The Ultimate Crater Lake National Park Travel Guide

September 2nd, 2020 | Posted by: Grace Kim

Known as America’s deepest lake resides in the southern part of Oregon. Crater Lake, one of Oregon’s state parks, was created 7,700 years ago from an eruption on Mt. Mazama. This 2,148 foot deep lake is known for its deep, intense blue waters surrounded by cliffs, scenic spots, and campgrounds.

There are absolutely no rivers flowing out of Crater Lake, making those wonder how it’s also known as the cleanest lake in the world. But with camping grounds and jaw dropping views, swing by to witness this firsthand. And if you’re curious to know what those pointy landmarks sticking out of Crater Lake are, don’t expect to see wizards on that island.

Wizard Island, the largest island at Crater Lake, was created from a volcano eruption, sculpted into a cinder cone risen out of the water. Check out the island by going on a boat tour, exploring the island, and hiking to the top of its summit.

Planning + Logistics

Crater Lake is open 24/7. That means that you can go as early as you need to catch sunrise, and even camp out at night to catch the milky way. Surrounded by 30 unique pullouts to view the rim at all angles, make sure to take a look at these points before visiting Crater Lake.

Entrance into Crater Lake is $30 (unless you have the National Parks Pass)
All park roads are open to enter
Motorcycles, trailers, and bicycles are allowed on paved surfaces at all times
Solid trash must be picked up and disposed of property (either in the toilet or trash can)
Dump stations are open from late May to mid November
Bathrooms available (Rim Village & Mazama Campground are open 24 hours)
Since staff is limited, act respectfully around the park
Fire rings and grilling gates are available on all campsites
Pets are allowed on leashes on paved roads and parking lots; leashes must be no more than 6-feet in length
Watercraft, inflatable rafts, and SUPs are not allowed
Face masks are required since crowding can occur at popular trails, parking lots, and indoor facilities
If visitors do not choose to follow the rules and regulations, facilities may close down
Walking on marked paths and trails are recommended

With all the rules and regulations considered, when is the best time to visit Crater Lake? Although visiting Crater Lake during the winter gives an entirely different experience, the best time to visit Crater Lake is in the summer. Not only is it the most popular time to visit for the park, but the weather is on par everyday.

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Permits & Reservations

Because the park is open 24 hours a day, you do not need to make reservations. However, advanced reservations can be made for the park’s hotels, boat tours, and trolley tours.

To backpack overnight in the park, permits are required with a backcountry permit.

For special events, such as wedding ceremonies, scattering of ashes, large picnic groups, sporting events, and more, you would need a permit. Check out more permit information here.

Weather at Crater Lake National Park

Weather varies as some months may seem longer and colder than others. Observations are made every morning at 8 AM and is uploaded to the National Weather service. When it’s raining or snowing, the lake is typically hidden by the clouds, so check the Crater Lake Webcam to see current conditions.

Averaging around 43-feet of snow each year, Crater Lake is known as one of the snowiest places in the United States. Snow falls from November to April but visitors are advised that snow may linger into May and June. Check out partial views of the lake from Rim Village’s observation room or from the Steel Visitor Center to see how much snow has fallen onto the lake.

Crater lake weather climate chart — (Source: Crater Lake Weather Climate Chart)

Checking Into Mazama Campgrounds

Not only are there 214 campsites and amenities in the park, but you can park your RV on site as well. Mazama Campground is located in a forest 7 miles south of Rim Village near Highway 62. If you’re driving in with an RV, the maximum RV length limit is 50 feet, while the maximum trailer length limit is 35 feet.

Hours of Operation

Check in: 12 PM ; Check out: 9 PM

Generators allowed between 8 AM – 8 PM

Campground quiet hours: 10 PM – 7 AM

If you made campground reservations, there are a couple of things to consider before making your way over to Crater Lake. Cross your fingers that you pull up at the campgrounds in June if you’re a last minute planner because sites are available only on a first-come, first-served basis.

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Campsite Rules + Rates

The maximum number of people per campsite is 6, while the number of vehicles per campsite is 2. Camping in the park is limited to 30 days per calendar year, and you can not stay longer than 14 consecutive days across all campgrounds.

Tent site – $21
RV: no hookups – $31
RV: electricity – $36

Note: Senior and Access Pass holders are entitled to a 50% discount on camping fees. If you made a reservation, you will be refunded 50% back when arriving at the campgrounds when showing a valid pass and ID.

If you’re planning on visiting in July through September, 75% of the sites can be reserved in advance. You can either book your stay online or by calling: (866) 292-6720. The other 25% of the campgrounds run on a first-come, first-served basis as most of the campgrounds fill up by mid-afternoon. Make sure you come early enough to secure a spot, or catch sunrise first thing in the morning.

Note that the campground is elevated up to 6,000 feet with available drinking water. There is a dump station as well as a handful of amenities, including: showers, laundry facilities, restaurants, gas stations, and a general store. Unfortunately, there is no cell reception, but there are pay phones located outside the general store if you need to make a call.

The Mazama Village Store

When not exploring the outdoors, you will probably spend most of your time at the Mazama Village Store. The store sells camping supplies in case you missed something at home, firewood, gasoline, and groceries. Not only will you find a surplus of supplies, but you will always find running showers and laundry machines.

There is a change machine on site as the laundry machines take quarters. Plus, all stores have specific hours open for operation, as you want to avoid showing up to the restaurants during closed hours.

Check out hours of operation here for the Mazama Village Store, Rim Village Cafe, Annie Creek Restaurant, and Crater Lake Lodge.

Did You Know?

Iconic and beautiful are understatements that describe Crater Lake. But what many do not know are natural essentials to Crater Lake’s beauty: plant life. As terrible and unwanted forest fires are, this natural occurrence impacts the ecosystem in the most positive way. For years, plants have adapted to survive fires and thrive in the aftermath from restored nutrients in the soil.

Also known as Crater Lake Newt, Mazama newt are species that can only be found in Crater Lake. Native to the lake, scientists are doing their best to keep the existence of these rough-skinned animals. If you’re lucky enough, you’ll be able to find Mazama newt hiding underneath rocks or logs.

Overall Experience

During our visit to Crater Lake, we got there early enough to catch sunrise. Thankfully it wasn’t raining or snowing when we made our visit so we had beautiful skies with just the right amount of clouds. We were able to see the sun peaking up behind the mountains, as we waited for the glow in silence.

Parked not too far from our viewpoint, we captured the right amount of light overlooking 183,224 acres of mountains, evergreen forests, peaks, and lake. And as we were on a time crunch like always, we were only able to venture through part of the campgrounds to yet find beautiful, picturesque angles in all directions.

Even if you only have a couple of hours to swing by Crater Lake National Park, it will be all worth your time. No matter which pull out you choose to view the lake, all 30 options will give you equally breathtaking experiences. And as sunrises and sunsets hug the rim of the lake, don’t forget to check the webcam to make sure it’s not raining or snowing where the clouds cover your views.

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In December 2019, I quit my 9-5 to experience passion driven pursuits, leading me towards indefinite travels.

Now, I help travel enthusiasts solo travel, plan indefinite trips, and how to explore the outdoors. And through travel, blogging and photography, I also share and teach others how to obtain this non-linear lifestyle.

So, what’s your story?
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