Panoramic Crater Lake view from one of the Crater Lake Hikes

11 Best Crater Lake Hikes to try in 2024 (and my favorite!)

Affiliate Disclosure for Destination Checkoff
Looking for the best Crater Lake hikes?

Crater Lake National Park is a hidden gem in Oregon and a very unique lake. It is an alpine lake formed inside a volcanic crater or caldera.

I believe Crater Lake is a must-visit on any itinerary for an Oregon road trip!

Crater Lake was formed more than 7000 years ago by the eruption of Mount Mazama volcano. Crater Lake is the deepest lake in America at 1,943 feet. The water is directly from rain or snow melt; it is very pure and has the richest blue color!

The deep blue Crater Lake looks majestic and otherworldly inside the volcano crater, with the cinder cone Wizard Island emerging from inside the lake.

I visited Crater Lake National Park with my family and was awestruck by its beauty! We did several hikes to explore Crater Lake from different vantage points.

The Crater Lake Hikes range from easy walks to scenic overlooks to climbing the highest mountain peaks for panoramic views.

There are also several waterfalls, canyons, and wildflower meadow hikes here, which are lesser-known but equally amazing.

Best Crater Lake Hikes – Quick Overview

Hiking is the most popular activity in Crater Lake National Park, and below is a summary of the 11 best Crater Lake Trails:

  1. Cleetwood Cove Trail – Moderate hike to reach the boat dock
  2. Wizard Island Trail – Moderate hike to the top of Wizard Island
  3. Garfield Peak Trail – Difficult hike to Garfield Peak
  4. Watchman Peak Trail – Moderate hike to Watchman Peak
  5. Discovery Point Trail – Easy hike along the rim
  6. Mount Scott Trail – Difficult hike to Mt. Scott, the highest point in Crater Lake
  7. Plaikni Falls Trail – Easy waterfall hike
  8. Sun Notch Trail – Easy walk to Phantom Ship overlook
  9. Pinnacles Valley Trail – Easy walk to see Pinnacle rock formations
  10. Annie Creek Canyon Trail – Moderate Canyon hike
  11. Castle Crest Wildflower Garden Trail – Easy wildflower meadow hike

My top favorite Crater Lake hikes are the combo of 1 and 2 – Cleetwood Cove Trail and the Wizard Island Trail. I did both of these trails with my family in one day by following the steps listed below –

  • First, we went down to the lake via the Cleetwood Cove Trail.
  • Took the boat in Crater Lake and reached Wizard Island
  • Climbed up to the top of Wizard Island Trail.
  • Took the boat back to Cleetwood Cove trail
  • Climbed up the Cleetwood Cove trail to reach the parking lot (this part was the hardest!)
Girl with a red floral top sitting on a blue seat on a boat in Crater Lake
Me enjoying the boat ride in Crater Lake

Let’s get into the details of these amazing hiking trails in Crater Lake!

11 Best Hikes in Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

One of the best ways to explore Crater Lake National Park is by hiking the incredible trails. Hiking is the most popular thing to do in Crater Lake.

Several of these Crater Lake trails offer the best views of the deep blue lake and the caldera, and hiking is the only way to get to the base of the lake. Yes, you cannot drive to the lakeshore; you have to hike down to it!

In this article, discover the best Crater Lake hikes in the order of popularity and find out my most recommended hike, which is a combination of 2 hikes!

1. Cleetwood Cove Trail

  • Hike Length – 2 miles
  • Hike type – Out and back
  • Elevation – 620 feet
  • Difficulty level – Moderate
  • Time needed – 2 to 3 hours
  • Trailhead – Starts at the trailhead on the north Rim Drive parking lot
  • Dog-friendly? – No
  • Stroller/wheelchair friendly? – No, quite a bit of incline with an 11% grade on the way back up

If you have time for only one hike in Crater Lake, I would recommend the Cleetwood Cove Trail as it is the only hike that takes you to the lakeshore of Crater Lake!

