to the lodge, Visitor Center, etc. the trail is likely to be well traveled, but it is worth doing regardless. You get multiple great views of the Crater including the phantom ship. The summit of the out and back is relatively spacious. The trail has a decent amount of switchbacks and a mix of sun and shade. I saw butterflies, chipmunks, pika and a marmot on this trail in the middle of September.

Really gorgeous hike with incredible views around every corner. Approximately 7900 ft elevation over several switchbacks. Took about 90 min with plenty of stops for pictures. Also it's directly behind the Lodge, parking and several lookouts.

I don't hike often (I only go on family trips) and am scared of heights, but kept chugging along on this accessible trail. It was glorious - stellar views - and had a nice flat area at the top to take pictures, relax, and recuperate.

Definitely worth the line to enter the park. Have your pass ready. We had our Veteran Lifetime Pass. Then we stocked up on magnets, stickers, and stamp for national park passport book. Bring water, good shoes, and camera. Lots of trails, and Rangers are ready to help with trails. Thank you! We went to falls east of visitor center, then u-turn at closure, then did west side.

Steel Visitor Center is located below the rim near the southern entrance at Annie Springs. The building itself is a really cool building, and there's a fair amount of in the parking lot. The Visitor Center finally reopened in 2024 after being closed for renovations for awhile. This is definitely a cool spot, and it's really fun to enter from the north entrance through the covered stone walkway. The Visitor Center itself has all sorts of cool little gifts and Knick knacks, ranging from keychains to postcards to close to books and pretty much everything in between. The people who work here are very friendly, and The Visitor Center itself has some wonderful exhibits as well as a film "Crater Lake: Into the Deep" that place here. The building is a wheelchair accessible entrance and a wheelchair accessible parking lot, and it's a great place to bring young kids. They're also restrooms available here and a post office! If you've never been here, the Steel Visitor Center is definitely worth a stop. It's much better than anything on the rim itself at Rim Village.

We visited the Steel Visitor Center at Crater Lake on July 4, 2025, and despite the holiday crowds, it was a great experience. The place was bustling with fellow park-goers, but the staff remained cheerful, helpful, and welcoming—which really made a difference. The visitor center has a fantastic selection of books ranging from geology and hiking guides to nature writing and even fiction. The gift area was well-stocked with souvenirs—T-shirts, sweatshirts, patches, stickers, maps, coloring books—you name it. Great place to grab a memento of your trip. The building itself is a gem: an old log structure that’s been beautifully restored and really adds to the character of the park. Clean restrooms, accessible drinking water for refilling bottles, and solid amenities all around. The parking lot was a little tight, but we were able to get our van in without much hassle. We left with a patch to add to our growing National Parks collection—and a lot of appreciation that the center was open and operating smoothly on a major holiday. Highly recommend stopping in here during your visit to Crater Lake.

Steel visitor center was a great stop on crater lake. It was snowy here in June but we really enjoyed our visit. Friendly park rangers, great information.

The annual Ride the Rim bike event was going and I was really impressed with how much extra staff was available to help.

Closed due to government shut down but still able to go on hiking trails. Bathrooms were open and clean when we went but the shut down was only in effect a few days. Nice trails taking you past old employee residences. Missed seeing the Lady of the Woods initially but found it. Hugs thanks to all government workers affected by the shutdown, prayers for a return to paid work and positions!

Somewhat disappointing. Very small and very limited parking. You would expect more for the main entrance of a National Park. The place was cramped on a Monday. I can't imagine the weekend. The building is cool looking at least.

The walk down is easy but going back is a bit challenging! Beautiful views of the lake and the water was cool and so blue! There is no path down to the lake to swim so make sure you’re wearing shoes with good grip, a bit slippery in places.

Beautiful.

Gorgeous, loved the swimming and boat tour, but way to crowded. Really need to limit the number of people allowed there.

Cloudcap Overlook offers one of the most spectacular views in Crater Lake National Park. Perched at the highest accessible point on the rim, it gives you a sweeping perspective of the lake’s deep blue waters, Wizard Island, and the surrounding cliffs. The air feels crisp and refreshing up here, and on a clear day you can see for miles. The road to Cloudcap is a bit narrow and winding, but it’s absolutely worth the drive for the incredible panorama and peaceful atmosphere. A perfect spot to take photos and soak in the beauty of Crater Lake.

This overlook spot is so stunning and breathtaking, and there's one more upper on top of the hills. I can tell the park management is very well, the overlooking spot has enough parking spot and it's very clean. It's just 15 to 20 mins drive from the north gate(if I remember correctly). Around the park entrance, there's some convenience store and a resort hotel.

Very nice viewpoint and overlook of Crater Lake. About as close to Phantom Ship island as you can get with the current road closure and construction.

Crater Lake is a little off the beat.. but if you can make the time.. it's worth your while. You have to see it to believe it. One of the most beautiful places on the planet

Just a beautiful day, calm water, great lookout over the entire lake. Even caught a military helicopter flyover!

Amazing view, if you go around 6-8am on weekdays you’ll typically have it all to yourself!

Very windy, but perfect spot to see the sunset over Crater Lake.

Complementary to the main show of wizard Island these formations, named the phantom ship are spectacular in their own right. There is a relatively short hike up the hill to get the best view of them. Even in times of peak affluence this site was not too busy and definitely worth the detour from the Crater Rim Centre.

