This realistic Crater Lake Scenic Rim Drive Guide helps you plan your next adventure next to this azure volcanic lake.

Crater Lake National Park is the deepest lake in the United States. Cold blue waters, volcanic islands, and rugged terrain make Crater Lake a popular destination in the Pacific Northwest.

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Crater Lake is 1,949 ft (594 m) deep. This impressive depth is enough to make it the 10th deepest lake in the world.

The uniqueness of Crater Lake has been known for a couple of decades. But it was not until 1902 that this lake became a national park.

It is the 5th national park in the United States, just after Yellowstone, Sequoia, Yosemite, and Mount Rainier.

Sights & Places of Interest

As the park name suggests, the volcanic lake is the main attraction in this national park. But the lakeshore and islands are far from the only sights in Crater Lake.

You could summit mountain peaks, see waterfalls, and explore sandstone formations in this park. A section of the Pacific Crest Trail rounds up an impressive list of sights of Crater Lake.

The Scenic Rim Drive is the easiest way to get around Crater Lake. The Drive itself is a major attraction of the park.

1. Scenic Rim Drive

The Scenic Rim Drive is the primary way to explore Crater Lake National Park. The Drive forms a 33-mi (53-km) loop around the lake.

You can explore the Crater Lake Scenic Rim Drive in any direction. But it is helpful to know about the parts of the Drive. The Steel Visitor Center and the Cleetwood Cove Trailhead act as key milestones.

• West Rim Drive: part of the Drive with Discovery Point, Watchman Overlook, and North Entrance Road junction.
• East Rim Drive: part of the Drive with Cloudcap Overlook, Phantom Ship Overlook, and Pinnacles Road junction.

The North Entrance Road will add another 8.5 miles (14 km) to your exploration. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail and Pumice Desert are the main sights on this road.

The Pinnacles Road is a 6-mi (10-km) drive to the same name viewpoint. Plaikni Falls are another attraction in this part of the park.

Allow at least 90 minutes to drive this scenic highway. Add more time if you plan on taking North Entrance or Pinnacles Roads. Viewpoints, trails, and tours will also add hours to your Crater Lake visit.

You can explore the Crater Lake Scenic Rim Drive in any direction. This Guide follows a clockwise exploration of the Scenic Rim Drive. It starts from the Annie Spring Entrance Station and Rim Village.

The drive goes via the Watchman Overlook to Cleetwood Cove. It then brings you to the Pinnacles Overlook. The loop finishes at the Steel Visitor Center after a stop at Vidae Falls.

2. Rim Village

Rim Village is the first notable stop on the West Rim Drive near the Park Headquarters. It takes just 10 minutes to get to the village from the Steel Visitor Center.

It is home to the same name Visitor Center, Cafe, Gift Shop, and Crater Lake Lodge. The village is also the starting point for the trolley tours.

As a result, Rim Village is always a very busy area. It could be challenging to find parking if you visit the village in the middle of the day.

You could get your first look at Crater Lake from the Sinnott Memorial Overlook. This viewpoint is right next to the Rim Village Visitor Center.

But this location has its downsides. Get ready to enjoy the views in a crowd. If you prefer a more peaceful exploration of Crater Lake, consider taking one of the Rim Village trails.

• Discovery Point Trail: an easy 2.2-mi (3.5-km) round trip hike.
• Garfield Peak Trail: a strenuous 3.4-mi (5.5-km) round trip hike.

3. Discovery Point

There are options to enjoy Crater Lake without a hike. Continue on the Scenic Rim Drive to see Crater Lake from the viewpoints.

The Discovery Point is the first scenic stop after Rim Village. It will take you less than 5 minutes to reach this viewpoint by car. A comparable trip on the Discovery Point Trail will take 40 minutes each way.

You are certain to notice the intense blue water color of Crater Lake. This is one of the first things park visitors see at the Discovery Point.

4. Wizard Island

But the water color is not the only thing you would see right away. Massive Wizard Island will also be on full display.

This island is as old as the lake itself. It formed as part of the volcanic eruption that created Crater Lake. In fact, the island looks like a small volcano, just like Sunset Crater Volcano in Arizona.

You can reach the island by boat in the summer. You have a good reason to hop on a boat tour or shuttle. There are two hiking trails on Wizard Island.

One is a 2.4-mi (3.9-km) trail from Governors Bay to the crater, or Witches Cauldron. It is a moderate trail with 761 ft (232 m) in elevation.

You can add another mile (1.6 km) to your island exploration if you visit Fumaroles Bay. That would bring your total hiking distance to 3.4 miles (5.5 km) and 909 ft (277 m) in elevation gain.

Walking on the lava beds with evergreen trees and azure waters is a fantastic experience. It is well worth the boat tour or shuttle fee if you visit the park during the navigation season.