Cleetwood Cove Trail is one of the best Crater Lake hikes
Cleetwood Cove Trail hike in Crater Lake

This out-and-back hike starts at the large parking lot on Rim Drive. Through a series of downhill switchbacks, you reach the base of the lake with a boat dock. Going down was easy!

Hiking down the Cleetwood Cove Trail is the only way to get to the water. There are boat tours here run by park rangers to explore Crater Lake.

Boat dock at the base of Cleetwood Cove trail
Boat dock seen at the base of Cleetwood Cove trail

You can also take a boat tour or shuttle to Wizard Island which is what we did. We then hiked up Wizard Island to see phenomenal views of the crater atop Wizard Island.

Boat tour in Crater Lake to go to Wizard Island
We took a Boat tour in Crater Lake to go to Wizard Island

The 1 mile climb back up was the difficult part of the Cleetwood Cove hike. The switchbacks are steep, especially the 4th one, which is really long with an 11% grade. Make sure you have a lot of water for this climb.

Overall, Cleetwood Cove Trail, combined with the boat tour and the Wizard Island Trail, is the most epic hike in Crater Lake National Park in my opinion.


2. Wizard Island Trail

  • Hike Length – 2.3 miles
  • Hike type – Out and back
  • Elevation – around 750 feet
  • Difficulty level – Moderate
  • Time needed – 2 to 3 hours
  • Trailhead – Starts at the boat dock on Wizard Island
  • Dog-friendly? – No
  • Stroller/wheelchair friendly? – No, quite a bit of incline and dirt trail

Wizard Island is the cinder cone that is seen in the middle of Crater Lake. There is a hike to go to the top of Wizard Island to see the caldera or crater on top of the cinder cone.

Wizard Island in Crater Lake
Wizard Island seen from the boat in Crater Lake

To do the Wizard Island Trail, you will have to first go down the Cleetwood Cove trail, take the boat tour that stops at Wizard Island, and then hike the Wizard Island trail.

The boat drops you off for 3 hours to explore Wizard Island. There are no facilities at Wizard Island except for a restroom. So you have to pack food and water for yourself.

We did this entire Cleetwood Cove Trail – Boat tour- Wizard Island hike and back, and it was the best experience in our Crater Lake trip. I was hoping to see another lake at the top of the Wizard Island crater, but it was a forest!

Crater on top of Wizard Island accessible by the Wizard Island hike
A crater on top of Wizard Island accessible by the Wizard Island hike

After reaching the top of the Wizard Island, you climb back down the same trail. If you have time, you can swim near the boat dock. We saw several people swimming while waiting for the boat to arrive.


3. Garfield Peak Trail

  • Hike Length – 3.4 miles
  • Hike type – Out and back
  • Elevation – Around 1,070 feet
  • Difficulty level – Difficult
  • Time needed – 2 to 3 hours
  • Trailhead – Starts from the parking lot at Crater Lake Lodge
  • Dog-friendly? – No
  • Stroller/wheelchair friendly? – No, quite a bit of incline on the way up

The Garfield Peak Trail is a very popular Crater Lake hike, which is moderate to difficult because of the elevation climb of nearly 1100 feet.

In the beginning, the trail passes through meadows of wildflowers and then ascends quickly via a series of switchbacks through rocky volcanic terrain.

The trail is well maintained but has narrow, steep sections. This hike is not for people afraid of heights. During winter, you can do this hike with snowshoes and microspikes.

The hike rewards you with panoramic views of Crater Lake, Wizard Island, Phantom Ship, and Mount Mazama from Garfield Peak. To the south, you can view Mt. Klamath Basin and even the tip of Mt. Shasta on a clear day!


4. Watchman Peak Trail

  • Hike Length – 1.7 miles
  • Elevation – 400 feet
  • Hike type – Out and back
  • Difficulty level – Moderate
  • Time needed – around 1 hour
  • Trailhead – Starts at the Watchman Overlook parking lot on the west Rim Drive
  • Dog-friendly? – No
  • Stroller/wheelchair friendly? – No, quite a bit of incline

Watchman Peak Trail is a very popular Crater Lake hike that starts from the Watchman Overlook parking lot on West Rim Drive.

