Crater Lake National Park

About Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake National Park is a national park located in Oregon. July, August, and September are your best bets for warm, dry weather. In May, June, and October, sunny days alternate with periods of rain and snow. Winters at Crater Lake are long and snowy. Storms from the Pacific Ocean dump an annual average of 41 feet (13.5 meters) of snow at park headquarters. When it's raining or snowing, the lake is usually hidden by clouds. Crater Lake is completely invisible about 50% of the time in the winter!

From the west (Medford) - Take Hwy 62 to the West Entrance. Open year-round. From the south (Klamath Falls) - Take Hwy 97 north to Hwy 62 to the South Entrance. Open year-round. The North Entrance is on Hwy 138 and is accessed from Interstate 5 east at Roseburg or Hwy 97 south from Bend and Chemult. Winter travelers from Roseburg take Route 138 east to Route 230 south to Route 62 east to the park's west entrance. Travelers from Bend take Route 97 south to Route 62 to the park's south entrance.

💰 Entrance Fees & Passes

The general entrance fee for Crater Lake starts at $15 (which commonly covers entry for a single private vehicle and passengers for up to 7 consecutive days). The park offers several fee options: Entrance - Private Vehicle ($30), Entrance - Private Vehicle ($20), Entrance - Motorcycle ($25), Entrance - Motorcycle ($15), Entrance - Per Person ($15), Entrance - Snowmobile ($15), Commercial Entrance - Sedan ($25), Commercial Entrance - Van ($75), Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus ($100), Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach ($200). If you plan to visit multiple national parks this year, purchasing the America the Beautiful National Parks Annual Pass ($80) is highly cost-effective, as general entry to most parks will quickly offset the pass cost.

🥾 Things to Do

Crater Lake National Park offers visitors a diverse selection of outdoor experiences. You can participate in a wide array of activities, most notably Auto and ATV, Scenic Driving, Astronomy, Stargazing, and 39 other recreational activities, depending on the season and weather conditions. Path options exist for both casual strollers and expert backcountry adventurers.