You need to go here. Absolutely stunning. There’s road construction on Rim Drive, but Phantom Ship Overlook is still accessible. Do not miss this spot! Short loop walk to see the beauty from the parking lot.

Just wow. The water is so clear you can see way down I to the lake. The Phantom Ship rock formation is crazy to see. Crater Lake is a must see if you live on the west coast. It is easy to get to, and you can see the whole park by car in 3 hours. Lots and lots of cool hikes if you want to stay all day. Really amazing.

The rock shape itself was unique and one of a kind, however there is only one lookout that makes it harder to see. Furthermore it is not easy to get to as it is quite a journey into the park, but overall it was neat to see and worth stopping by if you have time at the park.

This island is as tall as a 16 story building. It’s made of erosion resistant lava, 400,000 years old – the oldest exposed rock within the caldera.

The trail to get here is short, and is a little steep for people that are not used to hiking, but beware, there can be lots of mosquitoes about the trail.

Beautiful place, not much to see because of the trees obstruction. I thought it would be a good place for the sunset.

This is an awesome spot with all sorts of beautiful views of the lake and some absolutely wonderful exhibits inside the small building. They have some great exhibits in there which talk about Mount Mazama and exactly how Crater Lake from it. It's quite educational, and if you have kids with you this is a great place to bring them!! There are some great, unique views from the observation deck as well. You go down some stairs from the room to get to this place, so you have a slightly lower review than you would normally get which is kind of cool and unique. Good views of Phantom Ship, Wizard Island and some of the other formations in the distance. This spot is one of my favorite spots in Rim Village, and I try to stop in every time I'm here and it's open.

It was awesome to see this gorgeous park without throngs of people and jammed roadways. My heartfelt thanks to the public safety and private concession workers who kept the gates open during the shutdown. We loved seeing the mountain prepare for winter with recent snowfall, and got a kick out the little snow person someone created on one of the overlooks.

Stunning even on a smoky day due to some fires nearby. Arrived at 830am and was peaceful with little traffic but room with details on how the crater was formed opens at 930am with a park ranger available for questions. Short walk from the lodge and gift shop so was happy to visit a second time with the fam since everyone was still sleeping for the first visit.

Went on June 19th, 2025 there was an ice storm chasing us so we didn't have much time to hike or see everything, I see why they open more up during July but at least we go to go before all of the new construction projects heading their way.

What can you say really....it's absolutely breathtaking!! Was fairly busy and parking was full, we came early and managed a spot, but folks showing later were not as lucky( although one was because he got ours)

Definitely one of the top spots to view Crater Lake from and it provides a lot of great info on it as well. I highly recommend making a stop here during your time at the park.

From here there is an excellent view of the crater, there is a lot of space to take photos of beautiful views of the water and around.

These views are taken from Sun Notch, the Phantom Ship Overlook, on the East Rim Drive. It resembles a sailboat from this distance, but it is as tall as a 16-story building. The lava rock is supposedly 400,000 years old, the oldest in the caldera. Two more ways to see it; framed by some pines and through the open work of a brick wall.

Was neither ethereal, nor an actual ship. Weather was good though.

Phantom Ship is such a cute island and one of my favorite places at Crater Lake National Park.

One of the coolest features of crater lake

Don't be fooled! Not actually a ship. Just some rocks.

Four only because I slipped and fell off the cliff here...damn wind just up and took me away

(Translated by Google) like (Original) 喜歡

A Hidden Gem of Crater Lake – A Must-Visit Spot! I recently visited a beautiful waterfall of the Crater Lake, and it truly exceeded my expectations. Unlike other waterfalls I’ve seen, this one had a special charm, especially in July. The weather was just perfect — warm but refreshing — and what made it unique were the vibrant wildflowers blooming all around. The colorful scenery added a magical touch to the whole experience. If you’re planning a trip to Crater Lake, don’t miss this spot. It’s peaceful, picturesque, and a great place to enjoy nature in full bloom!

I visited in August and there was not a lot of water flowing over the falls, however it is was still a really nice falls. It is right on the side of the road so not hiking is required at all and you can just park and take a couple pictures. Definitely worth adding to the itinerary if you are visiting the park!

So peaceful and gorgeous! We were really close to a deer that wasn't scared of us and was just grazing on the lush grass. The falls is right where you park along the road.

This waterfall in late July early August will be bustling with monarch butterflies just adding to the already magnificent view of the 100ft waterfall, I happen to see a doe deer just casually walking across the waterfall not bothered by our presence, absolutely stunning

It is a great waterfall by the road but a lot of bugs.

This place is GORGEOUS! 🥰😍🥰😍 Go the extra little drive from the visitor center and go her what my family called "peed on" by the falls! 😁😁😁🥳🥳🥳🎉🎉🎉

It is right off the road. Nice little scenic waterfall. Not the most impressive but worth a quick stop.

This 5 mile trail has 1200+ feet of elevation gain, but with frequent breaks, is fairly simple. I would not have rated it strenuous. The views were beautiful on the way up, and along the ridge at the top headed towards the fire tower. The reason I'm giving 4 stars, is because you aren't able to access the tower deck, so your 360 summit view is limited to walking around the tower. Still some good photo opportunities and you'll most likely have it to yourself.

It’s worth it to get the view of crater lake. 1200 feet up, not a horrible path, middle section is probably the most challenging, gets easier on the switchbacks.

Traverses a short meadow. I did not see any wildflowers. Gets steep fast. You can see views of Crater Lake and the mountain range.

