Mazama Village to Rim Village at Crater Lake is a 8.3 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Chiloquin, Oregon that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round.
It has been reported this trail has a temporary closure due to COVID-19. Please see the park's website for up to date information. Crater Lake National Park charges a fee to enter. Fees are $30 per vehicle (Winter Rate: $25) or $25 per motorcycle (Winter Rate: $15). Winter rates apply between Nov 1 - May 21. If you are entering on foot or bike the fee is $15 per person. You can also purchase a park specific annual pass for $55. Spectacular Volcanic Lake at Crater Lake National Park with multiple rim hikes, Rim Drive, can hike to lake level at Cleetwood Cove, see millions of stars on clear nights. Like No Place Else On Earth - Crater Lake has inspired people for thousands of years. No place else on earth combines a deep, pure lake, so blue in color; sheer surrounding cliffs, almost two thousand feet high; two picturesque islands; and a violent volcanic past. It is a place of immeasurable beauty, and an outstanding outdoor laboratory and classroom.
Ample Parking at pullouts around the lake. Visitor Centers Steel Visitor Center - Open 10AM-4PM daily (except December 25) from early November to early April. Open 9AM-5PM daily from late April to early November. Inside the visitor center building, a US Post Office is open Monday through Saturday, 10AM-2PM in winter and 9:00AM-Noon and 1PM-3PM in the summer. Rim Visitor Center - Open late May through late September, 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM daily. Closed October to May. Food Rim Village Cafe and Gifts - Open daily 9:00 am - 6 pm. Operating Hours: 10:00 am - 4:30 pm in mid October to April. Extended hours start late April to September. Closed Thanksgiving Day and December 25. Annie Creek Restaurant (at Mazama Village) - Open Daily, 9:00 am to 8:00 pm start late May through at least early September. Extended hours in July and August. Closed sometime in late September or early October to May. Mazama Village Camper Store - Open daily, 8:00 am - 8:00 pm late May to late September. Closed October to May. Gasoline available mid May to mid October. No gasoline available in the park from November through April. Crater Lake Lodge Dining Room - Open daily, mid May to mid October. Closed mid October to late May.
Crater Lake National Park P.O. Box 7 Crater Lake, Oregon 97604 Phone: (541) 594-3000 Fax: (541) 594-3010
From NP Website: Getting to the Park Please be aware that areas in and close to the park have little to no cell phone coverage. In planning your trip, also know that from November to May, there is no gasoline for sale in the park. The nearest gas stations are 35 miles away in the towns of Chiloquin and Prospect. For GPS: The park has no physical address. The Steel Visitor Center (open year round) is at 42 53' 48.91"N 122 08' 03.08"W or you can enter "Crater Lake" as a town or waypoint. Airplane The closest airports are located in Klamath Falls (60 miles from the park) and Medford (80 miles from the park). Car rentals are available in both towns. Train AmTrak provides service to Klamath Falls (60 miles from the park). From there, it is possible to rent a car or arrange a shuttle (seasonal). Public Transportation At this time, no public transportation is available to access the park. Car Roads inside and close to the park are typical mountain roads with many curves and a number of drop-offs. Weather can change suddenly, with snowstorms even in August. Drive cautiously especially if you're not used to mountain driving. From the South (Year Round): From Medford - Route 62 north and east to the park's west entrance. From Klamath Falls - Route 97 north to Route 62 north and west to the park's south entrance. From the North (Summer): The park's north entrance is closed in the winter and spring. Dates can vary, but typically the north entrance is closed from early November to June. Please call park dispatch for the latest road status (541)594-3000. From Roseburg - Route 138 east to the park's north entrance. From Bend - Route 97 south to Route 138 west to the park's north entrance. From the North (Winter): From Roseburg - Route 138 east to Route 230 south to Route 62 east to the park's west entrance. From Bend - Route 97 south to Route 62 north and west to the park's south entrance.
September 5, 2020August 17, 2020Really nice trail but I don’t known
August 16, 2020August 3, 2020Decent hike through quite a bit of greenery. I read reviews saying it was pretty buggy but didn’t expect the level of mosquito activity I encountered. That and the fact that most of the gain was in the last 0.5mi made this a decent hike but not one of my favorites
August 1, 2020This was a solid climb, especially for the last mile. Mostly shaded with a few small sections of exposed trail. Super quiet and peaceful, saw fewer than half a dozen people over the 8 miles. You cant hear traffic until about the last half mile on either end, so you really do feel alone in the woods. Was buggy on the way back down, didn’t notice them so much on the way up.
