Crater Lake National Park offers ranger-led programs for commercially operated or educational bus tours on a staff-available basis. Tour groups may arrange to meet a ranger, who will ride along as the bus circles Crater Lake on the 33-mile Rim Drive.

Your tour will make approximately 5 stops of about 10 minutes each along the route, and you will have an opportunity to view the lake from several different angles and viewpoints. The Cascade mountains to the north and south will also be visible, weather permitting. Topics discussed may include geology, Native American legends, lake research, and more. Tours may vary slightly in stop locations and information content depending upon which ranger leads the tour. The total time of the tour will be approximately two hours.

Reservations for a ranger to “step on” your bus may be made by phoning (541) 594-3093 between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm daily, or by writing to:

Interpretive Supervisor
Crater Lake National Park
P.O. Box 7
Crater Lake, OR 97604

Tours must be requested at least two weeks prior to your intended visit for scheduling purposes. Reservations will not be accepted with less notice.

Ranger-led programs are available on a staff-available basis only. If you do not receive confirmation of a ranger-led program, be prepared to tour the park on your own.

If it is necessary for your group to cancel or modify your visit, please contact the park at least one week prior to the scheduled program by calling (541) 594-3091 between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. If the ranger is busy, you will have the opportunity to leave a voice mail message informing us of your group’s name, the date of the tour, and your request to cancel or modify your tour. Let us know, too, if you need to reschedule.

Rangers are available to begin programs between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm only. Changes must be requested within those constraints.

The entrance fee structure for commercial vehicles visiting national parks is based on the capacity of the vehicle you arrive in, not the number of passengers. The age of passengers also does not affect the entrance fee. For example, a bus of U.S. citizens over the age of 62 holding Golden Age Passports must still pay the entrance fee. Fees may not be paid in advance.

Fees for commercial vehicles entering Crater Lake National Park are:

Capacity of 1 to 6 individuals Capacity of 7 to 15 individuals Capacity of 16 to 25 individuals Capacity of 26 or more individuals

$25.00 + passenger fee $75.00 $100.00 $200.00

If your group is visiting the park as part of a standardized school curriculum, studying geology, botany, or a similar subject, you may qualify for an educational fee waiver on the entrance fee only. English-as-a-Second-Language groups do not qualify for the fee waiver.

Requests must be received in the park at least two weeks prior to your departure from the school or community. Approved waivers will be sent via mail to the group leader and must be presented at the entrance station for waived admission. Letters of request must include the date(s) you will be visiting the park, the subject matter area supported by the visit, the age and number of students, the type and number of vehicles, and the group leader’s name.

Fee waivers may be requested by sending a letter on school or organization letterhead stationary to:

Fee Collection Supervisor
Crater Lake National Park
P.O. Box 7
Crater Lake, OR 97604

Rev. 11/2001 klb