Hello and welcome to all travelers! For this blog’s very first post, we will be taking you to the deepest lake in the United States: Crater Lake! Located in the picturesque Cascade Mountain Range, this ancient, collapsed volcano is a sight to behold. The lake’s surreal blue water and scenic trails make it a must-see destination for travelers in Southern Oregon – especially because it’s only two hours northeast of Ashland. Before Crater Lake was formed, it was a volcano called Mount Mazama, which erupted 7,700 years ago. Historically this mountain has been sacred to the Klamath Tribes as well as the Cow Creek Umpquas, so when you visit please be respectful of the land and mindful of those who came before you. Here is some helpful information for planning the perfect trip to Crater Lake!
Seasonal Differences
Crater Lake changes dramatically throughout the year, with each season transforming the landscape, weather, and overall atmosphere in distinct ways. In winter, the area is dominated by heavy snowfall that covers the rim, forests, and trails in thick layers of white while the lake’s deep blue color creates a striking contrast against the snow. Many roads are closed during the wintry months and the environment feels quiet, remote, and still. As spring arrives, the park enters a period of transition, with snow slowly melting in some areas and remaining in others, revealing patches of rock, flowing streams, and early greenery, ultimately creating a mixed landscape where winter and new growth coexist and weather conditions can be unpredictable. Summer brings the most dramatic shift, as snow disappears from most areas, roads and trails reopen, and the entire park becomes fully accessible. The lake appears at its brightest blue under clear skies, temperatures are warmer, and the atmosphere feels lively and active compared to other seasons. Finally, during autumn the environment changes once again as temperatures drop, crowds thin, and vegetation takes on warmer tones, with crisp air and at times early snowfall begins toward the end of the season, signaling the return of winter. Across the year, Crater Lake moves through the four distinct seasonal identities: snowy and silent in winter, transitional in spring, vibrant in summer, and peaceful in fall.
Amenities, Accessibility, and Pricing
Crater Lake is Oregon’s crown jewel for outdoor fun and adventure, exploring towering pines, volcanic cliffs, and scenic views for all. Rim village, although closed in the colder months, provides paved trails, shops and cafes, with other trails like Godfrey Glen, and Plaikin Falls were designed with accessibility in mind. This improved accessibility was a primary goal for the new construction of Steel Visitor Center where more information and videos of the park are available. Crater Lake prides itself on being family oriented with short looping trails to release those last-minute wiggles. For families with young children we recommend experiencing the Castle Crest Wildflower Garden Trail, with .4-1.3 miles of streams, bridges, and seasonal wildflowers. Sun Notch Trail and Discovery Point are also sought out by many young families. Please note, many of Crater Lake’s Trails and areas have a no-pets policy, making an exception for service animals, although this unfortunately does not apply to support animals. If you would like to experience the park with your dog, you will want to stick to the following trails and areas: Lady of the Woods Trail, Godfrey Glen Trail, Annie Spur Trail, Grayback Drive, Pacific Crest Trail, and the paved promenade in Rim Village. There is a limit of one leashed pet per hiker in these areas.
If you are willing to leave Fido at home and accessibility is not an issue, we encourage you to check out the challenging Cleetwood Cove Trail. The Cleetwood Cove Trail provides the only route to the lakeshore, containing 2 miles of strenuous climbing with up to 11% grade. Crater Lake is in full swing year-round. Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, guided ranger tours, and so much more are amenities you can take advantage of during the snowy seasons. Make sure to plan accordingly for the colder months. The South and West entrances will be your only options with plowed roads ready to receive you. Rim Drive and the North entrance will be closed to cars. Don’t forget your extra water, layers, and chains.
Now what about pricing? A standard pass covers one vehicle with less than 12 seats and all the passengers ranging from $15-$30. Annual passes are also available online and at the gate for recurring local adventures. Remember that as of 2023 cash is no longer accepted, only credit and debit cards. Understandably paying for passes might be out of reach for some individuals, so check out the America the Beautiful Pass Series on the National Park Service Website for discounted passes to all national parks. Free passes are available for land management and other related professions, along with: military, veterans, permanently disabled, 4th graders, and volunteers with 200+ hours. Mark your calendars for the free national park days in 2026: February 16th, May 25th, June 14th, July 3rd-5th , August 25th, September 17th, October 27th, and November 11th.
The Trails
Crater Lake is a great place to find trails with different levels of intensity. They range from being easier and less than two miles, to more difficult trails that are up to ten miles. There are seven trails that are considered easy trails and sixteen trails considered more difficult. Some of the more difficult trails are due to the greater elevation changes and longer distances for people to hike. The trails are great for those who are taking a day trip as well as anyone camping or lodging at Crater Lake. One of the more popular trails for people visiting to hike is Garfield Peak. This trail is around 3.5 miles long and has beautiful views of the lake throughout the hike. Another appeal to Garfield Peak is that it is located close to the lodge entrance and is easily accessible. The many trails at Crater Lake do not just offer great views of the lake but other beautiful wildlife and plants to look at while hiking along the trail. Whether you are someone looking for a scenic more easy hike or a beautiful but more challenging hike, Crater Lake National Park trails are great to explore!
Cleetwood Cove Trail – A Family’s Experience
The Cleetwood Cove Trail is the only trail at Crater Lake that accesses the lake and boat tours. The trail closed at the end of the 2025 season and will not reopen until at least 2029! The trail will come back better than ever with more benches for resting and a safer pathway. With the closure looming my husband Zac and I knew we had to take our 2 kids Simon and Oslo on the hike before it was too late.
The Cleetwood Cove Trail is not an easy trail. The National Park Service refers to it as “steep and strenuous” which is definitely not an exaggeration. While the whole family is healthy, unlike his brother Simon, our youngest kiddo Oslo prefers video games and reading over physical activity. Despite Oslo’s dislike for strenuous activity, he was able to complete the hike and appreciate the otherworldliness of the cobalt lake and the gorgeous viewpoints along the way – both up and down.
Despite the trail difficulty it was still a busy day on the trail and we saw people of all ages and from all over the world visiting. It was mid-July and very warm. Bringing water, snacks, sunscreen, and hats were essential to our successful hike. If you get excited about birds like Zac does, be sure to bring your binoculars because there were plenty of the large gray Clark’s Nutcrackers to watch.
Once you make it down to the water, do not expect your normal lakeside shore. The water’s edge is made up of volcanic rocks and boulders that require care to cross. Visitors find the least awkward rock they can where that can at the very least dip a toe, and for those who are unafraid of cold water, take the plunge into the deepest lake in the United States! Our family ran the full range from full plunge to toes only. While we hadn’t planned ahead enough to schedule a boat ride, we were able to enjoy a light picnic from our backpack and the perfect summer day before starting the one mile trek back up the hill – the equivalent of 65 flights of stairs!
All four of us appreciated the challenge and accomplishment of the hike! Oslo was slow and steady with his dad and only took about 20 minutes longer to come up than Simon and me. We tried to reward ourselves with a trip to the snack bar and gift shop but were unable to find any parking at the Rim Village and had to drive on. The parking for Cleetwood Cove Trail was also extremely challenging. The smaller the vehicle you can arrive in the better!
With the many improvements to the trail in the upcoming years will make it well worth the wait I’m sure! In the meantime the park has many more trails and viewpoints that make Crater Lake a place that should be on your road trip list for 2026.
Oregon Flows 
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