5. Pacific Crest Trail

The West Rim Drive between Discovery Point and Watchman Overlook brings you inland, away from the lake rim. The viewpoints in this drive section do not have any lake views.

But you should still stop at these pullouts. They give you one of the few opportunities to enjoy other sights of Crater Lake National Park.

The Lightning Spring Trailhead is one of such stops. It provides amazing views of the mountains and valleys that surround Crater Lake. You could even see Union Peak in the distance.

If you have 3 hours to spare, you can take this trail all the way to the Pacific Crest Trail. Get ready for an 8-mi (13-km) hike with 1,317 ft (371 m) in elevation gain.

This trail (PCT) spans across from the Mexican border in the south to the Canadian border in the north. It goes through California, Oregon, and Washington for over 2,650 miles (4,265 km).

33 miles (53 km) of the trail are in Crater Lake National Park. It makes this trail similar to the Appalachian Trail on the East Coast.

That trail continues from Georgia to Maine for over 2,190 miles (3,525 km). The Appalachian trail also goes through national parks, like Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah.

6. Watchman Overlook

As you continue your journey on the Crater Lake Scenic Rim Drive, you will arrive at the Watchman Overlook. It is one of the major stops on the West Rim Drive in the park.

You could get great views of Crater Lake and Wizard Island right from the parking lot. Or get ready to hike again to see the lake from the higher observation deck.

Follow the 1.6-mi (2.6-km) round trip trail to the Watchman Overlook. This viewpoint is 358 ft (110 m) higher than the parking lot. As a result, you could get panoramic views of Crater Lake.

The entire lake will be on full display. From Rim Village in the South to Cleetwood Cove in the North. And from Wizard Island in the west to Mount Scott in the east. This view is well worth this uphill hike.

7. Hillman Peak

Your next stop on the West Rim Drive will not require any hiking. The Hillman Peak is the highest point on the Crater Lake Scenic Rim Drive. It has an elevation of 8,151 ft (2,484 m).

But there is no trail that leads to this peak. You can just admire it from a distance. The nearby viewpoint is also a great spot to see the northwestern part of the park.

Enjoy Red Cone, Desert Cone, and Mount Thielsen in the distance. The latter peak is outside of the National Park. It is part of Umpqua National Forest.

This viewpoint is also your last chance to see the Pacific Crest Trail from the Scenic Rim Drive.

8. Merriam Point

The next stop on the Crater Lake Scenic Rim Drive is at the North Junction. It will be a time to make a decision. You could continue further on the West Rim Drive or take the North Entrance Road.

The former way will bring you to the attractions on the East Rim Drive and Pinnacles Road. This option will add a few hours to your exploration. Choose it if your journey brings to Klamath Falls or Medford.

The latter way is best for exploring Pumice Desert. It is also closer to the towns of Eugene and Bend. Pick this option if you have limited time in Crater Lake.

Regardless of what you decide to do, you should first stop at the Merriam Point. This beautiful viewpoint has amazing views of the Wizard Island and lake rim.

Blue and azure lake waters and different shades of the evergreen trees are sure to make a lasting impression. Enjoy this view as you decide where to take your exploration next.

9. Cleetwood Cove

This Guide continues on the Crater Lake Scenic Rim Drive. There will be very few viewpoints for a few miles (km).

You could stop at the picnic sites near Llao Rock and Pumice Point. But you would get quite obstructed lake views from either of these sites.

Your best bet is to continue on the West Rim Drive to Cleetwood Cove. This stop does not have the greatest views of Crater Lake.

Yet, it is a milestone on the Scenic Rim Drive. Cleetwood Cove is the only stop with lake access in the entire park. You would have to hike to get to the lakeshore.

This trail is fairly short. It is just 2.2 miles (3.5 km) round trip. But it involves an elevation gain of about 700 ft (213 m). This makes the trail strenuous and physically demanding.

You would first need to take 65 flights of stairs down from the parking lot. Once there you could touch the cold waters of Crater Lake. You could even swim there if you dare going into 57 °F (14 °C) water.

Taking a boat tour is another reason to hike down to Cleetwood Cove. There are three boat tours that start from Cleetwood Cove Boat Dock in the summer.

Remember that you would need to hike up after your tour or swim. The same 700 ft (213 m) in elevation gain await you on the way back.

10. Mount Scott

You will enter the East Rim Drive as soon as you pass Cleetwood Cove. This section of the Drive all the way to Mount Scott has no viewpoints and trails.

You will be driving on the winding road. The Drive will bring you closer to the rim edge before taking you further away.

It is a good idea to stop at a picnic site near Mount Scott. You could decide if hiking 5 miles (8 km) round trip to the summit is your cup of tea. This strenuous hike has almost 1,200 ft (366 m) in elevation gain.

