Crater Lake National Park is Open Year-roundReservations are not required to enter the park, however an entry fee or pass is necessary.With an average snowfall of 41 ft (13.5 m) the park is covered by snow most of the year. Visit the Current Conditions page or call 541-594-3100 to find out what's open in the park today. See maps for park boundaries, entrance stations, Rim Village and other locations.
The address below is for park headquarters. Sometimes GPS systems and digital map services do not recognize it. Try entering or selecting "Rim Village" as a town or waypoint, or entering the coordinates for park headquarters, which is 3 miles south of Rim Village:
42° 53' 48.91" North Crater Lake National Park 1 Sager Building Crater Lake, OR 97604 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. 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!
Details about Fees and Passes
Entrance Fee (Standard Entrance Pass)
Other Entrance Passes
Rim Visitor CenterViews of the lake are prominent and accessible from Rim Visitor Center. It is located at the historic Kiser Studio in Rim Village. Outdoor exhibits at the near-by Sinnott Memorial Overlook are open when the ice melts from the walkway in June until mid-October. Get your passport stamp when the visitor center is open. Rim Visitor Center is usually open seven days a week in summer. Steel Information CenterSteel Information Center has reopened after a major structural renovation to stabilize the building against seismic and excessive snow load forces. The historic integrity of this former ranger dormitory, now known as the Steel Information Center, remains while accessibility and safety have been increased for all visitors and staff. The building received get new electric wiring, IT cabling, plumbing, heating, and an updated interior building layout. Public WiFi is not available.
A 24-hour emergency landline is located outside the "snow-tunnel" entrance to the Administration Building in park headquarters, adjacent to Steel Visitor Center. There are no cell towers in the park. Cell service is random in areas around Rim Village and the overlooks along Rim Drive. Crater Lake Lodge offers wifi only for their guests. Wifi may be available to patrons of concession-run facilities in Rim Village (year-round) and Mazama Village (summer only). Gasoline(managed and maintained by the concessioner ExplorCraterLake)When all the roads are open, it is possible to drive 100 miles within the park. Self-serve, unleaded gasoline is available in the park at the Mazama Village Store only during summer when the camper store is open. Anytime of the year, running out of gas results in frustration and is very expensive to rectify if a tow company has to deliver gas. Fill you gas tank before reaching the park boundary.
EV Charging Station(managed and maintained by the concessioner ExplorCraterLake) Helpful Trip Planning Links
Visiting the Park With Pets
Important information about visiting the park with your pet(s), ways to keep them safe, and where to take them. 
Download the NPS App
The NPS App offers tools to explore more than 400 national parks nationwide. Save Crater Lake for offline use during your in-park visit. 
Eating & Sleeping
Find a place to camp or rest for the night either in the park or in a neighboring community. Locate food establishments in the park. 
Unmanned Aircraft
Launching, landing, or operating an unmanned aircraft including drones on land or water within the park is prohibited. 
Air Quality
In summer and fall air quality can be adversely affected by smoke from local wildfires. Check the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the park. 
Lost and Found
Lose or find a phone, wallet, glasses, gear, or something treasured, report it to a ranger, go to a visitor center or fill out this form. 
Things to Do
Whether day-tripping or spending a week, find a way to explore, discover, and retreat into the natural beauty and history of the park. 
Places to Go
Depending on the season in which you visit, you might go to 32 overlooks, two waterfalls, visitor centers and more. 
Plan Your Winter Visit
Visiting between November and April? Winter sometimes begins in October and ends in July! Nevertheless here is what you need to know. 
Visiting in Fall
Planning a fall trip? Get an idea what to expect of the weather, closures, and things to do. 
Arriving in May or June?
Learn how lingering winter snow might affect your experience. |
Last updated: May 18, 2024