The views from the Watchman Overlook at the parking lot are phenomenal for those who do not wish to do the steep incline hike.

The hike has a quick, steep incline and some switchbacks, which take you to Watchman Peak and the historic fire lookout tower for some panoramic views of Crater Lake and Wizard Island.

Deep blue water of Crater Lake
Deep blue water of Crater Lake

The Wizard Island appears front and center in the Crater Lake from the Watchman Peak lookout and looks incredibly beautiful!

During the summer months, the park offers ranger-led hikes for sunrise, sunset, and stargazing. We did the sunset ranger-led hike here, and it was amazing to learn about the history of Crater Lake and the Watchman fire lookout tower.

The Watchman Peak trail closes during winter because of the elevation and snow conditions.


5. Discovery Point Trail

  • Hike Length – 2.4 miles
  • Hike type – Out and back
  • Elevation – 337 feet
  • Difficulty level – Easy
  • Time needed – 1 to 2 hours
  • Trailhead – Left of the Rim Village Cafe parking lot. There is a smaller parking lot on Rim Drive closer to the Discovery Point trailhead.
  • Dog-friendly? – No
  • Stroller/wheelchair friendly? – No, dirt path

Discovery Point Trail is an easy Crater Lake hike along the south Rim Drive near the Crater Lake Lodge. This is a very popular hike and doesn’t take a lot of time or effort, but it has great views.

This family-friendly hike has views of Crater Lake on one side and pine and hemlock trees on the other side. The hike has views of Crater Lake the entire time and several viewpoints along the way.

Fog covered Crater Lake seen from Discovery Point Trail
Fog-covered Crater Lake seen from Discovery Point Trail

The hike is mostly flat, with some incline towards the end to reach Discovery Point. You will see incredible views of Wizard Island and the deep blue Crater Lake from here.

This trail is accessible year-round and, during the winter, is excellent for snowshoeing or even hiking with microspikes.


6. Mount Scott Trail

  • Hike Length – 4.2 miles
  • Elevation – 1259 feet
  • Hike type – Out and back
  • Difficulty level – Difficult
  • Time needed – 2 to 3 hours
  • Trailhead – The parking lot for Mount Scott trailhead is on the east Rim Drive
  • Dog-friendly? – No
  • Stroller/wheelchair friendly? – No, quite a bit of incline

Mount Scott Trail is one of the steepest Crater Lake hikes that climbs up to the highest point on Crater Lake, Mount Scott, at 8,938 feet.

This hike has an elevation of 1259 feet and should only be attempted by experienced hikers. The trail is graded, well-maintained, and steadily climbs, so it feels moderate and not too difficult.

Because of the elevation, you might find some snow at the peak, even in the summer months. Wear good quality hiking shoes and probably keep hiking poles for this hike.

The views from the top are phenomenal, with the Crater Lake in the distance. You can even see Mount Shasta in the south on a clear day! The watch tower at the top of Mount Scott was great to see the 360-degree views.


7. Plaikni Falls Trail

  • Hike Length – 2 miles
  • Hike type – Out and back
  • Elevation – 137 feet
  • Difficulty level – Easy
  • Time needed – Around 1 hour
  • Trailhead – The parking lot of Plaikni Falls Trailhead is on Pinnacles Rd, off Southeast Rim Drive.
  • Dog-friendly? – No
  • Stroller/wheelchair friendly? – Yes, with all-terrain tires. The path is gravel. Wheelchair folks might need assistance in the steeper sections.

Plaikni Falls Trail is one of the easiest Crater Lake hikes with a waterfall at the end. This is a good waterfall hike to combine with one of the other hikes with Crater Lake views.

This is an easy, pleasant hike along a fir and hemlock forest. The Plaikni Falls can be reached around a mile from the trailhead.

The trail has a stream, Sand Creek, running along the side as you near the Plaikni falls. Wildflowers surround the area near Plaikni Falls.