No bathroom and no garbage bins. My app measured 2.2 miles one way. Was medium to medium-hard difficulty. The view from the top 1/3 of the hike was awesome.

Such a beautiful hike! Great views of the park and lake. Challenging, bring extra water.

One of the best hikes in crater lake. I recommend going in the morning to have the best lighting for the views of the lake throughout the trail

We had fun. One of the coolest places, I think, to watch a sunset.

Mount Mazama is filled with a great amount of history: from its massively violent past to the most stunningly blue tranquil waters of Crater Lake (created after its collapse into the caldera), this area is a true masterpiece, created by Mother Nature and shaped by Father Time. In its glory, Mount Mazama stood 12000 feet tall and was worshiped by the Native Americans that called this place home. Post eruption, it was cut down to 8157 feet, that today is the rim above its crown jewel, Crater Lake, which holds the title of deepest freshwater lake in the United States at 1943' deep. Its only source of water comes from rain and snow melt, and the pumice stone layer of the Caldera acts as an overflow drain, like in a bathtub. The water in the lake is such a stunning brilliant blue that it doesn't look real. The name Mount Mazama, a Native American word, means mountain goat, and Crater Lake is called Giiwas in the Native language of the Klamath tribes. Mount Mazama still exists today. All that's left technically is its base, and Crater Lake is a result of its collapse. They are two totally different geological features. The base of Mount Mazama is still here, and Crater Lake resides in Mount Mazams' caldera. As always, leave no trace, leave it better than you found it, and enjoy 😉!

A must see in Oregon...the bluest of blue...you will think your sunglasses are playing tricks on you.

Crater Lake is probably my absolute favorite place to go when I need to completely disconnect. It's beautiful, it's truly awe inspiring, and it offers so many vantage points along the rim and down in the boat to gain a completely different perspective, not just on crater Lake, but on the power that our planet has been shaping itself and thus shaping us.

This is the former name of this mountain before it blew its top, mt Mazama is gone and now it is a caldera called “crater lake” if you think about it, it should be called ‘caldera lake’ as that would be more geologically correct, but eh who cares at this point. The mountain will grow back after many many many eruptions from this volcano. The “Wizard island” cone is just the start of the great rebuilding of this volcano.

Grew up in Medford, and my family had yearly drives to Crater Lake. The lodge has recently been gutted and redesigned. The lodge shop is entertainment for those who need a nice comfortable place inside. The food has been good in the past, I haven't been able to go back to Crater Lake for years, but my own Children were there recently in winter, to show their own children what snow looks like,🥰 they loved it, but got cold and had to go inside to warm up and eat, and enjoyed themselves very much. There is something about Crater Lake in the winter, that makes you want to visit it again and again. Carry tire chains !!! and know how to put them on and take them off. Make sure your car's gas tank is filled, Dress for the Really Cold Elevation of this lake, and Huge Snowfall. Call Crater Lake National Park during the winter to make sure it is open, likewise, in the summer-- due to forest fire dangers. Honestly, you and your children will not regret a trip to Crater Lake, Oregon.

I have got two full gallon bags of ash from carter lake.We get a nice view too. It was ❤ at first sight.

Ok so mount Mazama erupted about 7*700 years ago which formed as a lake causing the volcano to collapse

The east Rim drive around Crater Lake has so many unique overlooks. Pumice Castle is one of them. It Is one of the parks most colorful features: a layer of orange, pus rock that has been eroded into the shape of a medieval castle.

One of the park’s most colorful features: A layer of orange pumice rock that has been eroded into the shape of a medieval castle. Located 2.4 miles east of the Phantom Ship Overlook, on the East Rim Drive. And the over look is an excellent place to view this. Park and get out of the car. The trailhead is there if you'd like to hike to it.

A great pumice outcrop feature that can be viewed from the Pumice Castle Overlook. On the East Rim of Crater Lake NP, Oregon.

Great views and cool breeze.

We loved our stay at the Castle. We had the whole place to ourselves and it was absolutely magical!

When we arrived it is the last open point. The castle rock is nice.

Came here in early September 2024. Unfortunately the atmosphere was filled with haze/smoke from surrounding fires. The gift shop area had some nice souvenirs available. The food options were standard - good but nothing extra special. There's a second floor in the gift shop building that has a nice cozy area to eat and lounge around. Nobody was there during this trip. I think it may be more popular during winter. The restrooms are in a separate building and are simple but well kept.

The shop opens at 9 AM and has 2 washrooms. There are 2 more washrooms available in the parking lot outside the gift shop. The shop houses a great collection of items like hoodies, beautiful accessories, coffee mugs, tumblers, magents, soft toys, caps, hats, can openers, socks, hiking poles, carry bags, fanny bags, sweatshirts and much more. The top floor has a seating place for dining and is very spacious. There is a fuel station 6mi away and has cheap fuel available at $3.86/gallon.

Mid-May still had a lot of snow but we were able to see the lake from a Vista locates before the parking lot. The souvenir area had a lot of selections at various price ranges. We only got coffee which wasn't very good. Employees were friendly and helpful.

