Things to Do in Crater Lake National Park
**This post was updated December 22, 2025**
Crater Lake is absolutely ridiculous — in the best way. The first time I saw it a decade ago, I thought someone had turned the saturation slider way up on real life. My breath caught in my throat. “Woooowwww,” was the only thing I could utter for a full minute.
And last year, I got the privilege of being a “first time witness” because the second time, I brought my partner with me and it was his first time. So I got to experience another “first time” through his eyes.
We approached the Lake from the north side entrance to Crater Lake National Park (the only National park in Oregon) and parked at the first viewpoint. You have to climb up a small hill to look over the edge into the crater. And as you’re climbing up, it seems as though you have reached the edge of the Earth.
“Take my hand,” he said, as we ascended the hill. I did and I felt his excitement. So yeah, magical. When we reached the top and looked over, and saw the deep blue expanse far below, stretching far off into the distance, my breath caught again. A living, breathing, picture-perfect painting.
Whether you’re the type to hike every trail or just want to stare slack-jawed at nature’s Photoshop job, this guide has you covered. I’ll walk you through the best things to do in Crater Lake National Park — from iconic viewpoints and volcanic islands to a few weird little detours you won’t find in your average Oregon guide book or Google Search.
This is what I live for. Moments like this. It is why I will be traveling for as long as I have breath in me. So why is this Lake, the deepest in the United States, such an awesome darling? Well, it all starts with a simmering volcano.
The History of Crater Lake
Around 8,000 years ago, Mount Mazama (which is now Crater Lake) erupted catastrophically. Mount Mazama was one of the highest peaks in the Cascade Mountain range, and magma had slowly begun building underneath the surface over millennia.
In a process coined as “Grew, Blew, Fell and Fill”, fingers of lava snaked up underneath the sides of the mountain, encircling it, and the rising lava created a void underneath the mountain. When the lava broke through, an unbelievable about of magma exploded away from the mountain, carrying with it tons of ash and other pyroclastic materials. Mazama essentially collapsed onto itself, creating the gaping caldera we see today. Since the eruption, precipitation has filled the caldera, creating the lake.
Crater Lake is so blue for two main reasons: 1) The lake is isolated – no rivers or streams run into or out of it. As a result, there is no debris or other foreign materials to ‘cloud’ the water. 2) Because of the enormity of the magma chamber, the caldera that formed after the blast was massive. So the lake is really deep, over 19,000 feet at the deepest point!
Things to Do at Crater Lake
You can drive completely around the rim of Crater Lake on a road called, fittingly, Rim Drive. Be advised, however, that visiting Crater Lake in winter is almost an impossibility. During the late fall/winter/early spring months, the north side of the lake may be closed due to weather and heavy snowfall. Visit The Crater Lake website for the latest information. And if you’d like an armchair visit to Crater Lake at any time, visit the Crater Lake webcams website.
You can drive the entire 33-mile loop in about an hour without stopping. But there are many places to stop and enjoy the lake in the form of epic hiking, spectacular views looking down the crater into the lake. I would suggest spending a whole day to take in most everything. Spending a weekend at Crater Lake is ideal for exploring Rim Village, as well.
Wizard Island
This is a heavily forested island that is really a new cinder cone that is slowly growing in the lake. In the summer months, you can hike down to the water’s edge from Cleetwood Clove Trail at the north rim and hop on a guided boat to take you to the island.
Phantom Ship Island
This is a tiny island that looks just like…wait for it…a phantom ship. Visitors do not have access to this island; it’s really just a jagged rock jutting up from the surface of the lake and you couldn’t really walk on it anyway. But there are a couple of really nice places to stop to get a good viewpoint.
Rim Village
Rim Village is a great way to spend a few hours chilling out. Crater Lake Lodge is here, as well as a visitor’s center, a cafe, more trails and a gift shop. The lodge and many of the other facilities are closed in the late fall/winter months, so plan accordingly. A short drive from Rim Village is the Crater Lake Visitor Center. Here you can shop for more souvenirs, and watch a wonderful film that will tell you more about Crater Lake and how it was formed.
Book your stay at Crater Lake Lodge!
Crater Lake — Off the Beaten Path
If you think Crater Lake National Park is all about Rim Drive stops and crowded viewpoints, you’re only scratching the surface. Beyond the classic postcard vistas lie quirky, surprising, and honestly underrated experiences that most guidebooks gloss over. These are the kinds of discoveries that make you feel like a true explorer — not just someone who checked “Crater Lake” off a list.
Annie Creek Canyon & Its Waterfall (Really Off-Grid Adventure)
Most visitors never make it south of Rim Village — but if you head toward Mazama Village and descend into Annie Creek Canyon, you’ll find a lush, quiet world far from the crowds. The Annie Creek Canyon Trail loops through rugged walls of volcanic ash and thick forest, and deep in the canyon you’ll run into Annie Falls, a dramatic plunge that most people only glimpse from the roadside. This is a great underrated day hike that feels like discovering a secret side of Crater Lake few ever see. (noahawaii)
Pro tip: Go early in the morning when the light filters through the canyon and the air is still cool — you might have the entire place to yourself.
