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| Crater Lake |
 National
Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Crater Lake National Park |
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| Day
Hikes |
 Crater Lake National
Park contains more than 90 miles of hiking trails. Many of these
trails may easily be hiked in a single day. This brochure lists
some of the more popular options, organized according to the
estimated time necessary for completing the hike. Note that the
steep terrain around Crater Lake means that the time, length,
and difficulty of our trails are not directly related. Times
given are estimates of how long it will take to complete the
trail and return to the trailhead.
Difficulty listings are broken into four categories: easy,
moderate, difficult, and strenuous. Trails listed as strenuous
should be taken only by people in good physical condition.
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| For
information on overnight backpacking at Crater Lake National
Park, read our backcountry brochure |
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| Rules and
Regulations |
Crater Lake National Park is a special place and a federally
protected area. To help preserve park resources and to protect
yourself, please observe the following rules on park trails:
Hiking or climbing inside the caldera
is prohibited. Conditions within the caldera are extremely
dangerous. The Cleetwood Trail is the only safe and legal access
to the lake’s shore.
Dogs and other pets are not allowed on park trails.
Pets often threaten small wildlife. Even well-behaved domestic
pets leave scents that disturb the local wildlife. The park has
also had many incidents of lost or injured pets who escape from
their owner’s control.
Smoking is not allowed on any trail.
Bicycling is permitted only on paved roads and the Grayback
Drive.
Feeding wild animals, including birds, is prohibited.
Feeding animals is dangerous for you, bad for them, and harmful
for the ecosystem. Please enjoy all wild animals from a distance.
Stay on trails to protect vegetation and fragile hillsides.
Shortcutting trails, particularly on switchbacks, can damage
slopes, making them more susceptible to erosion and visual damage.
Be prepared! Equip yourself with water, food, warm clothing,
rain gear, and anything else appropriate to the trail you take.
It is better to be over-prepared than under-prepared.
Leave all rocks, plants and artifacts undisturbed for the
enjoyment of future hikers.
Do not drink water from park streams or from the lake without
properly treating it.
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Short Hikes
(15 - 45 minutes)
View
map
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| Sun Notch Viewpoint |
| Time: |
20 minutes |
| Length: |
0.25 mile one way |
| Elevation: |
7,000 to 7,115 feet |
| Difficulty: |
Moderate |
| Trailhead: |
4 miles east of Park Headquarters on the East
Rim Drive |
| Features: |
Overlook of Crater Lake and Phantom Ship, scattered
wildflowers, dry meadow. Use caution near steep edges! |
| Godfrey Glen |
| Time: |
30 minutes |
| Length: |
1 mile loop |
| Elevation: |
6,000 to 6,050 feet |
| Difficulty: |
Easy |
| Trailhead: |
2.4 miles south of Park Headquarters |
| Features: |
Old growth forests, views of Annie Creek Canyon,
and occasional wildflowers or animals |
| Castle Crest Wildflower Garden |
| Time: |
30 to 45 minutes |
| Length: |
0.4 mile loop from East Rim Drive;
1 mile loop from Park Headquarters |
| Elevation: |
6,400 to 6,500 feet |
| Difficulty: |
Easy, but some uneven ground and rocks |
| Trailhead: |
On the East Rim Drive, 0.5 miles from Park Headquarters;
or, across the road from the Park Headquarters parking lot |
| Features: |
Small brook, lush vegetation, and spectacular
blooms of wildflowers in summer months |
| Park Headquarters Historic Trail |
| Time: |
30 minutes |
| Length: |
0.3 mile loop |
| Elevation: |
6,400 to 6,500 feet |
| Difficulty: |
Moderate |
| Trailhead: |
Behind the Steel Information Center at Park Headquarters |
| Features: |
Historic buildings and landscapes; forest; Munson
Creek |
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|
Medium Hikes
(1 - 2 hours)
View
map
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| Watchman Overlook |