Apart from the very good brisket chili, everything here was perfectly mediocre stadium food: we got both the bean and beef chilis, fries, chicken tenders, and nachos. And two gatorades. About $60 Ordered at 2 PM and they were already out of the wraps and sandwiches Up in Crater Lake they are one of the only food spots, so we’re a captive audience. The line was long and took about 30 minutes to place our order. Not enough places to sit, but we went upstairs to an area with old chairs and a musty carpet. Felt like it hadn’t been updated in decades. Crater Lake is absolutely stunning in every which way, but very disappointed in the food they sell.

I enjoyed visiting the rim center. The restaurant was on the second floor with the gift shop close by. A viewing and seating area was on the third floor where it overlooked Crater Lake. An elevator was available. I visited the gift shop and bought some items. The food smelled delicious but did not try it. The Rim was only steps away from the crater rim with a spectacular view. The staff were friendly and helpful.

The giftshop is fine, lots of selection and the long line moves fast to pay. The food, however, was terrible. Seven of us got different meals, from sandwiches to nachos, to hot subs and all of them were bad. Packing a lunch would have been better. I am not a picky person, but this was sub- standard.

Food was great as we got a variety of things for lunch here since the lodge was closed between 1030 and 1130 and we didn’t want to wait they reopen for lunch. Only issue was the fountain drinks as the taste was off, not sure if the syrup and water mixture not working or needed refilling but all flavours didn’t take right when we were there. Nice selections of gifts also as we picked up a few things including a nice T.

Since the Rim Road is closed by the Pinnacles turnoff we came around to the old entrance of the park. Had the whole place to ourselves!! Absolutely awesome.

We visited here in September, which seems to be the ideal time to come. It was so clear and not too hot. If you come to Crater Lake, this is one thing I would recommend doing. This valley is amazing, this is a true artwork of nature. There are very few similar places in the world. You do not need to walk far from the parking to see the best examples of the Pinnacles, though the trail goes for quite a distance along the valley side. The best views are a few hundred feet down where there is a viewing area. The drive down here is also really nice with the chance to see other things like the waterfalls. If you have your own car, I would certainly recommend taking the time to visit the Pinnacles.

A trail off the beaten path and the information plaques were interesting but you don’t have to walk this whole trail . The views do not get any better after about the halfway point , where my picture was posted from. Glad I did the hike for informational purposes only .

Visited this place on a weekend but it was early, by 8am the few parking spots were filled really only about 6 good spots to park but we saw about 12 cars just in the road and not even in a spot blocking the turn around and a truck pulling parked cars out of the way to get out. Way to go we applaud correcting people that can't follow the rules and are just selfish thinking only of themselves. Any how the trail was nice, a short out and back but you can see the pinnacles right from the parking area so you don't have to take the the hike but why not get out in nature if you drove the 6 miles to get down here. Give us a like 👍 if you think about doing this stop at Crater lake. Follow for more adventure reviews, food reviews and campground reviews.

A short stroll over mostly even ground with a great view of the pinnacles (cone shaped structures made from vents in the volcano). Wonderful looking things like frozen Christmas trees all along the path

It doesn't matter how many times I've been to Crater Lake, this place is always breathtaking! I hadn't been to the pinnacles before and it is beautiful!! So amazing how these formed and have been here for thousands of years! Truly a site to see if you are there!!!

Nice easy walk seeing pinnacles on the way. The place is a bit secluded from the lake. It is worth the visit but if you don't have enough time I would choose other points or hikes to do instead of this one.

It’s a very nice, well marked trail with small elevation changes. You can hear the stream roaring through the canyon but you can’t see it because it’s very deep. On my 4 stars because we were eaten alive by mosquitoes. We didn’t see many in other parts of the park.

easy and flat, maybe 20 minutes max. has some pinnacles if you want to see some but couldnt get to the pinnacles trail

A very well maintained trail. Although technically a hike, it was very flat and more of a walk.

Easy, improved 1/2 mile loop trail along a Ash/pumice canyon with the creek running through it. Nice forested hike.

Bring your camera for the amazing views. It's a looping trail but at the far point you get an amazing vista. I'd recommend taking the left side trail first as the views will keep building one upon the other.

Short looping trail but really cool scenery. We only encountered one or two people on Labor Day weekend. Definitely worth it while the crowds focus on Crater Lake

Quick, easy hike/walk. Take the counter clockwise route…forest first, water second.

Great views!

Amazing views of the lake!

It was good experience.

Crater Lake National Park is beautiful. The day I went to there with my family was a little crowded, but I suspect it probably gets worse on the weekend and around holidays. It is unfortunate that the Park Service has had to reduce staff at National Parks. I feel for the struggles this causes in maintaining, securing, and supporting the parks. There is a lot of parking, but it was almost all full when we were there. This particular park will be having a lot of renovation over the next few years until 2029 so we wanted to go before it got even more complicated.

Beautiful and unique place. When we arrived the foggy weather blocked our view of the lake. Important to note that even if the clouds are low it doesn't mean the whole lake is covered. We continued to drive and eventually found a great spot with perfect view.

Not easy to find. It has a sign of park store but I didn’t see any sign of visitor center. It feels like the parking is competitive at the beginning when you enter rim village but it has more parking space inside. It has shades and rest area beside the visitor center and water fountains at the other side. Overall, I would give 5 stars.

Crater Lake is a beautiful place to visit in Summer. But with a pet dog, it’s not a good choice to arrange the visit. We could only visit the paved area around Rim Village visitor center. Next time, hope we could return here in Winter to explore a different sightseeing of snow covered Crater Lake.

Amazing views of the lake from Rim Village. There is a overlook semi enclosed a short walk down from the main walkway along the rim. Great info plaques and views there.