The views from the highest point in the park will not be disappointing. But this hike might not work out for everyone. It helps to know your limits.

11. Cloudcap Overlook

There is an easier way to get the lake views from this part of the Drive. You just need to take a 2-mi (3-km) detour to the Cloudcap Overlook.

This viewpoint is almost directly opposite Wizard Island. This large island would appear small from the Cloudcap Overlook. This is hardly a surprise. In the end, you will be about 5 miles (8 km) from the island.

Pay attention to the part of the lake near Rim Village. You will get the first distant look at another island on Crater Lake. The island viewpoint is the next major stop on the Scenic Rim Drive.

12. Phantom Ship Overlook

The Phantom Ship Overlook is the name of that viewpoint. Once you get closer, you will easily understand how the island got its name.

Phantom Ship is the second island on Crater Lake. It looks tiny if you compare it to Wizard Island. Still, this island is 170 ft (52 m) tall.

Its bluffs and evergreen trees look a bit like masts on historic sail boats. It is possible to confuse the island with historic ships, like USS Constitution, USS Constellation, or Balclutha.

13. Pinnacles Overlook

The Phantom Ship Overlook is the last lake viewpoint until the end of the Scenic Rim Drive. The Drive proceeds behind the Dutton Ridge and the Vidae Ridge.

As a result, other sights come into forefront. Waterfalls and formations take over islands and lake as the main attractions on the East Rim Drive.

You also have an option to take a detour to the Pinnacles Overlook. Pinnacles Valley is in the southeastern part of the park.

It will add about an hour to your journey. The views at the end of the road make this extra drive worth it. You can also embark on a 1-mi (1.6-km) round trip hike next to the edge of Wheeler Creek Gorge.

You might expect to see boulders like the ones in Pinnacles National Park in California. If this is the case, the Pinnacles in Crater Lake might disappoint you.

These formations look a lot like hoodoos in Bryce Canyon National Park. You would not need to travel to Southern Utah to see this natural wonder.

But there are some downsides to visiting the Pinnacles Overlook. And the time spent getting there is only one issue.

Sand and dust storms are common sights in Pinnacles Valley. It is hardly a pleasant experience if you get caught up in such a storm. You should cover your eyes and nose and get to the forest section of the trail.

14. Vidae Falls

There are a few sights on the way back from the Pinnacles Overlook to the East Rim Drive. You could choose to stop at Lost Creek Campground or hike to Plaikni Falls.

The latter is an easy 2-mi (3.2-km) round trip hike. Early summer after recent rainfall is the best time to visit these falls.

There is also a way to see a beautiful waterfall without spending another 45 minutes hiking. You just need to continue on the East Rim Drive to the Vidae Falls Viewpoint.

You will be able to see the falls right from the parking lot. These falls drop 115 ft (35 m) over a few terraces. They provide a nice change of scenery after a drive along the rim of the lake.

There are no more viewpoints on the Crater Lake Scenic Rim Drive. You could hike two easy wildflower trails at the Park Headquarters. Both trails are under 0.5 miles (0.8 km) each.

The Park Headquarters will mark the end of the Crater Lake Scenic Rim Drive. You could exit the park via the Annie Spring Entrance Section.

15. Prospect State Scenic Viewpoint

But your exploration of Southern Oregon does not have to stop here. You are in luck if your journey takes you to Medford via State Highway OR-62.

You could make a quick stop to explore Prospect State Scenic Viewpoint. This small park is right next to the highway. But it has an astonishing number of sights.

15.1. Avenue of the Boulders

The Avenue of the Boulders deserves to be the first stop. The name of this attraction says it all. It is a collection of boulders along the Rogue River.

It looks just like Lake Haiyaha in Rocky Mountain National Park or Pinnacles in the same name park.

15.2. Barr Creek Falls

This viewpoint has more than boulders. You can see three waterfalls next to one another. Pearsony Falls are the furthest away. These falls look like river rapids. They involve a hike through a forest.

Mill Creek Falls and Barr Creek Falls have impressive drops right into the Rogue River. You could reach them in just a few minutes. Exercise caution on this short trail. The rocks are often slippery.

Continue with this Crater Lake Scenic Rim Drive Guide. You will learn more about ways to get to the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.

Getting to Crater Lake

Crater Lake National Park is in Southern Oregon. The park is part of the Cascades Mountains. A handful of volcanic peaks surround Crater Lake. Mount Scott, Mount Bailey, and Union Peak are the major ones.

There are two entrances to the Crater Lake Scenic Rim Drive. Annie Spring Entrance Station is the main gateway to the park. It is right next to the Steel Visitor Center, Park Headquarters, and Rim Village.

