This US National Park has the deepest lake in the country, with high water clarity and rich blue color

Photography lovers, adventure lovers, and nature lovers alike will fall in love with Crater Lake National Park.

About Crater Lake:

I want to give a little introduction as to what Crater Lake is because its story is fascinating. Where Crater Lake sits today used to be Mount Mazama, a volcano that was destroyed after its last eruption over 7,000 years ago (National Park Service). This left a caldera that was filled with rain and snow to become a volcanic crater lake, leading to the lake’s official name, Crater Lake. No rivers or streams flow in and out of the lake and the evaporation of the water is compensated for by rain, snow, and seepage, causing the total amount of water to be replaced every 150 years (Cranson, 2005). The lake’s depth is 1,949 feet (594 m), making it the deepest lake in the United States. It is the eleventh deepest lake in the world. Crater Lake National Park is not a very popular US National Park, receiving almost 560,000 visitors in 2023 (National Park Service). To me, this makes the park more of a hidden gem in the Pacific Northwest. I visited the park back in 2014, and I plan to visit again in the future.

How to get there:

Crater Lake National Park is located in southern Oregon, 44 miles north of the city of Klamath Falls. It will take about 50 minutes to drive to the park from there. The park is also about a 3-hour drive south of the city of Eugene. This drive is very scenic and traffic-free (USA Today). Eugene has an airport you can fly into (EUG), mainly offering direct flights to and from other western US cities, with the easternmost city being Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. If Eugene airport does not include the city you wish to fly from, you can fly into Portland International Airport (PDX), but it will take you almost 5 hours from there to drive to Crater Lake.

If you are coming from afar, I suggest making Crater Lake a stop on a trip in the western US and flying into Eugene airport to make the drive shorter. For example, if you are planning to visit another western city like Los Angeles, and you have the time to see Crater Lake, you can fly from LA to Eugene and then rent a car to drive and visit the park. When I visited, I was on one of those “teen tours” where I and around 45 other teenagers were on a USA road trip, so I didn’t fly. Or, you can make Crater Lake a stop on a road trip!

What to do and see:

Crater Lake National Park offers many activities for visitors to do and see. There are over 100 miles of hiking trails, ranging from easy to challenging routes. Some routes are dog-friendly and others are not, so plan accordingly to see if you can bring your dog with you on a hike. Another popular activity is biking. Cyclists enjoy biking on Rim Drive, enjoying breathtaking views all around the lake. However, biking on Rim Drive can be strenuous and cyclists can face different hazards along the route, including elevated vehicle traffic in two directions, so only experienced cyclists should consider biking at the park. The National Park Service (NPS) has more information about biking in the park here if you are interested in biking. There are over 30 scenic overlooks to visit and take amazing photos (where you can also stop along a scenic drive or bike ride around the lake), and two visitor centers: Rim Visitor Center and Steel Information Center. The Rim Visitors Center is open daily from late May through late September. The Steel Information Center is open year-round. The park also has several winter activities. These include sledding, snowboarding, downhill skiing, and snowmobiling. The NPS has more information here about winter activities allowed in the park.

The park also features two islands: Wizard Island and Phantom Ship. Wizard Island is located near the western shore of the lake and is a cinder cone. You can visit Wizard Island and climb it to see different views of the lake, but the island is only accessible by boat. However, due to trail maintenance, lake tours are not available in 2025 and 2026. Phantom Ship is a natural rock pillar and is easily seen from Phantom Ship Overlook. Phantom Ship is located near the southern shore of the lake. It got its name because it resembles a pirate ship.

Swimming, fishing, and wading are allowed in Crater Lake, but pets are not allowed to swim in the lake. The shore to access the lake is only accessible from Cleetwood Cove Trail. The trail is usually open from mid-June to late October. This trail is strenuous, can be slippery, is not fully shaded, and does not allow pets. Please note that the trail is being closed for maintenance starting August 2025 and throughout the 2026 season. The NPS has more information here about the Cleetwood Cove trail and what is allowed and not allowed while swimming in the lake (i.e. snorkeling gear, kayaks, etc). Keep in mind: the water will be cold no matter what time of year you decide to swim! In the summer months, the average surface temperature of the lake is 57 degrees Fahrenheit (14 degrees Celsius).

Where to stay:

The only hotels located inside the park are Crater Lake Lodge and The Cabins at Mazama Village. Crater Lake Lodge takes reservations between mid-May and early October. There are 71 rooms in total at the lodge. The Cabins at Mazama Villages has 40 rooms in total and takes reservations between late May and September, although the opening of the cabins can be delayed due to weather conditions. There are other lodging options very close to the park. These include the Prospect Historic Hotel Bed and Breakfast Inn-Motel and Dinner House, Crater Lake Resort, and Aspen Inn. The park also has two campgrounds: Mazama Campground and Lost Creek Campground. Mazama is the larger campground and accepts reservations from July through September. Staying at Lost Creek Campground is on a first-come, first-served basis. Both campgrounds are closed during the winter. There are only 18 RV hookup sites at Mazama, so plan accordingly if you want to drive an RV to the campground (USA Today).

Here are some photos I took back in 2014:

When should you visit?

Because there are many activities to do year-round, there is no “best time” to visit Crater Lake National Park. That being said, the months of July, August, and September tend to be the most popular because of the warm weather and water activities you will be able to enjoy. This is also the time that all park roads and hiking trails are open, making it easier to access all areas of the park. May and June are also good months to visit the park, but some roads might still be closed because of lingering snow, making the park not fully accessible. Hiking is discouraged in May and June because trails are still covered in snow, making them too dangerous to follow. You will still be able to enjoy the snow and amazing views of the lake! Driving and biking around the lake on Rim Drive are still permitted in winter, and you can see the entire lake from Rim Village. Note that according to the NPS, the lake is usually hidden by clouds during periods of rain and snow. Therefore, the lake is completely invisible about 20% of the time in May and 10% of the time in June (NPS). If you want to visit during the winter, you can take part in outdoor activities such as snowshoeing, sledding, and skiing, while also enjoying scenic views of the lake iced over. Remember: neither the two lodges nor the two campgrounds in the park will be open during the winter months. Gas stations will also be closed all winter, so if you drive to the park in the winter, you won’t be able to refill your tank in the park.

Conclusion:

Consider visiting this national park even just for a day while on a vacation out west, or make it the only destination you see on your next vacation. Either way, Crater Lake’s deep blue color and water clarity will leave you in awe, and the park’s scenery, hiking trails, and abundance of other outdoor activities will make you want to come back. The way the lake formed thousands of years ago, as well as the features that make it unique, make it worth seeing in person!

Sources:

Cranson, K. R. (2005). Crater Lake, gem of the Cascades: the geological story of Crater Lake National Park, Oregon (3rd ed.)

National Park Service, https://irma.nps.gov/Stats/SSRSReports/National%20Reports/Visitation%20By%20State%20and%20By%20Park%20(2017%20-%20Last%20Calendar%20Year)

USA Today, https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/national-parks/2025/02/24/crater-lake-national-park-family-vacation/80031024007/