A couple of helpful staff members inside answered questions about trails and whether we could get an official Crater Lake brochure. If you are curious, the funding to print those no longer exists. The other bummer about this visitor center is they were out of the artistic postcard featuring Crater Lake and only had ones with a guy on a bicycle. Annie's Creek gift shop had the good one.

Small visitor center with your usual visitor center items and stamps! Park rangers were friendly and amazing view points right outside the center. If it’s crowded it is tough to look around as it’s a small center.

The food wasn't bad, but it wasn't on par with the price. That said, this is a restaurant in one of the most remote places in the state, so I won't it's halfway to be expected. We all had burgers and salads, which were all quite good. The waiter was extremely friendly and service was excellent. The atmosphere in the lodge is wonderful as well. If the prices for a little lower, I probably would have given it 5 stars. We visit Crater Lake frequently. This was the first time we ate at the lodge, and my family had fun doing so. Both my wife and my son said they would like to go back (so we'll probably be back next visit)

Unexpectedly amazing dinner in a National Park Lodge at the edge of Crater Lake. For our appetizer we enjoyed the Mushroom Brushetta (woodland mushrooms, roma, shallot, shaved parmesan, balsamic glaze)...loved the forest theme for this delicious dish. The bread was perfectly crispy. For dinner my husband ordered bison meatloaf, which he greatly enjoyed. I thoroughly enjoyed the ribeye. Happily I took the leftovers with me (massive ribeye) which made terrific eats in the Redwoods the next day, where we found few restaurants. No one down south had food as great as this!

Waiters were fantastic and friendly. Food was the opposite. Would expect the food to follow the experience and cost. We had dinner and then tried breakfast. Biscuits and gravy were super salty. French toast was good. Dinner salad was subpar and the ribeye was ok. The area is beautiful and lodge itself is amazing.

The dinning room is very weirdly managed. Walk-in people at 5PM were told to wait for 3 hours while the dining room was empty because people who had reservations did not show up even after 15-30mins. Had to order food from the Bar menu next to dinning room. The lady working at the bar was super efficient and active. We had mushroom bruschetta and salad, both were delicious.

Based on the other reviews, I was nervous about the food, but the salmon and meat was very good . However, it’s very hard to look at a half empty room and understand why they will not sit you even 10 minutes early. I can only assume it’s to not slam the kitchen, but then they should explain that. I watched 4 empty tables for 45 minutes while still being told repeatedly they could not sit me early. Very frustrating The staff that covers the tables, however, are very kind and nice - food comes out fairly quickly. I felt the prices overall were fair and only the meat dishes were on the expensive side.

The check in person was acting very weird. Was told to wait 30 mins even though the tables were available. The server again very rude and fair to say mannerless. Food not that great with cold fries. I’d highly recommend to get your own food if coming to Crater national park and try as much to not eat here.

We enjoyed two beers, some French Onion soup, and the spinach and artichoke dip. The view is spectacular from the deck and the appetizers were delicious. Adrian provided great service from the bar. Reservations are required for the main dining hall. But…why would you want to sit inside?

The location is ideal for dinner after exploring Crater Lake National Park. It can get quite crowded on weekends. We arrived at 7 PM on a Sunday and waited about 25 minutes to be seated. The staff was friendly, and the food was decent—nothing exceptional, but good enough to refuel after a day of hiking.

To go order took over an hour. They probably forgot about us for a while. Pizza was lacking in flavor, honestly tasted worse than a frozen pizza Cheese plate was pretty good Drinks were alright Cheesecake was amazing Location is nice for people visiting crater lake national park but I’d recommend the lodge, service was phenomenal

Passing through and this was the only place on the way back to our motel. It closes 9pm which is really convenient for after park meal. It was pretty empty at 5:30pm but by 6pm every table was taken and there was line for Togo orders and people waiting for a table. The bison chilli was okay but missing some flavor. The pizza’s are pretty big so only order one for every two people or you will have too many leftovers. Crust on the pizza is so soft and easy to chew. Prices seem very fair and not overly priced for park dining. I would stop in again if visiting Crater Lake. Service is very attentive and personable.

We went to the restaurant for breakfast one day. We were surprised at how good the food was. Most things seem to be made fresh to order. The service was a bit slow. The gift shop had all of the usual accessories.

A mixed bag at the Annie Creek Restaurant. There is often a wait, even in the middle of the shoulder month of September. Is you want the food quicker I suggest ordering takeout. They have a captive audience so the food is rather mediocre for the price but the bang for buck ratio is not as bad as I have seen at a couple other National Parks. The Lady of the Woods pizza is rather decent and not a terrible value. The Fish and Chips was OK. Some of the fish was not well cooked (i.e. needed to be fried longer so it wasn't like warm) but the ones and parts that were cooked well were tasty. The MarionBerry cheesecake was tasty but it was the smallest piece of cheesecake I have ever seen from a restaurant (and $9). The presentation is impressive, however. Probably the biggest indictment of this restaurant is our best dinner at Crater Lake was rehydrated meals we brought with us. Feel free to use the store next door's boiling water dispenser (meant for tea). Works like a charm. If you are looking for the Crater Lake postcard that features the Crater and not some dude on a bicycle you might want to check this gift shop as the Visitor Centers were sold out of the good ones when I visited.

