Last updated on February 24th, 2026
Searching for the top hikes in Crater Lake National Park? We’ve got you covered with can’t-miss trails and practical tips to help you plan a great visit!
If you’re looking for hikes with bright blue water, dramatic cliffs, and volcanic views, Crater Lake National Park absolutely delivers. This Oregon park is home to the deepest lake in the United States and the hiking here lets you experience it from every angle.
But the park is more than just the lake! During our time hiking in Crater Lake National Park we were surprised by the variety the park offered. One minute you’re strolling along the rim with jaw-dropping views, and the next you’re seeing a waterfall or unique rock formation.
Ready to experience this Oregon wonder for yourself? In this guide, we’re sharing the best hikes in Crater Lake National Park, from easy rim walks to more challenging trails. Plus helpful tips so you know what to expect before you head to the park!
Map of the Best Hikes in Crater Lake National Park
The Best Hikes in Crater Lake National Park
Our list of the best hikes in Crater Lake National Park is listed by length, from shortest to longest. We have also included the AllTrails link for each trail, so that you can read current conditions before you head out.
Be sure to get AllTrails Plus so that you can download the map and ensure you never get lost! (Use our code aplusk30 for 30% off!) And while we’ve included many of these hikes in our list of the best things to do in Crater Lake National Park, there’s several other fun things to do on that list too. So be sure to read both guides before heading to the park!
1. Pinnacles Valley Trail
Miles (round trip): 0.8
Elevation (feet): 42
Reviews & Current Conditions
While the lake steals the spotlight at Crater Lake National Park, there’s more to see here than just that iconic blue water. And the Pinnacles Valley Trail is a perfect example! This easy, flat walk starts right from a parking area and leads you to towering spires formed from volcanic ash left behind by the Mount Mazama eruption and shaped over time by erosion. It’s a totally different kind of scenery than the rest of the park and feels surprisingly like another world. The trail is short and sweet, making it an easy addition to your itinerary, and it’s absolutely worth the stop for something so unique!
2. Watchman Peak
Miles (round trip): 1.7
Elevation (feet): 400
Reviews & Current Conditions
One of our absolute favorite experiences in Crater Lake National Park was hiking Watchman Peak for sunrise. With its east-facing views, this trail is an ideal sunrise spot, and from what we saw, Crater Lake sunrises are breathtaking.
At just 1.7 miles round trip, the hike isn’t overly intimidating, even if you’re heading up in the dark. At the summit, you’ll find the historic Watchman Observation Station, a fire lookout built in the 1930s, along with incredible views of Crater Lake and Wizard Island, the 763-foot-tall island rising out of the lake.
If you’re hiking up for sunrise, don’t forget a headlamp and something warm to wear. Mornings at Crater Lake can be surprisingly cold, even in the summer months!
Not feeling the hike? You can still catch a similar view from the parking area below. That said, if you’re able, we highly recommend doing the hike, it’s so worth it!
3. Cleetwood Cove (Currently closed)
Miles (round trip): 2.0
Elevation (feet): 620
Reviews & Current Conditions
Without question, our favorite thing we did in Crater Lake National Park was actually getting in the lake! Yes, it’s freezing, (Crater Lake averages around 38ºF at 300 feet deep, with surface temps only warming to about 55ºF–60ºF in the summer) but trust us, it’s 100% worth it.
The only place you’re legally allowed to access the shoreline is Cleetwood Cove, which means hiking a steep 1-mile trail (one way) with about 600 feet of elevation loss. Going down is easy enough, but don’t forget, you have to climb all the way back up afterward!
Once you reach the cove, you’ll find designated swimming areas and even a big rock you can jump off. Adam leapt straight into the icy water, while Kathryn opted for the slow, torturous entry. It feels shockingly cold at first, but on a hot summer day, it quickly turns into the most refreshing swim ever!
Important Note: Starting in 2026, swimming and boat tours will not be permitted on the lake (including the Cleetwood Cove Trail), due to a rehabilitation project. This project is expected to take years, with the goal reopening date being summer 2029. You can see all current conditions for the park here.
4. Plaikni Falls Trail
Miles (round trip): 2.0
Elevation (feet): 137
Reviews & Current Conditions
Even though Crater Lake itself isn’t fed by rivers or streams, you can still find flowing water nearby! A short distance inland, Plaikni Falls is a lovely waterfall hidden in a forested area of the park. This trail only opened in 2012, making it a relatively new addition to the list of the best hikes in Crater Lake National Park, especially when you consider how old the park is. The name Plaikni comes from a Klamath word meaning “from the high country,” which feels especially fitting once you see the setting!
5. Discovery Point Trail
Miles (round trip): 2.4
Elevation (feet): 337
Reviews & Current Conditions
For an easy addition to your list of the best hikes in Crater Lake National Park, don’t miss the Discovery Point Trail! This rimside path starts near the Visitor Center and follows the edge of the lake, serving up gorgeous views you simply won’t get from the car. Parts of the trail run close to the road, so you may hear some traffic, but the scenery more than makes up for it. The best part? You don’t need to hike the entire trail to enjoy the views, go as far as you want and turn around whenever you’re ready!
6. Garfield Peak
Miles (round trip): 3.4
Elevation (feet): 1,069
Reviews & Current Conditions
Another can’t-miss hike in Crater Lake is Garfield Peak! This trail is steep and fairly exposed, so be sure to pack plenty of water, electrolytes (we love LMNT!), and sun protection. The payoff is huge though, as it takes you high above the lake with Crater Lake stretching out right below you. At the top, there’s a wide open area where you can really pause, take it all in, and soak up the incredible views!
