Visitor Use Facilities

Roads: The park road system consists of approximately 85 miles of paved roads including the 32.6-mile rim drive. The four-mile-long unpaved Grayback Ridge Motor Nature Road provides the visitor with an interpretive drive offering exposure to the wide variety of natural resource experiences available in the park. In addition to parking at the main developed areas, there are 123 parking pullouts along the approach roads and at the various points around the rim.

Various circulation systems utilizing combinations of one-way and two-way roads have been tried. Generally, the one-way road segments were in effect only during the peak visitation periods, requiring the changing of directional signs. Since the roads were striped for two-way traffic, the visitor often became confused. The one-way system also forced NTIS and concession employees to travel greater distances than necessary to accomplish their tasks. Following public input in the planning process, park management implemented the present circulation system in 1976 (see Access and Circulation map).

During the winter the Southeast and West Entrance Roads (State Highway 62), the park road to the Rim Village, and the roads in the Munson Valley residential areas are the only roads that remain open.

Trails: The park trail system of approximately 65 miles includes a 26-mile portion of the Pacific Crest Trail, utilizing for the most part former fire roads and trails. Other short, but frequently used hiking trails are the 2.3-mile Mount Scott Trail, the 1.7-mile Garfield Peak Trail, the 0.8-mile trail to Watchman Peak, the Lake Trail leading 1.1 miles to Cleetwood Cove, the 1.5-mile Discovery Point Trail, the 1.2-mile trail to Wizard Island Crater, and the 0.5-mile Castle Crest Trail which has been developed as a self-guided nature trail.

Picnic Areas: There are six designated picnic areas around the rim. These are provided with tables, waste receptacles, pit toilets, and parking for a total of 149 cars. A larger picnic area is available in the Rim Village, equipped with comfort stations, water, picnic tables, waste receptacles, and fire grilles. There are also three picnic areas on the south approach road.

Campgrounds: Two campgrounds provide 210 campsites. The former Rim Village Campground has been converted to a day-use picnic area. Lost Creek Campground has 12 primitive campsites with water and a single toilet comfort station provided.

Mazama Campground, with 198 sites, is located just north of the south entrance in the Annie Springs area. There is a small, portable registration kiosk at the campground entrance. The sites are distributed around seven loops, each containing a modern comfort station. A 500-seat rear-screen projection amphitheater is used for evening interpretive programs. A sanitary dump station for recreational vehicles is located near the campground entrance.

Boat Tours: The concessioner owns and operates four 60-passenger tour launches which provide two-hour tours around the lake. The lakeshore terminus at Cleetwood Cove contains two floating docks, small ticket sales counter, a manually operated gas storage tank, and two chemical toilets. A USGS water gauging station is located a short distance west of the landing. There are no electrical, water, or sewage treatment facilities at Cleetwood Landing. Development on Wizard Island is limited to a small boat landing, two concession-owned boat houses, two chemical toilets for visitor use, and the trail to the top of Wizard Crater. In the winter the four launches are stored in the boat houses and the floating docks are moored in a cove on the west side of the island. There are no utility systems on Wizard Island.

Parking, pit toilets, picnic tables, and a mobile refreshment stand are located at the Cleetwood Cove trailhead.

Rim Village: The major concentration of visitor use facilities occurs in the Rim Village on the south rim of the caldera. The National Park Service operates the Sinnott Memorial, a stone structure on the caldera rim, where interpretive talks on the geology of the park are given; an exhibit building; a community building where indoor programs are held; the picnic area; and four comfort stations. Parking is provided for 371 cars adjacent to facilities and near the rim walkways.

Concessioner-operated facilities include the Crater Lake Lodge at the easternmost end of the developed area. The lodge has 80 operational rooms housing a maximum of 180 overnight guests; the dining room, bar, gift shop, and lobby-lounge areas serve the general visitors as well as lodge guests. A large cafeteria-restaurant-lounge and curio shop, located at the westernmost end of the developed area, is the most heavily used facility. Behind the cafeteria the concessioner operates 20 small cabins, 18 of which are cold-water units. There is a new (1973-1974) dormitory south of the lodge for concessioner employees; a portion of the third floor of the lodge is used for employee quarters.

During the winter the cafeteria is the only facility in the Rim Village that remains open.

Munson Valley: The only visitor use facilities in Munson Valley are the small information desk in the park administration building, a small post office, and the concessioner-operated service station serving both the visitor and park employees. Self-service pumps are available in the winter for employees and for visitors on an emergency basis.

Other Facilities: The National Park Service operates two entrance stations - one near the north boundary on the North Entrance Road and the other near Annie Springs just north of the West and South Entrance Roads junction. These entrance stations are kiosk-type temporary structures of wood frame and glass construction, situated on a traffic island in the center of the road. While information is available at these entrance stations, the primary function is the collection of entrance fees.

The Watchman Fire Lookout, a stone and wood structure situated atop Watchman Peak, serves as an interpretive and rest area.

There is a small comfort station at Kerr Notch, the only comfort station (other than pit toilets) along the Rim Drive outside the Rim Village area.

Interpretive exhibits are located at various overlooks around the caldera and along the approach roads.