Absolutely garbage. Unbelievably long wait for food with no discussion from waiter. Salad was awful...tomatoes were rancid and smelly. "Local" cheese plate was a joke. Sure Tillamook is technically.local but really...3 crappy cheeses and stale crackers...no sign of the promised jam. The chili was the "highlight". It didn't suck but was clearly old and dried a bit.

I am very happy for my dinner experience here. Food is good, service is good, atmosphere is good. No complains. The price of the food is really good. I never thought a restaurant in a National Park can offer such a good price.

Great hike. 1 mile RT. Lots of stairs but easy for us. The parking lot is small. The falls are beautiful. You can go over the railing and down to the waters edge but every year someone gets hurt doing this.

One of the most beautiful waterfalls and surroundings I've seen in Oregon. The overall experience can be a 3-star or 5-star depending on your level of adventure. The falls is WAY WAY WAY better if you do the treacherous climb down to the bottom, but it requires a near-vertical climb down a dirt slope and dirt-covered rocks (see my photos). There are ropes along the way but I was surprised just how vertical the route is. It was dry weather when we went, but I could only imagine how dangerous it would be in wet conditions. In climbing parlance, it would rate out as relatively straight forward Class 3 scrambling (without ropes). You have to be comfortable (and physically capable) on this kind of terrain, but the reward made this one of the best waterfall experiences I've had. There is simply no comparison viewing the falls from the elevated platform, which has limited views, and does not come close to the same experience at the bottom, where you can see and feel the power of the water and the flowing river so much closer up. The views are 100% wide open and unobstructed from below, and offer incredible photographic opportunities. The surroundings of this waterfall (and the upstream river gorge), and the adventure getting to it makes this one of the best waterfall experiences I've had.

What an exhilarating hike! The trail to Toketee Falls is short but full of excitement, winding through lush forest and leading to one of the most breathtaking waterfalls in Oregon. The view from the platform is absolutely worth every step — a must-see stop for any nature lover or photographer traveling through the Umpqua National Forest. #TravelWithRolando #AdventuresWithBella #ToketeeFalls #OregonAdventures

Beautiful place to experience. A beautiful trail to become one with nature with use of the river and waterfalls. Wish the trail was not as challenging. Not wheelchair accessible. Trail way is challenging at times with tree roots, rocks, narrow pathways and stair case.

Very nice hike with some great fall colors. Roundtrip took us about 45 minutes, but that was with lots of stops for photos. Waterfall was beautiful! There are lots of rocks, roots and stairs so it’s not an ideal hike for those with uneasy footing. Dog friendly :)

John Chambers’ video on here is not the same falls. Imagine my surprise when I saw the actual Toketee Falls. It’s beautiful but you can only watch the falls from a distance on a platform. Not sure if you can get to the bottom. There’s no pathway. It’s a bit of a hike, less than half a mile but with varied elevations, multiple flight of stairs, 120+ steps total. So be prepared. It was muddy and slippery when we went so it was a challenge. Was it worth it? It was to me.

Amazing waterfall! I made the stop on the road trip and the trail was short- about one mile return trip. I went in August and it was quite dry but the waterfall was still flowing. The hike was pretty easy to do and there is a nice viewing platform to see the falls. If you are on the highway, it is definitely worth stopping!

I read all of the reviews for the cabins and had no idea what to expect. Having stayed, here is my take. Bear in mind that we were there the week after the cabins opened for summer and it could be different in the height of the busy season. First off, these are cabins in a campground and as such, were just fine, maybe even really nice. If you are expecting a hotel-type experience, you should maybe stay elsewhere. I would say these are 4 star camping cabins, but maybe only a 1-1/2 star hotel. The room was clean, small, and the decor was cute. The bathroom (which was the source of many complaints) did indeed have a Motel 6 feel and the shower pan was stained with what I assume were mineral stains from the water. It was in fact clean - I wiped the bathroom floor with the bath mat after my shower to get up water splashes and it was absolutely clean. The hot water was instant, but the handle is reversed- turn it to the cold side to get hot water. That being said, the drain stopper in the bathroom sink was detached from the up down lever and we levered a plastic spoon into it to keep the stopper open. The beds were very comfortable and I slept great. No spiders, no insects of any kind. Bottom line: These are nice camping cabins, not a hotel.

I stayed a night in the summer and overall the cabins were simple but quite nice! The general store had all the essentials and the staff were friendly when checking in. The campground is situated right in the heart of the park which makes it easy to get to anything you want to see. The only criticism was that the power went out the night I was there and it became quite chilly in the room, but other than that I enjoyed my stay and would stay again if I am back in Crater Lake.

Basic rooms, clean with walking distance to the restaurant and shop. Lots of campers lying around outside the shop, and the shop was expensive. We had to wait almost 2 hours for a table in the restaurant. The food was nice. Fuel on site which was good before we left. Crater lake lodge needs more seating outside. A few rocking chairs wasn’t enough for the swarms of people visiting. It’s worth staying for the amazing views of crater lake, the walks of different levels/abilities, but the facilities are basic.

Review for the cabins - simple room, but a very cozy and comfortable bed. Slept excellently after a long day exploring Crater Lake. Great access to the lake and all sites. However, we ran out of hot water after one 10 minute shower. Not sure if we were late in the day for the hot water or it needs time to re-heat, but it was disappointing for the 2nd person after a long and dirty day.