Plaikni Falls Trail hike in Crater Lake National Park
Plaikni Falls Trail hike in Crater Lake National Park

The Plaikni Falls are spectacular in early summer with all the snow melting, but there is still a lot of water in the later fall months as well.

The trail is wheelchair and stroller-friendly for the most part, with a gravel path. There is some incline towards the end to reach the falls, and wheelchair visitors might need assistance.


8. Sun Notch Trail

  • Hike Length – 0.8 miles
  • Hike type – Loop
  • Elevation – 127 feet
  • Difficulty level – Easy
  • Time needed – 30 minutes
  • Trailhead – The trailhead parking lot is on the south Rim Drive.
  • Dog-friendly? – No
  • Stroller/wheelchair friendly? – No, dirt path

Sun Notch Trail is one of the easiest Crater Lake hikes, with a loop trail of less than a mile to reach the Phantom Ship View Point. The parking lot is right off South Rim Drive before the Plaikni Falls Trailhead.

The short hike is a pleasant walk through a meadow and has great views of Crater Lake and Phantom Ship.

Phantom Ship is a small volcano rock island in the lake that resembles a ship and keeps appearing and disappearing with fog, thus giving it the intriguing name of Phantom Ship!

Phantom ship in Crater Lake
Phantom ship in Crater Lake

If you are lucky, you might see some wildlife in the meadow surrounding the hike, like a deer or two!


9. Pinnacles Valley Trail

  • Hike Length – 0.8 miles
  • Hike type – Out and back
  • Elevation – 42 feet
  • Difficulty level – Easy
  • Time needed – 1 hour
  • Trailhead – The parking lot of Pinnacles Valley Trailhead is on Pinnacles Rd, off Southeast Rim Drive.
  • Dog-friendly? – No
  • Stroller/wheelchair friendly? – Yes, with all-terrain tires, not paved, gravel path

Pinnacles Valley trail is an easy, mostly flat Crater Lake hike with less than a mile walk to see volcanic spires that are shaped like Pinnacles.

The Pinnacles Overlook near the parking lot itself has great views of the fossil fumaroles, which are 100-foot tall rock needles formed of volcanic ash.

The Pinnacles are amazing rock formations and a must-see in Crater Lake National Park!

Pinnacles Valley Trail hike in Crater Lake National Park
Pinnacles Valley Trail hike in Crater Lake National Park

To reach the Pinnacles Valley Trailhead, keep going further down Pinnacles Rd after passing the Plaikni Falls trailhead.

The hike itself is mostly flat and has a well-maintained wide gravel path with great views of the pinnacles.

The informative displays along the hike are great for learning about the history of volcanic eruptions and pinnacle formation.


10. Annie Creek Canyon Trail

  • Hike Length – 2.1 miles
  • Hike type – Loop
  • Elevation – 305 feet
  • Difficulty level – Moderate
  • Time needed – 1 to 2 hours
  • Trailhead – Near Mazama campground
  • Dog-friendly? – No
  • Stroller/wheelchair friendly? – No

The Annie Creek Canyon trail is one of the moderate Crater Lake Hikes with views of the Annie Creek Canyon.

The trail starts from the Mazama Village campground as a flat trail along the rim of Annie Creek Canyon and then descends into the canyon to reach the creek.

At the base of the canyon, you walk alongside Annie Creek as the stream flows through the canyon. There are some small bridges here to cross the creek at places.

There are abundant wildflowers near the creek, and you can occasionally spot wildlife, such as a deer or two.

The climb on the way back up to the canyon rim has pretty views of the stream. If you do the hike counterclockwise, the elevation gain is not that difficult, and the views of the creek make the climb easy!

Annie Creek Canyon Trail makes a great peaceful morning or sunset hike and is usually much less crowded than the other Crater Lake hikes. A great hike to do if you are camping at the Mazama campground.