This entrance is in the southern part of the park. It is a 60-mi (97-km) detour on Highway OR-62 from Highway US-97. The latter is a major regional highway. It connects the towns of Bend and Klamath Falls.

The North Entrance Station is near Highway OR-138. It is best for visiting the park from the largest cities in the state: Portland, Eugene, and Salem.

Klamath Falls is the closest town to the park. A drive from there to the park would take about 60 minutes each way. Medford and Bend are both 90 minutes away from Crater Lake.

Eugene is nearly 2.5 hours northwest of Crater Lake. You would need to budget over 3.5 hours to reach the park from Portland.

Where to Stay near Crater Lake

You have a handful of lodging options when visiting Crater Lake National Park. You can choose from places to stay right in the park and further away.

Crater Lake Lodge and Mazama Village Campground and Cabins are two options inside the national park. They work best if you prefer to start your Crater Lake exploration before the day tripper crowds arrive.

High nightly prices are the main downside for staying in the park. You could find a better deal if you do not mind a longer drive to Crater Lake.

In this case, look at the nearby towns of Klamath Falls, Medford, and Bend. Each of them has a handful of places to stay.

The better hotels and vacation rentals in these towns often sell out during the summer. It pays off to book early to get the most value.

Entrance Requirements & Passes

Crater Lake National Park is open every day of the year. But you could find it difficult to visit the park in winter and spring.

Operating Seasons

Both parts of the Crater Lake Scenic Rim Drive close seasonally due to snow. The exact closing and reopening dates differ by snow level and year.

But you can count on the Scenic Rim Drive closing around mid to late October. The Drive will not reopen until mid to late May. But this date is also just an indication.

It might take until mid June or even July for the Drive to fully reopen. It happens during years when park receives a lot of snow.

The North Entrance Station and West Rim Drive reopen before East Rim Drive. The latter part of the drive is usually about a month behind.

The Crater Lake Scenic Rim Drive is undergoing construction as of 2023. You cannot drive the section of the Road from Cleetwood Cove to Skell Head. The Pinnacles Road is also closed to all traffic.

Until these roads reopen, the West Rim Drive remains the fastest option to explore Crater Lake. You could drive on this road between the two entrances. This would minimize a need for detours.

Park Fees

Crater Lake National Park charges entrances fees. The fees are $30 per car if you visit the park between end of May and end of October. This is the prime time to drive the Crater Lake Scenic Rim Drive.

The fees are lower if you visit the park in the winter and spring. Expect to pay $20 per car then.

Pack your America the Beautiful annual pass to get free admission to the park.

Boat Tours

You can enjoy a boat tour if you visit Crater Lake in the summer. These tours cost extra. There are 3 boat tours for you choose from.

• Standard Lake Tour: 2-hr tour; $44 per adult, $30 per child.
• Wizard Island Tour: a standard tour plus 3 hours on the island; $55 per adult, $37 per child.
• Wizard Island Shuttle: a direct shuttle to the island; $28 per adult, $18 per child.

All boat tours start from Cleetwood Cove. You would need to cover a strenuous hike to the boat launch location on your own. Allow at least 30 minutes to get to the boat dock from the parking lot.

Trolley Tour

There is also a trolley tour in Crater Lake National Park. This tour takes 2 hours to bring you around Crater Lake on the Scenic Rim Drive. The guides will tell you about the history of the park.

The trolley tour costs $36 per adult, $34 per senior, and $25 per child.

Takeaways: Crater Lake Scenic Rim Drive

Crater Lake is a unique national park. The 120-year old park protects the deepest lake in the nation. It is hard to wrap your head around the history and geology of this unearthly park.

But the surreal water colors of Crater Lake are certain to blow you away. Very few lake parks in the world could rival Crater Lake in beauty.

Taking the Scenic Rim Drive is the best way to explore Crater Lake. This Drive allows you to see most sights this park has to offer.

• Admire the lake cold blue and azure water from a distance.
• Enjoy the panoramic views from the overlooks.
• Hike to the surrounding mountain peaks or a part of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail.
• Weather a sandstorm at Pinnacles Valley.
• Stop by beautiful Vidae Falls.
• Chase the Phantom Ship.

Take a boat tour to Wizard Island if you can afford the price and can handle the Cleetwood Cove hike. Both are an unforgettable experience.

You might not find a trolley tour to be worth it since you need a car to reach the park. This tour is best for history and geology lovers.

The season to fully explore Crater Lake is very short. It lasts from July to October. Make the most of this time and visit the park in the summer.

Stop by Prospect State Scenic Viewpoint if Medford is your destination after exploring Crater Lake. Its sights pale in comparison to the national park. But it easily beats most of the state parks in beauty.

Take a look at this Crater Lake Scenic Rim Drive Video Guide. And visit the YouTube channel for the latest videos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Safe realist travels!