I stayed 5 nights in the Mazama cabins in early September. I enjoyed my stay. The cabins were comfortable, adequately clean and fairly quiet. There is some plumbing noise but it seemed other guests were respectful to not make a lot of noise. There was no internet/cell reception in the cabin so expect to make your own entertainment when you're not out enjoying the park. Annie Creek restaurant and store are close by where there is cell/internet. The rim drive & village is a beautiful, twisty 15 minute drive. There is no daily maid service in the cabins. But there was a good supply of towels and honestly, who needs new sheets/towels daily anyway? You can ask for additional coffee pods for the in-room Keurig machine at the store if needed. Location is great and the park is the star in any event. not the lodgings.

Stayed in cabins which were basic but adequate. Issue we had was there was a smoke/fire alarm going off outside of our room all night starting at 10 pm which wasn’t accessible due to high ceiling. One of the other guests across from us went to get the issue resolved but to no avail . Be aware there is No internet or WiFi. There is also no one on site after hours nor at the nearby restaurant. It’s posted that if you have a problem drive down the road 7 miles. So we had to listen to the alarm going off all night. What if there had been a true emergency? What if there was a fire or other issue??? I would think twice about staying here considering no help is available. This is not safe. We did contact a manager the next morning and the alarm was fixed, but only after getting absolutely no sleep followed by a full day of hiking.

Clean and comfortable room within the park which was helpful. Camp store had a few things we needed and the restaurant was busy so a bit of a wait and the fries were almost cold and hard but overall a good spot to stay at Crater Lake.

This trail is great! Moss covers pretty much everything, ferns growing everywhere. Stunning waterfall is just under 300' high! I've been here when water is so little you can stand under the falls, couldn't get close today, we were soaked!

This is the crown jewel of the waterfalls in the area. Nice parking area with bathrooms (clean when we were there) and picnic tables. You can see the top of the waterfall from the parking lot but it’s totally worth the hike to see both the lower and upper portions up close. Lots of beautiful flora and fauna along the way.

Incredible waterfall! I was leaving Crater Lake and driving to the coast and this was along the way and I am very happy I stopped. The walk to the falls is not too long at all and the entire walk is really nice. There are lots of mossy rocks and you walk along the creek until you get to the falls itself. I was there in the summer and there was still good flow, despite it being dry. I was recommend visiting this for the area alone, with the falls being a bonus.

The most beautiful waterfall you can hike up right under it and it is definitely worth it the mist feels so refreshing!!! The hike is a incline on the way up make sure to bring water we didn’t and we hella parched

One of the nicest water falls we saw on this trip. It was big, nice mist hitting you at the top and amazing! It is a moderate hike to get to the top. My watch showed it a 361’ elevation climb and approx 3/4 mile to the top.

A short, well-maintained trail in lush forest with some elevation gain, leading to a viewing platform at the base of the fall. Go up a little more to another viewing platform half way up the falls. Elevation gain was 370 feet. Out and back trail about 1.6 miles total (.8 miles one way). Picnic area and outhouse at Trailhead.

This is a spectacular falls with cathedral like rocks walls. Very high falls falling onto the boulders below, which makes for a whispery sounding splash.

On my visit to Crater Lake National Park, I entered at the north entrance and drove through a forest of pine trees. Suddenly the trees disappeared and there was a bare landscape with no plant life. I had no idea this was the Pumice Desert until I saw it on the Google map. It’s very interesting how varied the landscape is! My visit to Crater Lake was absolutely amazing and an experience I will always cherish. I highly recommend it to any outdoor enthusiasts. My visit was in mid-June and there was still a lot of snow cover on the ground. The temperatures were in the mid 40 degrees F. I advise you to check the weather and plan ahead because the lake is hard to view in inclement weather. The drive along the west rim was a bit scary in an RV. I can only imagine driving that in rainy or snowy conditions. Enjoy!

Pretty neat. No pool though and checkout could've been a little later. Continental breakfast was adequate.

Its a small desert with the biggest rock right in front of exhibit.

Made the effort to go here after Crater Lake and it is just a vast open area nothing that distinct or worthwhile for a major detour

(Translated by Google) The crater lake that awaits you above this landscape is spectacular. (Original) El lago en el cráter que te espera arriba de este paisaje es espectacular.

(Translated by Google) Five (Original) Pum

This trail is incredible! It's a loop so go the whole way. Super easy walking crossing the creek several times. Literally thousands of flowers as the water trickles from the side of the mountain. There are lots of good, stable rocks to cross the running water. All the flowers were waist high or better and broken up by small mossy waterfalls. We hiked the 4th week of July, park was packed but there was no one on this trail. TAKE BUG SPRAY or you will be forced to walk faster than you want to......

We did not see any flowers but many bugs when we hiked in early July. We wasted an hour on a very hot day

We were the only ones there when we went. It's a super easy mile or so loop with a ton of wildflowers. They were gorgeous! (About the third week of July). We had bug spray which I definitely recommend and chacos which were perfect since parts of the path have water running over it.

This is a short fun trail. It has its own parking area, or there is a side trail leading to the visitor center.

Nice easy trail with a lot of wildflowers. Beginning of the trail had snow, buy later it became clear. In some spots, it was wet due to snow melt.

Falls are located right near parking area. This is a great spot for kids and people with limited mobility. View the falls from an elevated deck. Also has a camping area.

Easy access and clean restrooms available as well. There is a cute bridge and a beautiful view.

