Crater Lake National Park

Around the Park

Most people who come to the park makes the 33 mile circle of the crater on Rim Drive, which is open roughly mid-July to mid-October. The road is narrow, winding and hilly, so to take in the scenery it's imperative that you pull off at some of the 30 overlooks.

Icy conditions are possible any time of year; even in dry weather, so take care, especially though shady spots where ice can linger.

The complete circle take an hour to three hours depending on how often you stop and the amount of traffic.

A view of Wizard Island from the Rim Drive

Rim Drive.

The 33 mile loop around the lake is the main scenic route, giving views of the lake and its cliffs from every angle. Frequent stops at viewpoints and short hikes can stretch this to half a day. Rim Drive is typically closed because of heavy snowfall from mid-October to mid-June, and icy conditions can be encountered any month of the year, particularly in early morning. Along Rim Drive are many scenic turnouts and picnic areas. Two of the best spots are on the north side of the lake, between Llao Rock and Cleetwood Cove, where the cliffs are nearly vertical.

The Eastern part of the loop is more windy and difficult to negotiate, wide and long vehicles are not recommended.

The Western part of the loop tends to open before the full loop opens so it may be possible to do a half loop during May/June or October/November - the exact dates of course dependant upon the prevailing weather conditions. If this is an important factor for you, check ahead with the National Park.

Pinnacles Road.

Off the eastern part of Rim Drive, this 7 mile trip southeast runs along Sand Creek Canyon with its volcanic landscape and ends up at The Pinnacles, a canyon full of spires and hoodoos composed of hardened ash deposits.

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