Crater Lake National Park in Klamath Falls

If you love camping, hiking, chasing waterfalls, and scenic drives then Crater Lake is for you. This national park is exquisite.

Photos wont do justice to actually seeing this place in person. My wife & I visited in mid-September. The weather was perfect the day of our visit- it was sunny with a little bit of clouds periodically. That made for some of my most favorite photos taken to date.- You can drive around the rim - 33 miles around. Periodically your views are blocked by mountains you have to drive around.- Theres one single point of access to be able to walk down to the water where they do offer 2hr boat rides. Those have to be scheduled, best if done prior to your visit or theyll likely be booked up.- the hike down is a 700 elevation drop but the trail zig-zags down. Obviously down is easy, but the return trip up is a bit more challenging. A lot of reviews say its tough, but is definitely possible if you take your time & rest periodically. My wifes knees are bad and she made it with resting periodically. At the base theres plenty of photo opportunities and you can fish down there.- the park service also offers trolley rides which takes a couple of hours and the stop at 5-10 pull-outs for photo ops.- the only businesses at the rim are park service operations such as a lodge, restaurant and store. The store has a lot of stuff but much of it is overpriced. Their breakfast offerings were basically sausage biscuits. They had pre-made sandwiches, chips, drinks, etc you could buy & take along your drive or hike. Kinda pricey but nowhere else to go for that stuff.-I recommend bringing a Selfie stick for photos especially if you have someone you want in the pictures with you- mine came in very handy.-periodically some of the pull-outs have restrooms. They definitely come in handy when driving around the rim. Bring hand sanitizer because those restrooms do NOT have running water.- Mazama Village is a Park service campground with cabins. Theyre very nice- we stayed there. Theyre about 7 miles away from the rim of the lake. Virtually no cell service at the cabins. They have wi-fi you can use for texting or web surfing. Theres no TVs in the cabins either.-this is definitely a place I recommend to visit if youre even remotely close and have most of a day to drive around & sight-see. Most of this is driving, but therere trails you can hike if youre interested in that.- views here are spectacular and definitely worth a visit. You can spend as much or as little time as you want here.

What a pleasant surprise!I loved Crater Lake- best trail for me was definitely the watchman tower trail.Took a cold dip in the lake too- a must do!Would recommend a couple of days at this park so you can really take in the majesty of the lake.

Perfect trip. Being wildlife season, we were lucky to enjoy the national park without a smokey environment. The hike to the waterline is 2.2 miles one way down a steep winding trail. The cold 65 degrees was rewarding but hard to get adjusted at first.

Came here for the Ride the Rim event and I have to say that this is just one of the most awe-inspiring National Parks I have ever been to. It’s right up there with Yosemite and Yellowstone for me. Easily the most beautiful bike ride I have ever been on.

This was one of the key places we wanted to visit on our vacation and it didn’t disappoint, the weather was great and the colour of the lake a vivid blue. We even managed to view the old man floating log.The only down side were the 2 food places (not the main hotel restaurant), by the lake and near the entrance, Annie’s. Come on guys, someone has got lazy here and missing a perfect opportunity. Annie’s didn’t open until 11am and the ‘cafe’ by the lake was a real disappointment- look at the traffic you’re getting, people want good food available. Those cheese and egg muffins were worse than the microwave meals you just nuke. Shudders.Otherwise a lovely place and next time we’ll make sure to bring our own food.

Great NP! Highly recommend Garfield Peak Hike and driving the entire 33 mile round about. Great Cafe food too at Rim Visitor Center to recharge. Reason for 4 star is because once youve seen the lake from one view point, youve "kind" of seen it all.

Once in a lifetime place (if you dont live close.Must see!!!! Drive the whole rim loop. It doesnt take long. Make a day out of it. Dont rush. If you get the chance, stay until AFTER sundown. The sky is phenomenal.

Second time visiting this NP. Last time we visited during winter when visibility wasn’t that great. This time around (early Augustwe were blown away. The water was super (cobaltblue and the weather was very pleasant. We did the rims drive, a little hike around the lake and down to interpretive center. There was even some snow and we had fun playing on it. Magical NP!

We had a great time at Crater Lake. We did the big hike to the highest point in the park, the name of which I am forgetting, and had great views of the lake. We also did a smaller nature trail closer to the entrance of the park. Highly recommend!

So beautiful! Perfect view and scene is so romantic. The most beautiful, cleanest, clearest lake in America. So glad to have visited this preserved treasure.

Really beautiful place. Go early if you want to really enjoy hiking the trails and then go into the water when the sun is high and hot. Has vault toilets at some points so plan your stops if you plan to drive around the lake. Had a great time.

Well worth the 90 minute detour as I was driving from Mount Shasta to Bend Oregon. World class park world class views… Water incredibly blue. But I even found more beauty in the surrounding area.

