Short Hikes – (15 – 45 minutes)
- Time: 20 minutes
- Length: 0.25 mile one way
- Elevation: 7,000 to 7,115 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trailhead: 4 miles east of Park Headquarters on the East Rim Drive
- Features: Overlook of Crater Lake and Phantom Ship, scattered wildflowers, dry meadow. Use caution near steep edges!
- Time: 30 minutes
- Length: 1 mile loop
- Elevation: 6,000 to 6,050 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Trailhead: 2.4 miles south of Park Headquarters
- Features: Old growth forests, views of Annie Creek Canyon, and occasional wildflowers or animals
Castle Crest Wildflower Garden
- Time: 30 to 45 minutes
- Length: 0.4 mile loop from East Rim Drive; 1 mile loop from Park Headquarters
- Elevation: 6,400 to 6,500 feet
- Difficulty: Easy, but some uneven ground and rocks
- Trailhead: On the East Rim Drive, 0.5 miles from Park Headquarters; or, across the road from the Park Headquarters parking lot
- Features: Small brook, lush vegetation, and spectacular blooms of wildflowers in summer months
Park Headquarters Historic Trail
- Time: 30 minutes
- Length: 0.3 mile loop
- Elevation: 6,400 to 6,500 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trailhead: Behind the Steel Information Center at Park Headquarters
- Features: Historic buildings and landscapes; forest; Munson Creek
Medium Hikes – (1 – 2 hours)
- Time: 1 hour
- Length: 0.7 miles one way
- Elevation: 7,400 to 8,056 feet
- Difficulty: Difficult, steep
- Trailhead: Watchman Overlook, 3.7 miles northwest of Rim Village on the West Rim Drive; or, alternately, Lightning Spring Picnic Area
- Features: Panoramic view, overlook of Wizard Island, historic fire lookout and interpretive exhibits
Cleetwood Cove Trail (lake shore trail)
- Time: 1.5 hours
- Length: 1.1 miles one way
- Elevation: 6,850 to 6,176 feet
- Difficulty: Strenuous, 11% grade
- Trailhead: Parking area 4.5 miles east of North Junction
- Features: Access to lake shore and boat landing
- Time: 1.5 hours
- Length: 1.7 mile loop
- Elevation: 5,800 to 6,000 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trailhead: Amphitheater at Mazama Campground
- Features: Deep stream-cut canyon, Annie Creek, wildflowers, and occasional animals
- Time: 1 hour
- Length: 1.3 miles one way
- Elevation: 7,050 to 7,150 feet
- Difficulty: Easy
- Trailhead: The west end of the Rim Village parking area
- Features: Views of the lake, site of John Wesley Hillman’s “discovery” of Crater Lake in 1853
Longer Hikes – (2 hours or more)
- Time: 2 to 3 hours
- Length: 1.7 miles one way
- Elevation: 7,050 to 8,060 feet
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Trailhead: East of the Crater Lake Lodge, along the caldera rim
- Features: Panorama of surrounding area, excellent views of Crater Lake, occasional small animals, wildflowers, and an overhead view of Phantom Ship
- Time: 3 hours
- Length: 2.5 miles one way
- Elevation: 7,450 to 8,929 feet
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Trailhead: 14 miles east of Park Headquarters, across the East Rim Drive from the road to Cloudcap Overlook
- Features: Highest point in the park, fire lookout, lake view, and a panoramic view of the east side of the park and Klamath Basin
- Time: 3.5 hours
- Length: 3.2 miles one way
- Elevation: 6,500 to 7,265 feet
- Difficulty: Strenuous at beginning and end; otherwise moderate
- Trailhead: 3 miles east of Park Headquarters at Vidae Falls Picnic Area
- Features: Forest, panoramic views of the southern part of the park (but no view of the lake), occasional wildlife
- Time: 1 hour, not including travel to the island from Cleetwood boat docks
- Length: 0.9 miles one way
- Elevation: 6,176 to 6,940 feet
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trailhead: Wizard Island boat dock
- Features: Panorama of the inside of the caldera, 90 foot deep crater at the top of the island
Please remember to practice “leave no trace outdoor ethics” when you are out on Crater Lake National Park’s trails…and have fun! Here’s what we have to say as well.
