Crater Lake National Park - Oregon

Hikes and Trails

A view of the Phantom Ship

Annie Creek Canyon Trail.
Annie Creek is strenuous but still easy compared to some of the steep rim hikes, such as that of the Cleetwood Trail. The 2 mileloop threads through Annie Creek Canyon, giving views of the narrow cleft scarred by volcanism.This is a good spot to look for flowers and deer. The trailhead is located at the Mazama Campground, Mazama Village Rd., near Annie Spring entrance station.

Castle Crest Wildflower Trail.
The 1 mile creek-side loop in the upper part of Munson Valley is one of the park's flatter and less demanding hikes, with only some uneven ground of which to be mindful. In July the wildflowers are in full bloom. The trailhead is located across the street from Steel Information Center parking lot on Rim Drive

Cleetwood Cove Trail.
This 1 mile strenuous hike descends 700 ft down nearly vertical cliffs along the lake to the boat dock. Allow 1 - 2 hours. The trailhead is signed on the North Rim Drive, about 11 miles north of Rim Village.

Godfrey Glen Trail.
Between Steel Information Center and the Castle Crest Wildflower Trail, take the road down Munson Valley, and you will reach the parking area for this 2-mi loop. It'll take you through an excellent example of what geologists term a hanging valley— the place where one valley hangs over a lower valley, with a cliff and a waterfall between them. Deer are frequently seen here, and the flowers are plentiful. 2.5 miles south of the Steel Information Center.

Mt. Scott Trail.
The 2.5 mile trail takes you to the park's highest point, the top of Mt. Scott, at 8,929 ft. It will take the average hiker 90 minutes to make the steep uphill trek and about 45 minutes to get down. The trail starts at an elevation of about 7,450 ft, so the climb is not extreme but does get steep in spots. The view of the lake is wonderful, and views to the east and south of the broad Klamath Basin are equally spectacular. Mt. Scott is the oldest volcanic cone of Mt. Mazama. Trailhead is 14 miles east of Steel Information Center, across East Rim Drive from the road to Cloudcap Overlook.

Pacific Crest Trail.
You can join up with the Pacific Crest Trail, which extends from Mexico to Canada, and winds through the park for more than 33 miles. For this prime backcountry experience of the park, catch the trail about a mile east of the north entrance road, where it shadows the road along the west rim of the lake for about 6 miles, then descends down Dutton Creek to the Mazama Village area. Pacific Crest Trail parking lot, north access road 2 miles north of Rim Drive, 8 miles south of the park's north entrance station For more information about the whole Pacific Crest Trail click here.

The Watchman Trail.
While numerous overlooks along Rim Drive provide car-bound visitors many perspectives on Crater Lake, the best short hike is to this one. Though it's less than a mile each way, the trail climbs more than 400 ft—not counting the steps up to the actual lookout. Watchman Overlook, 3.7 miles northwest of Rim Village on W. Rim Dr.

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