This place! Loved it here! 5 starts doesn’t do it justice.The rangers were outstanding with our kids doing the junior ranger program. The views are second to none. Traffic was a little congested around the south shore area (gift shops and lodgeand non RV vehicles parking in the RV parking was annoying… but it didn’t distract from the NP at all! So glad we went out of our way to spend the day here.

If you have the chance to stop here while visiting or living in Oregon, you definitely should. Absolutely stunning views. Many vistas to observe the crater. Hikes for the adventurous.

Truly amazing views of nature! Crater lake is beautiful!! Driving around the rim is great and plenty of scenic viewpoints to stop at. There are also waterfalls, pinnacles, a gift shop and plenty of other things to do, worth a visit!!

Gorgeous lake and park. Still a lot of snow up there in July, but roads were clear. Roads were still closed on the east side so we could not circumnavigate the entire lake.Please plan ahead, it took us 2.5 hours at the entrance due to how busy it was. Parking can be full and may take awhile to find a spot.

Great park to visit. We did a couple of hikes. Drove around the rim. Pulled out at a bunch of spots to get various views of wizard island. It made for an enjoyable day.

Spiritually elevating and kinda unlike other national park with very complicated natural settings and in need of much “homework” before go, Crater Lake is a loop so we just drove following the loop and stopped wherever there were fewer people. Serene and enjoyable experience!

One of the most beautiful places Ive ever been too. The drive around the rim is gorgeous. Stopping along the road to look at vitea falls is nice and the ranger are knowledgeable and friendly. Definitely coming back.

a magnificent place, everything that I saw here is difficult to describe, you just have to see it for yourself. purpose of the day can be spent here. You can also go by bike or on foot. such beauty is very rare on earth and must be seen. every year I come to court for one day, I don’t get tired and I’m very pleased, despite the fact that I drive 450 mil per day. Be sure to go, you will be very pleased. only choose good weather,clear not overcast without fog.

Unique National Park. Lake is 1953 ft deep. It is the 9th deepest lake in the world. It is a imploded volcano. Wizard Island represents a volcano within a volcano. You cant make these things up. Lastly, the Phantom Ship Island was fabulous. I love the reflection of the peak and clouds in the water.

We were lucky enough to catch sunrise a couple days ago... such a beautiful place to be.. the pictures say it all and as ANY National park-- pictures could never do this park justice.. i sure tried though!!

Crater Lake was amazing!!! The views are magical, and if youre brave enough, take the arctic plunge off the cliff.....its invigorating to say the least! Loved having family snow ball fights in July.

Well worth a visit. Mostly a driving tour park unless you plan to hike or camp. Stop at all the view points and learning locations. Its a really cool place to enjoy a day. The lodge looked to be going through some renovations and should be a cool place to stay when done. Open now though I believe.

Absolutely wonderful! Between walking ease for much of the rim areas, ample trails, and a decent infrastructure for how remote the area is, I will be back with my family over and over again. Even when packed with other people the views were unobstructed and breathtaking, and most were definitely respectful of the caldera and other patrons.

Crater Lake is a very special place. Theres something magical about it. Its our only national park here in Oregon and it is a gem. Just the blue of the lake is stunning and thats only part of it.

Breathtakingly beautiful. The lake is so pristine and blue. The drive to the Crater Lake itself is beautiful as we climb up the elevation.There’s north and south entrance. North entrance is where there are boat tours that requires strenuous hike first. South entrance is closer to Annie Creek restaurant, that servers some amazing food.

Pictures and words don’t do justice to this absolute wonder. We visited in late June and there was still enough snow that almost all of the trails were closed. Still, the two miles we walked of the Discovery Trail were beautiful and refreshing. The parking lot at Rim Village can get very crowded but if you drive a little bit past the main lot towards the lodge, the crowds do thin out a bit.

This is an absolute must-see in Oregon. The breath-taking viewpoints on that mirror, the deepest lake in the US, are even more enticing when the weather is clear, and that deep blue pops up. Easy to access via car, when the rim has been cleared of all the snow.

This one had been in my bucket list for a very long time, finally made and I was not disappointed at all. The drive to the park is beautiful all the way up. Bonus, it was great for bidding too I got to see a Steller’s Jay.

Pretty neat place to see and get a stamp in our passport. Make sure you call the visitors center before you make the long drive there because only about a mile was open to drive from the south entrance because the road/trails around was still snow covered. Seems like the weather can be unpredictable. Overheard a park ranger say she saw 6 inches of snow in July one year. So make sure you call before you go. Visitors center had a gift shop and a small cafe. Visited June 2022.

Beautiful place. Went over Memorial Day weekend. Snowed heavily both Saturday and Sunday, and most of the roads and trails were closed. All we could do was run from Discovery Point along the road. Went back on Monday when the weather was better, sunny, no rain or snow. Got great photos. Food and souvenirs at the cafe close to Visitor Center are also great!

Absolutely stunning. Should have done my research being the drive around loop was closed and did not open until June due to the winter snow. A blizzard blew in the day before we got there. Sidewalks needed shoveled.