11. Castle Crest Wildflower Garden Trail

  • Hike Length – 1.2 miles
  • Hike type – Loop
  • Elevation – 121 feet
  • Difficulty level – Easy
  • Time needed – 30 minutes
  • Trailhead – Starts at the trailhead on the Rim Drive parking lot
  • Dog-friendly? – No
  • Stroller/wheelchair friendly? – No

Castle Crest Wildflower Garden Trail is an easy 1-mile loop trail, worthy of being on the Crater Lake Hikes list because of the stunning display of wildflowers on this trail.

The trail passes through forest, meadow, and creek at the base of Castle Crest. In the months of July and August, the meadow has an abundant display of wildflowers like Lupine, American Bistort, Lewis Monkeyflower, and many more.

This is a very relaxing, beautiful stroll in a meadow with wildflowers blooming around you and the soothing sound of the flowing stream.

There can be mosquitoes here, so wearing full pants might be good. Also, the trail in the meadow can be wet sometimes.


More things to do at Crater Lake

Other than the popular Crater Lake hiking trails listed above, there are other popular things to do at Crater Lake, like the scenic Rim drive and backpacking. Crater Lake is also popular for camping in the summer months.

Scenic Crater Lake Rim Drive

A very popular thing to do in Crater Lake in the months of July, August, and September is to drive the whole loop around the Rim Drive.

Rim Drive has excellent viewpoints to admire the deep blue Crater Lake, Wizard Island, and the surrounding scenery.

Starting from the Crater Lake Lodge, I would recommend doing the Rim drive in a clockwise direction so that the pullouts for viewpoints are to your right and convenient to stop.

The Rim Drive is around 50 miles loop and has several amazing overlooks and hikes. Most of the Crater Lake hikes in this list are off of Rim Drive. The time taken for this drive depends on the stops you make.

Crater Lake views from Rim Drive viewpoints
Crater Lake views from Rim Drive viewpoints

From October to June, the North and East part of Rim Drive is closed due to snow conditions, but part of Rim Drive is open for snowshoeing.

You will come across overlooks for Wizard Island, Phantom Ship, and also several waterfalls, meadows, and Pinnacles Canyon.

Crater Lake Backpacking Trail

The legendary 2,650 mile-long Pacific Crest Trail passes through Crater Lake National Park. Hikers can do sections of the trail starting from the Crater Lake Highway Trailhead near Mazama campground.

A backcountry camping permit is required for any overnight camping in Crater Lake. Check the National Park Service’s official website for backpacking information.


Crater Lake Hikes – FAQs

Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about hiking in Crater Lake National Park.

Is there a fee to hike at Crater Lake?

Yes, you need to pay the Crater Lake National Park entrance fee of $30 per vehicle from mid-May to October. The entrance permit is valid for 7 consecutive days. Once inside the Crater Lake National Park, there is no separate fee to hike or park.

How long is the walk down to Crater Lake?

The only way down to the Crater Lake Lakeshore is via the Cleetwood Cove Trail. The hike down to Crater Lake is 1 mile long over a series of switchbacks. The hike back up to the Rim Drive is strenuous due to the steep grade of 11%.

Can you hike around the rim of Crater Lake?

There is no hiking trail that goes all around the rim of Crater Lake. The Rim Drive road goes all around Crater Lake and is best experienced by driving on it in the summer months and stopping at the viewpoints. You can take several hikes along Rim Drive.

Is it OK to swim in Crater Lake?

You can swim in Crater Lake at designated swimming spots, such as near the boat dock of Cleetwood Cove Trail and at the boat dock at Wizard Island. The water is always cold here due to the elevation.

What is the easiest trail in Crater Lake?

The Pinnacles Valley Trail is the easiest trail in Crater Lake at only 0.8 miles out and back and is an almost flat trail. The trail offers great views of the volcanic spires or Pinnacles and provides information about the history of these rock formations.

What is the most scenic Crater Lake hike?

The combination of Cleetwood Cove Trail, the Crater Lake boat tour, and the Wizard Island Trail is the most scenic Crater Lake hike with excellent views of the Crater Lake, surrounding mountain peaks, Wizard Island, and Phantom Ship.