Probably my favorite falls in the North Umpqua area due to the whole atmosphere being ethereal/amazing. It's also a short hike, has a viewpoint that is wheelchair accessible and if you want to stay a bit (which I did), the campground was first come, first served when I visited (Summer of 2024). Don't drive by this one!

This falls is beautiful! Much smaller than the Clearwater Falls, but definitely worth stopping to see. Even during the summer there’s plenty of water flowing over the falls.

A beautiful, smaller waterfall in the area but worth the stop. You can see it from the parking lot. There’s a small platform that’s wheelchair accessible for a great view of the falls. The water was raging due to recent rain.

Another nice waterfall in the Umpqua National Forest area. What's nice about this one is the proximity to the parking lot. You can basically park, get out and see the waterfall. There is a very short walk to a viewing platform, or you can wander down to the base of the falls across from the plunge pool. Very slippery ground however, and the view isn't much different, so there's not much reason to go down closer unless you want to take photographs, or play near the river's edge. It's a short waterfall, maybe 15' or so, and it's more of a wide fall vs a tall ribbon-like fall. Not the most awe-inspiring, but it's nice nonetheless. Large downed tree across the falls interrupts photographs, but that's nature for you!

Beautiful little falls with really lovely camping spots.

Nice park with a shaded trail system, marina, and small store. The trails offer a peaceful walk, though they were a bit messy—covered in leaves and branches. Some areas feel dated, with old equipment stations left behind and picnic tables that are worn but still usable. It’s an average park with decent lake access, but for a paid day-use area, I expected a little more upkeep and care.

Our trip to Joseph H. Stewart State Recreation Area in a Mini-T Campervan was fantastic. The campground, located by Lost Creek Lake, offers spacious, well-maintained sites with excellent amenities. The hiking trails, including the Rogue River Trail, provided stunning views and immersive experiences. A significant benefit of this outstanding campground is its proximity to Crater Lake National Park, just about an hour's drive away—unless you stop to enjoy the many hiking opportunities along the way.

Going fishing in the spring and early summer, "I think," is the best. Fresh clean clear water.

This review is for the lady in the business office in white city whom I spoke to twice regarding my issue of not being able to book a reservation with the marina for 2 days. I've been told that you could of booked one for me but instead you put me through to the marina where you knew there was Noone working. Now my family visiting from California and my family here have been left disappointed because even though I showed up before 8am on Saturday I still couldn't get a boat to rent. This is a horrible process if staff shortage & change of hours change give consumers the correct information, be helpful and make the reservation process available on line if your not interested in any of the above i mentioned! Tony at the marina is great but I did feel like he could if tried to accommodate more offer a discount for another day. He's always been on top of helping people at the marina and usually with a smile.

Not too far off the beaten path up to Crater Lake. It's right on the edge of Lost Creek Lake. Like a park in most areas. Green grass. Sprinklers go all day. And night. Campsites have enough space between them. Our neighbors and us were trying out our new to us camping trailers. Very clean and quiet. Good showers. Views of the lake are the best mainly from the dry hookup sites. Walking paths surrounding the park and over to the boat landing and clubhouse. Our dogs loved it.

We spent 3 days there. It was a good visit. The park was clean. The bathrooms are clean and they have showers. W are going back soon. We stayed in A loop and ran across a couple of awesome camp hosts. Greg and Cookie. They seemed to be the hardest working volunteers I've seen. Keep it up.

Now this is my favorite place to camp with kids. I was definitely surprised how nice and welcomed the camp host were. Now it's number one campground in Oregon for me. Wish it would be a bit closer to Portland.. I love everything about this campground. UPDATE: Still love this place, it was awfully hot 4th of July weekends 2024. Actually July 3rd, 4th, 5th it was 100F° something. I'm glad we had AC.

The Watchman Trail is one of the best short hikes in Crater Lake National Park. The trail is well-maintained and not too long, but it does climb steadily, so be prepared for a bit of a workout. The reward at the top is absolutely worth it—panoramic views of Crater Lake, Wizard Island, and the surrounding rim. It’s especially magical at sunset when the colors of the lake and sky change dramatically. A must-do for anyone who wants a relatively quick hike with some of the most stunning views in the park.

Easy hike with wide trails and switchbacks all the way up. The view at the top is worth it and great for photos. Parking available at the base of the hike, but it fills up. Great views of the lake from the base at well and there is a large viewing area next to the parking lot, along with a bathroom. To access this hike and others you do have to pay a $30 per vehicle entry fee, which covered the two days we were here.

This short trail will take you to the cloud and you’ll just be sitting there and enjoying the magnificent beauty.

This is without doubt the best overlook for Crater Lake. Plenty of parking, public toilets and the best views ever. Seeing Crater Lake from this viewpoint is just breathtakingly beautiful. You also get a wonderful vista of the island. We also saw some amazing flowers growing beside the crater.

Great spot for sunset and panoramic views. Hike is fairly easy although may be difficult for less experienced hikers, takes probably 20-35 min depending on pace

Well worth the extra hike up to the Watch,a Station on top of the hill next to the parking lot. The view of Crater Lake is the best here as you can see the whole round lake in its entirety.

There are 317 amazing views of Crater Lake this is one of the more outstanding ones that is also the gateway to one of the very best if you follow the the path to the top of the hill. Is difficult to quantify which view is actually the best it is between the two views and hear the view from Wizard Island the view from the lodge and the view from Lake level if you hike down the trail but definitely a must-see on your trip.