| Time: |
1 hour |
| Length: |
0.7 miles one way |
| Elevation: |
7,400 to 8,056 feet |
| Difficulty: |
Difficult, steep |
| Trailhead: |
Watchman Overlook, 3.7 miles northwest of Rim
Village on the West Rim Drive; or, alternately, Lightning Spring
Picnic Area |
| Features: |
Panoramic view, overlook of Wizard Island, historic
fire lookout and interpretive exhibits |
| Cleetwood Cove (lake shore trail) |
| Time: |
1.5 hours |
| Length: |
1.1 miles one way` |
| Elevation: |
6,850 to 6,176 feet |
| Difficulty: |
Strenuous, 11% grade |
| Trailhead: |
Parking area 4.5 miles east of North Junction |
| Features: |
Access to lake shore and boat landing |
| Annie Creek Canyon |
| Time: |
1.5 hours |
| Length: |
1.7 mile loop |
| Elevation: |
5,800 to 6,000 feet |
| Difficulty: |
Moderate |
| Trailhead: |
Amphitheater at Mazama Campground |
| Features: |
Deep stream-cut canyon, Annie Creek, wildflowers,
and occasional animals |
| Discovery Point |
| Time: |
1 hour |
| Length: |
1.3 miles one way |
| Elevation: |
7,050 to 7,150 feet |
| Difficulty: |
Easy |
| Trailhead: |
The west end of the Rim Village parking area |
| Features: |
Views of the lake, site of John Wesley Hillman's
"discovery" of Crater Lake in 1853 |
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|
Longer Hikes
(2 hours or more)
View
map
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| Garfield Peak |
| Time: |
2 to 3 hours |
| Length: |
1.7 miles one way |
| Elevation: |
7,050 to 8,060 feet |
| Difficulty: |
Difficult |
| Trailhead: |
East of the Crater Lake Lodge, along the caldera
rim |
| Features: |
Panorama of surrounding area, excellent views
of Crater Lake, occasional small animals, wildflowers, and an
overhead view of Phantom Ship |
| Mt. Scott |
| Time: |
3 hours |
| Length: |
2.5 miles one way |
| Elevation: |
7,450 to 8,929 feet |
| Difficulty: |
Strenuous |
| Trailhead: |
14 miles east of Park Headquarters, across the
East Rim Drive from the road to Cloudcap Overlook |
| Features: |
Highest point in the park, fire lookout, lake
view, and a panoramic view of the east side of the park and Klamath
Basin |
| Crater Peak |
| Time: |
3.5 hours |
| Length: |
3.2 miles one way |
| Elevation: |
6,500 to 7,265 feet |
| Difficulty: |
Strenuous at beginning and end; otherwise moderate |
| Trailhead: |
3 miles east of Park Headquarters at Vidae Falls
Picnic Area |
| Features: |
Forest, panoramic views of the southern part
of the park (but no view of the lake), occasional wildlife |
| Wizard Island Summit |
| Time: |
1 hour, not including travel to the island from
Cleetwood boat docks |
| Length: |
0.9 miles one way |
| Elevation: |
6,176 to 6,940 feet |
| Difficulty: |
Moderate |
| Trailhead: |
Wizard Island boat dock |
| Features: |
Panorama of the inside of the caldera, 90 foot
deep crater at the top of the island |
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| For
information about dayhiking on the Pacific Crest Trail, read
our PCT brochure |
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| Leave No Trace |
The "leave no trace" philosophy is a critical concept
to backcountry travel. More than 90% of Crater Lake National
Park has been proposed as federal wilderness. Designated wilderness
areas are to be managed with few permanent impacts by humankind.
The Wilderness Act, passed in 1964, directs us to ensure that
wilderness remains "untrammeled" by human presence.
You can help by minimizing your own impact in many ways:
Leave natural features undisturbed. Take only pictures and
memories. Allow everyone to experience the entire wilderness.
Keep groups small. Smaller groups are less likely to disturb
wildlife and other hikers.
Stay on the trail. Taking shortcuts or ignoring switchbacks
destroys vegetation, causes more rapid erosion, and can make
trails dangerous for everyone.
Keep voices low. Leave radios and tape players at home.
Remember that the "leave no trace" guidelines are
more than a set of rules. They are an attitude and a means of
preserving wild lands and open spaces for everyone.
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| Park Map |
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EXPERIENCE YOUR
AMERICA |
Rev. 10/2001 klb |
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