July 28, 2020Nice moderate hike. Be sure to bring bug spray, the mosquitoes are out in force. I had to bum some off another hiker (thanks!).
July 26, 2020July 26, 2020September 18, 2019This was a very easy nice walk in the forest. We walked to the PCT and to Dutton Creek trail and campground. There were dead trees everywhere. I wouldn't hike here during a strong wind.
September 5, 2019Hiked out and not back.. nice awesome pristine nature experience.. no real scapes until making it to the lake.. well maintained and low traffic.. weather was outstanding!
September 2, 2019The view at the end of the hike is amazing! The hike itself has a good amount of elevation so be prepared. Well manicured trail and not a lot of bugs or animals that we saw. You can’t see much as far as views on the hike. It’s mostly in the forest. A lot of the trail is in the shade. Good hike overall.
July 25, 2019Lots of bugs spoiled our hiking fun. Beautiful trail and crater lake is amazing! We took the shuttle back to mazame campground.
July 11, 2019We only hiked the one direction and then hung out at the Lake for the fabulous views! You can take a free shuttle back to the camp ground. We stayed at Mazama Ridge camp ground.
July 5, 2019a ton of bugs along the way, but scenic!
July 5, 2017This is a beautiful trail through the woods: multiple times throughout the hike I forgot that the real beauty lies at the end when you reach the rim and see the lake. We went in early July 2017 and there was still about 6ft of snow on the higher half of the trail, so navigation without GPS is very tricky. There were quite literally thousands of mosquitos swarming us (a cloud of them followed us most of the way) throughout most of this trail too, so bring DEET and lots of it. Still worth it though!
October 2, 2016Good hike to acclimate to altitude. Steady 1.5 miles uphill towards end is challenging for moderately healthy folks. Well marked trail.
July 9, 2016Awesome views
September 7, 2015Visiting Crater Lake on Labor Day weekend was not my smartest move. The crowds were intense. But like most National Parks, once you leave the "village" and head out on a trail, you can leave the crowds behind.
August 10, 2015I hiked from Ashland to the Columbia River on the PCT in July 2015 and the hike in to Crater Lake was spectacular. I walked in during a lighting/rain storm and feel so lucky to experience the lake during a storm. I felt a little culture shock with all the people at Crater Lake but the view is worth the walk.
May 9, 2015I absolutely cannot wait to come back! When researching the website, I was ignorant to weather conditions. I assumed it would be sunny and bright! Upon arriving, in my tank top, shorts, and sandals mind you, I was in shock. There was up to 8 feet of snow, and the trails required snow shoes to enter. My mistake completely. Don't go in February unless you are aware of weather conditions...
August 26, 2014Beautiful! Also be sure to seek out the Pinnacles. Try to avoid days when there are bike events. I'm not sure how often they're held at Crater Lake, but there is no shoulder and it's slightly stressful trying to drive around the cyclists because there are blind curves. Nothing against them, but when there are several cyclists and several tourists in cars, it was difficult to drive.
November 15, 2012Crater Lake is breathtaking and a must see if you are in Oregon! We went during late summer and didn't experience insane crowds, and brought our dog with no problems!
November 1, 2012It's beautiful and like seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time. The waterfalls and surrounding areas are just as beautiful as the lake itself.
May 12, 2012Crater Lake, one of the leading natural features in the state of Oregon, beholds a breathtaking view that no photograph can possibly accurately portray. The colors are deep hues of blue and green, which is beautiful while set against either the summer fauna or winter snow. A must see!!
February 22, 2011Crater lake is stunning. Whether you go in the spring, summer, or winter months, be prepared to take alot of beautiful pictures. If you camp in the fall, around late August-September, it can be nearly 90 degree outside during the day, but in the moringing there can be a carpet of snow on the ground (I know this first hand!). There are many trails and wilderness areas to explore, however, during the spring and summer months don't expect to be the only one visiting. IT CAN BE VERY CROWDED!
February 15, 2011
First to ReviewMy family and I were visiting the Ashland area and wanted to see the famous Crater Lake , a couple hundred miles away. The area approaching the national park is heavily pine forested with not many views, but It was well worth the drive! The day was gorgeous and the view of the lake from numerous lookout points were spectacular! The very deep blue of the large lake was especially impressive. The much photographed focal point, Wizard Island, is a collapsed volcanic cone near the south side of the lake.
September 26, 2020September 5, 2020August 22, 2020