Pacific Crest Trail Connector & Pumice Desert Pullout
Not many folks realize that a stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) actually threads through the park near the Pumice Desert — a stark volcanic landscape that feels eerily otherworldly compared to the emerald forests elsewhere. Most visitors zip by on Rim Drive without stopping, but the pullout here offers introspective views of volcanic geology and a quiet patch of wilderness where the only sounds are wind and birds.
This isn’t a “must-do” hike so much as a weird, beautiful detour — perfect for stretching your legs, taking surreal photos, or just letting a cool breeze erase the last bit of traffic noise from your brain.
Union Peak Summit (Backcountry Reward)
If regular trails feel too… popular, consider the Union Peak Trail. This isn’t your average loop; it’s a backcountry venture that climbs out of the busy rim into a remote volcanic spire’s terrain. The summit views here give you a wild, raw perspective of the Cascade Range that most visitors never experience — and that’s exactly why the payoff feels like you earned it.
Heads up: This one’s for seasoned hikers and route-readers — not stroller-friendly sightseeing. But if you’re craving a challenge and solitude, this is it.
Spot the Elusive Mazama Newts (Conservation Curio)
Here’s a quirky slice of Crater Lake lore: deep in the lake’s ecosystem lives the Mazama newt, a tiny amphibian found nowhere else in the world. Conservationists are fighting to protect these peculiar newts as their numbers dwindle due to introduced fish and crayfish. It’s not a “tourist thing to do” so much as a natural oddity that highlights how fragile and surprising this ecosystem really is. If you’re into biodiversity stories that make you think twice about every splash of water — this one’s for you.
Fun thought: Bring binoculars and a journal instead of just your camera. Sometimes the best memories aren’t just pictures — they’re stories.
Hidden Trails to Quiet Waterfalls — Beyond the Popular Ones
Sure, Plaikni Falls gets a little love because it’s easy to reach. But there are a few lesser-known cascades along forested trails that don’t show up on the main park brochures — tiny drops and creek crossings that feel like personal discoveries rather than Instagram backdrops. These are the kind of spots where you might stop, breathe, and realize you haven’t heard another human voice in 20 minutes.
Explorer Sue’s hack: Ask a ranger about Godfrey Glen Trail or Stuart Falls via Pumice Flat if you want waterfall views without crowds.
Quiet Sunrise & Sunset Nooks Most Visitors Miss
Sure, people hit Watchman Peak and Cloudcap Overlook — but there are tiny pullouts along the rim (especially on the east side) where dawn paints the cliffs pink and the lake looks like molten sapphire. These aren’t marked as “official overlook spots,” so the crowds don’t gather. But once you find them, you might just decide sunrise every day of your trip is worth it.
If you want specific GPS points or secret sunrise spots I’ve found on multiple visits, just let me know — I’ve got a couple of favorite coordinates that made me cancel plans because the sky looked that good.
Here’s the thing: Crater Lake is stunning in every direction, but the real magic is in the underrated, unheralded, and unfiltered experiences — the places no one bothers to Google because they require curiosity, time, or a willingness to wander.
Best Time to Visit Crater Lake – Things to Consider
- From late October through early Summer, the North and/or East part of Rim Drive may be closed due to weather.
- There are many hiking and picnicking opportunities. Hiking ranges from the very easy to the extreme – Garfield Trail (which starts at Rim Village) goes up sharply in elevation and is probably the most challenging trail, but the view at the top cannot be beaten.
- Accommodations and camping at Crater Lake can be found at Crater Lake Lodge and Mazama Village but these are not open year-round. Make your reservations well in advance.
- Since Crater Lake National Park is federal land, federal rules apply. This means that Mazama Village (inside the park) has ONE gas station, with which you pump your own gas (unlike the rest of the state of Oregon). And while the use of marijuana is legal in Oregon, it is NOT legal inside the park.
- We stayed at Union Creek Resort a few miles south of the park, and I highly recommended it! It is one of the best places to stay near Crater Lake. Rustic awesomeness with cabins, a general store, and a great restaurant.
- Be prepared to take tons of pictures! Crater Lake is so spectacular, I had a hard time putting my camera down and just savoring the moment with my own eyes.
- Pets are allowed in the park, but only in certain areas. Heed the signs, and be sure to pick up the Crater Lake newspaper, which will give you detailed information on the sights and activities available.
- There are ranger talks at Crater Lake Lodge, and at the visitor’s center down the road. A great way to get inside information from people who live and work around Crater Lake.
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“Crater Lake National Park, where you can’t smoke grass but you can pump your own gas!”