Travel Tips for Hiking at Crater Lake National Park

Below are some travel tips for visiting Crater Lake National Park and exploring the various Crater Lake hikes:

Best Time to Hike Crater Lake

The best time to hike Crater Lake National Park is in the months of July to September. Crater Lake and its roads and trails are fully accessible for hikes only during July, August, and September.

Crater Lake National Park is snow-covered from October to June. The North and East Rim Drive road is closed from mid-October to the end of June. You can still snowshoe on some hikes in Crater Lake in the winter months, but July to September is when you will be able to access all hikes.

Where to stay for Crater Lake

Crater Lake Lodge in Crater Lake National Park is a convenient place to stay for Crater Lake hikes. The cabins at Mazama Campground are also an option.

It is hard to get lodging inside Crater Lake National Park in the busy summer months.

✅ Check rates and availability at Crater Lake Lodge.

Crater Lake Resort is a great option to stay outside the National Park but is still conveniently close by. The resort has several lodging options, like cottages, cabins, fully equipped tents, and a grocery store.

✅ Check rates and availability at Crater Lake Resort.

How to get to Crater Lake

You will need a car to get to Crater Lake. Medford, Oregon, is the closest airport with commercial flights and is 65 miles from Crater Lake. I recommend Discover Cars as they check top car rental brands and provide the best rates.

Below are the driving distances and travel time to Crater Lake from major nearby cities:

  • Medford to Crater Lake – 65 miles, around 1.5 hours drive
  • Ashland to Crater Lake – 75 miles, around 1.5 hours
  • Bend to Crater Lake – 128 miles, around 2 hours drive
  • Portland to Crater Lake – 270 miles, around 5 hours drive
  • Sacramento to Crater Lake – 343 miles, around 6 hours drive
  • San Francisco to Crater Lake – 398 miles, around 6.5 hours drive

Crater Lake and Bend are a great addition to a visit to Portland and a great weekend getaway from Portland.

Crater Lake tour:

Alternatively, you can also book this small group tour to Crater Lake and let someone else do the driving on mountain roads. The tour stops at all main viewpoints on Rim Drive and allows you to explore the main attractions.

The 6 to 8 hours long tour includes pickup from several resorts in the Klamath region and also includes the National Park entrance fee.

How to get around Crater Lake

The best way to explore Crater Lake National Park is by car. If you are flying into a nearby airport like Medford Airport, you can get a rental car from the airport.

There is only one gas station inside Crater Lake National Park at Mazama Village campground, which is open seasonally. Make sure to fill up on gas before reaching the park!

There is an electric car charging station at Mazama Village as well.

Where to eat at Crater Lake?

Crater Lake National Park has a couple of restaurants to eat at, which are open seasonally.

Crater Lake Lodge has a dining room for Lodge guests and is open for breakfast and dinner. Park visitors can get to-go dinner at the lodge.

Rim Village Cafe near Rim Village Visitor Center has takeout food options available.

Annie Creek Restaurant at Mazama Village is another option for meals while in the park.

What to pack for hiking at Crater Lake?

Below are some essentials that should be on your packing list for Crater Lake National Park for hiking in the summer months:

  • Good quality hiking shoes
  • Day pack
  • Reusable water bottle
  • Snacks
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses
  • Caps
  • hiking poles
  • Mosquito repellant
  • First-aid kit
  • Light Jacket

For winter snowshoeing in Crater Lake, you might need snow shoes or microspikes. Also, warm wear like a heavy jacket, beanie, and hand gloves.

Remember to leave no trace behind while hiking. Pack it all in; pack it all out with you!


Final Takeaways: Incredible Crater Lake Hikes

Crater Lake National Park has some amazing hikes with views of the majestic blue Crater Lake from different vantage points.

There are also Crater Lake hikes to explore the unique features of the National Park, such as waterfalls, Pinnacle rock formations, wildflower gardens, watch towers and mountain peaks.

Hope you have a great time exploring all the amazing Crater Lake hikes! Check out my other posts about my visit to Oregon below!


Related Posts