Got to enjoy a little bit of this park in Mid-May. Theres still quite a bit of snow up top so rim drive wasnt all the way clear yet. Definitely recommend this park for families and the solo traveler. Lots of great photo opportunities and experiences to have!

Breathtaking views. Just be aware most roads around the Crater are closed until summer due to the snow. We were there end of May and still lots of snow so couldnt go around the Crater. Still worth the view but summer best for hiking the trails

This place has to be one of the most awe inspiring places that I have ever been. When we got there we couldnt believe our eyes, it seemed too beautiful abd enormous to be real, like something from a movie. Its huge and there is a rim trail you can go on or there is a trail you can take to walk all the way down to the actual lake at the bottom of the crater. The trail is pretty long and steep so bring good hiking shoes. At the bottom ypu can go swimming or hang out on the shore. There are lots of friendly chipmunks that will run up to you and around you in hope you offer then some treats, but keep in mind these are still wild so use caution. I would 100% recommend this natural wonder to anyone!

Serene, majestic and peaceful. The National Park rangers are always so helpful and understanding. This time we didnt go to the Rim Visitor Center because it was snowing and there was a lot of snow in the ground which required chains. However, they accommodated us and gave us an amazing experience in an area that we didnt need chains to enjoy. My kids were so happy to be able to play in the snow.

Definitely breathtaking. I highly recommend adding this place to your bucket list. The drive was pretty long but worth it. We took hwy 62, which is the South entrance. Its 20 bucks per car to enter the park. We took our 2 small dogs and they loved the snow. I highly encourage snow boots because you will be sinking into it. There isnt much to do right now because of how much snow there is, but I still recommend going. 👌🏻They do have a gift shop that is open and offer some food and beverages. Crater lake is one of the most magnificent lakes Ive ever been too.

Park was really cool, was hard to get info about when the road to the village would open. We waited for a little then decided just to try the Raven trail to get to the rim. It look a long time without snow shoes but we made it and it was worth it.

One of the coolest places in Oregon! Incredible beauty of mountains, lakes and nature in general! A park where you can enjoy a great holiday with the whole family!👏👍❤️

What a gorgeous place. We’ve been to Crater Lake in the summer but costing it in winter is a whole new experience! Take xc skis and plan to spend at least 1.5 hours skiing along the side of the lake (it’s a paved road which is closed to traffic and is covered with snow). The views are breathtaking and the experience is a lot of fun. It’s flat so pretty easy for all levels. The visitor center rents snowshoes too.

Only the South Entrance is open during the winter. It’s a long road in so make sure to fill up with gas before you make your way to the park. Quite busy near the car park but if you venture left from the first viewpoint you’ll have the area to yourself and some incredible views too.

By far one of the Greatest Wonders of Our World!!! If you have never been here it should definitely be on the bucket list. And always bring snow chains just in case as there is always ALOT of snow!!!.

Absolutely breathtaking! Completely worth the drive! My family and I almost didnt make the drive here and we are SO glad that we did. The water is so blue and calm. We made the drive around the entire lake and there were so many spots to pull off and enjoy the view.

We had an opportunity to visit Crater Lake in September. It was pretty cold already. The views are spectacular.The park was not crowded in September and it felt like we had it to ourselves.

Amazing National Park with stunning and unique qualities. The water is so blue, and the Cleetwood Cove trail allows access to intrepid swimmers. Drive the circumference for the best views, and come in summer for best weather.

When we arrived at Crater lake it was blustery cold so we waited in the car till the visitor center opened went in had some hot chocolate and shopped in the store till the sun came out a bit longer. As we walked out the plowed snow banks were well above our heads made for some cool pictures then we climbed up onto the top of the snow where we could view the crater lake better just make sure to walk on the made trail all cause it didn’t and slide down next to a tree about 5 feet lucky the trees branches where there to rescue me as i used them for a ladder ( Btw the trees you see there are basically tree tops the rest is under many feet of snowAll in all the view is breathtakingly beautiful and pictures doesn’t do it any justice, Enjoy!

Amazing national park where you can see different views of the lake while driving the rim drive of the park. Stop through all the viewpoints to capture the beauty. The pictures doesnt do justice to beauty of the park. The road conditions are good.

What an amazing experience! This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in my life! My family and I thoroughly enjoyed this trip and probably will be taking it again one day! The size of this place was just awe inspiring! The water in the lake was a gorgeous blue like I have never seen! It was awesome to be there in June and there was still snow on the ground. The wildlife was very cool, and my kids loved seeing and feeding the squirrels. We drove halfway around the lake and had to head to our next stop. I really wish we could have made it all the way around the lake, but maybe next time. Be sure to stop at the different viewpoints as each one of them has their own amazing scene just waiting for you to take in its beauty! Trust me, if you are anywhere close to Crater Lake you will have to take a trip there. Plan on spending several hours, because if you dont you will regret it! Im looking forward to seeing your reviews, because you will not be able to visit this place without sharing your experience!