7. Mount Scott Trail
Miles (round trip): 4.2
Elevation (feet): 1,259
Reviews & Current Conditions
Another fantastic choice for a higher-elevation hike in the park is Mount Scott! Standing at 8,929 feet, it’s the tallest peak in Crater Lake National Park and features a fire tower at the summit along with expansive views of Crater Lake and the surrounding landscape.
The perspective from up here feels huge and wide open, which makes the climb totally worth it. However, compared to Garfield Peak, the lake views are a bit farther away, so just keep that in mind when choosing which hike to tackle!
Things you Need to Know Before Hiking in Crater Lake
Before you head to Crater Lake National Park, there are a few key things you’ll want to know! Some of these are absolute musts for planning a smooth trip, while others are tips we’ve picked up that can make your hikes way more enjoyable.
When to visit Crater Lake National Park
Although Crater Lake National Park is open year round, the best time to visit the park is in the summer, specifically July-mid September. This is when the trails are snow free and the park roads are fully open. Some parts of the park road may be closed other times of the year, which will limit which hikes in Crater Lake National Park you can do.
We visited the park in early September and it was perfect! The weather was nice and sunny, which made jumping into the lake more bearable, and the crowds weren’t too bad.
If you choose to visit in the winter, you’ll be treated to a winter wonderland, which is a unique experience that not many get to have! The park can receive up to 41 feet of snow and certain entrances are closed, as well as all of Rim Drive. This means that the best way to get around will be by cross country skiing or snowshoes instead of hiking boots.
We’d love to return in the winter someday to see the blue lake pop against the bright, white snow. But if your top priority is hiking, you’ll get the most out of the park by going in the summer!
Getting to and around Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake National Park is located in Southern Oregon and is close to a handful of smaller towns, but is a bit of a trek from any major cities.
The closest airport to the park is the Rogue Valley-Medford Airport (MFR), about 1 hour and 40 minutes southwest of the park. You can also fly into Eugene Airport (EUG), which is 3.5 hours away or Portland International Airport (PDX), which is just over 5 hours north of the park and offers tons of airline and flight options across the US!
Unlike some national parks, Crater Lake does not have a park shuttle, however, there is a trolley tour that you can go on if you’d like to leave the driving to someone else and learn more about the park. For those who prefer to get around on their own to see the best things to do at Crater Lake, you will either need your own car or a rental car (any kind will work fine!) to visit the park.
America the Beautiful Pass
If you will be visiting more than one US national park in one year, your best value is to buy the America the Beautiful pass in advance. This pass gets you free entry to all national parks for one year. So use it as much as you can and explore multiple national parks in the next 12 months!
Where to Stay in Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake National Park offers many lodging options in the park, which will give you more time to hike instead of driving in and out of the park.
Inside the park you can find the Crater Lake Lodge, which is open from mid-May to mid-October and has 71 rooms, some of which have a lake view, plus a restaurant. Crater Lake also has a total of 10 cabins at Mazama Village, each with 4 private rooms.
The Mazama Campground is the largest campground in the park, with 214 sites, some of which have partial or full hookups for RVs! We highly suggest making reservations as early as you can! The Lost Creek Campground is another campground option in the park, but it is only for tent campers and is first-come, first-served, with 16 sites total.
Want to stay outside of the park? We suggest staying in Bend, which is 2 hours northeast of the park, and visit as a long day trip. Bend is one of our favorite cities in the Pacific Northwest and offers so many fun things to do! There are lots of great places to stay in Bend, from hotels to campgrounds.
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How much time do you need in Crater Lake National Park?
We’d say you need at least 1-2 full days to experience the several of these hikes in Crater Lake National Park, especially if you’re sticking to the frontcountry!
With 1 day in Crater Lake National Park, you can check off iconic views like from Watchman Peak, see the other side of the park on the Pinnacles Valley Trail and go for a swim in the lake! But with 2 days, you’ll have more breathing room to enjoy it all without rushing, and maybe even fit in a longer hike.
If you’re into backpacking or want to hit the backcountry, you’ll want 3-5+ days.
Reservations and Permits
Crater Lake National Park does not require reservations for entering the park. So you are free to come and go when you please as long as you buy a park pass at the gate or the America the Beautiful Pass in advance.
What to Bring to Crater Lake National Park
First and foremost, we always recommend that you pack the 10 essentials. A few other key items that are important to have on the best hikes in Crater Lake National Park are hiking shoes, layers (it can get cold!), a headlamp, sunscreen, plenty of water, electrolytes, and AllTrails maps! We highly recommend the AllTrails Plus membership so you can download the map (use our code aplusk30 for 30% off!). There’s not usually great service on the trails!
Looking for more things to do in Oregon? Check out these guides & videos:
- How to have an EPIC Southern Oregon Coast Road Trip! (The BEST things to do + 3 day itinerary!)
- Things to do at Crater Lake National Park
- The BEST waterfall hike in Oregon! Hiking the Trail of Ten Falls at Silver Falls State Park
- 20+ AMAZING things to do in Bend, Oregon
- How to visit Tumalo Falls in Bend, Oregon (ANY time of the year!)
- A weekend in Portland itinerary
- The best things to do in Cannon Beach on the Oregon Coast!
- Watch our Oregon vlogs
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About the Author
This article was written by Tori, one of our Adventures of A+K team members. Learn a bit about her below!
Hi, I’m Tori! I live in Nashville, TN with my husband and two daughters. We travel as much as possible throughout the year, around a 9-5 schedule and with babies in tow! My travel blog, Tori Pines Travels, aims to help people plan action-packed and culture-rich vacations around their busy jobs, fitting in as much exploring as possible. When I’m not working for Adam and Kathryn or entertaining my little ones, I’m writing, cooking, crafting or exploring Music City!