Laws & Policies

The National Park Service carries out its responsibilities in parks and programs under the authority of federal laws, regulations, and Executive Orders, and in accordance with policies and Director's Orders established by the Director of the National Park Service and the Secretary of the Interior.

Crater Lake National Park is an area of exclusive federal jurisdiction. All law enforcement functions within the park are carried out by commissioned park rangers who are duly appointed federal law enforcement officers. Their duties include law enforcement, emergency medical services, search and rescue, wildland and structural fire-fighting, as well as visitor safety, assistance and information. Along with the federal laws, regulations and policies listed, commissioned park rangers also have the authority to enforce applicable Oregon state criminal statutes and the Oregon state vehicle code . For more information on Oregon state statutes, please click here.

Code of Federal Regulations

Federal regulations that apply to all National Park Service sites can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations under Title 36.

Firearm Regulations

As of February 22, 2010, a new Federal law law (Section 512 of the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, P.L. 111-24, 123 Stat. 1764-65) allows people who can legally possess firearms under applicable federal, state, and local laws to legally possess firearms in this park.

It is the responsibility of visitors to understand and comply with all applicable state, local, and federal firearms laws before entering this park. As a starting point, click here for more information on Oregon state firearms laws.

Federal law (18 USC 930) also prohibits firearms in certain facilities in this park; those places are marked with signs indicating such at all public entrances.

For more information, see Frequently Asked Questions about National Parks and Firearms.

Hunting Regulations

Hunting is prohibited in Crater Lake National Park. Click here for more information.

Superintendent's Compendium

In the Code of Federal Regulations, Superintendents of each unit in the National Park System have the option to develop specific designations, closures, permit requirements, and other restrictions to address unique management needs of their particular unit. These documents are called the Superintendent's Compendium and are an extension of the CFR. These publications help direct the park's management efforts to best serve the mission of the National Park Service and the needs of visitors. Click here or on the link to the left to download the most current Compendium for Crater Lake National Park.