2 mi, 423 elevation gain, 56 minutes to complete…read more Small snowfield to cross if you start at watchman overlook. If you come from discovery point it would be longer but you would avoid any of the snow crossings. Totally worth the hike- one of the most amazing views in the park especially at sunrise or sunset! Lots of different wildflowers along the way and panoramic views. There is a cute fire lookout that appears to no longer be in use at the top.

I'd like to talk about not just hiking to Watchman Peak, but also the roadside pullover here at…read moreWatchman Overlook. So yes...there are 2 purposes for stopping at this Watchman Area. The Overlook from the rim and hiking the trail to Watchman Peak. This section of Crater Lake is deserving of 5 stars because...when driving around the 33 mile rim encompassing all of Crater Lake (although the views can get quite repetitive and monotonous)...the BEST APPEARANCES OF CRATER LAKE COMES FROM HERE AT WATCHMAN PEAK!!! That's what makes Watchman Overlook so worthwhile. Because the roadside emergence of not just Crater Lake, but the main centerpiece attraction to it all known as Wizard Island is the closest and most prevalent you'll find throughout the park. Watchman Overlook was the best observation viewpoint I can remember from my time spent at Crater Lake. Wizard Island sort of smacked me in the face through my camera lens...I was able to photograph Crater Lake in it's majestic entirety from the viewpoint. Whereas, many of the significantly less roadside Crater Lake stops can just be ordinary especially when you're pulled over far away from Wizard Island. Then the scenery was really a letdown. For instance, when you're on the other side of the lake near Phantom Ship, when I exited my car to look upon Crater Lake, it was like glancing into the abyss of some large sized lake of water, without any focal points (like Wizard Island) and without any meaningful blue coloring to it. I was expecting turquoise blue around the lake and never found it. Even at the main hub of activity in Rim Village featuring Sinnott Overlook, the Crater Lake Lodge, Garfield Peak Trail, and even along Discovery Point Trail....I never received that fulfilling/humbling "wow moment" that completely blew me away in comparison to the sights and scenery I uncovered here at Watchman Overlook and Peak. Regardless...back to what makes Watchman Peak Overlook one of the most worthy of roadside stops at Crater Lake... - I HIGHLY RECOMMEND VISITING HERE IN THE AFTERNOON TIME! Yes this is SO IMPORTANT because from here at Watchman Overlook the sun starts to set from your backside. So...you get the sun reflecting onto Crater Lake and it affords you the most clear and concise perspectives for taking pictures! If you arrive in the morning, the sun will hit you in the opposite (in your face) direction and then you may be stuck with those annoying shadows! - After observing Crater Lake from the rim overlook area....off to the right hand side you'll find the hike to Watchman Lookout Trail. This path will take you to the apex of the rim's edge for uninterrupted views of Crater lake. This Watchman Lookout Trail isn't hard. There'll be a sign/trailhead stating that the Lookout Tower is 0.8 mile to the top. That's 1.6 miles round trip and it's an elevation gain of about 450 feet - I'd say a moderate level of difficulty, but it's overall less than 1 mile. - This Watchman Lookout Trail to the Lookout Tower is certainly recommended because there's not many hikes to even traverse at Crater Lake. I found Crater Lake to be more of just a roadside get out of your car kind of park. So...might as well take advantage of a little hiking opportunity while here...especially since the views around this Watchman Peak area are some of the most scenic in the park! - Along the 0.8 mile...there's not much to view, just switchbacks making your way to the top. From this Watchman Peak Lookout Tower, the appearance of Crater Lake was just as good as the roadside view (there wasn't much difference in my opinion) but still, I'd recommend grabbing a couple of photos from high atop here. - During this summer pandemic of 2020, the Lookout Tower was closed. So, in the end...you just have a small viewpoint to pier down on and admire Crater Lake with of course Wizard Island being so photogenic as well. I truly believe you won't find superior angles/perspectives of Crater Lake and Wizard Island anywhere else in the park other than being here at the rim's Watchman Overlook and at the pinnacle of Watchman Peak Trail Lookout Tower. Capture as many pictures as possible during your time here because the views won't get any better.

1.7 mi, 289 ft elevation gain, 40 minutes to complete…read more Holy mosquito. Don't attempt this one without mosquito spray- for real! This hike is outstandingly gorgeous. We were already camped at Mazama Village so we just hoped onto the trail right behind where we were set up! It is about 15 degrees cooler down in the canyon than anywhere else. You get some of the same views here as with Godfrey Glen but from the bottom. There is an abundance of wildflowers surrounding you and you can hear the creek trickle along beside you. Would be a great place to relax and read a book if it weren't for the mosquitos. This hike also comes with an informational pamphlet at the trailhead.

Crater lake is a far drive from Bend where we were staying. It is well worth it especially if you…read moredrive down early and get there before the parking lot fills up. When we were leaving at 2 pm it was packed so 10 am is perfect for getting parking. There is only two bathrooms at the parking lot, and supposedly one at the bottom of the hike but I didn't see it. We hiked down with kids, my 4 and 8 year old were able to do it. The 4 year old needed some carrying at the end but I was able to carry her up. I am not sure where people see "easy" for this hike. I would consider it medium because it's gradual and not straight up. Yes it's a gravel sand mixture but not slippery, especially on a dry day. The dusty trail got us all covered by a layer by the end. There is some points where you are in full sun and others with full shade. We jumped in the water and it was 61 degrees according to the Apple Watch. It helped the bottom up was in sun and helped keep me warm and drier. When we got to the shade it was a bit cold. The water is rocky so there isn't an easy place to get in but the kids were able to do it. They have boat rides on to the lake at the bottom but we didn't partake in it. The walk up was not difficult because of the switch backs. Had it been stairs straight down I would say that would be difficult. The path allows for people to rest and is wide enough for 3 people wide. They also have benches on the trail which is lovely. The view from the trail is much better than the lookouts from the road.

2.2 mi, 604 elevation gain, 1 hr to complete…read more Trail is well maintained though it appears there is high risk for rock slides. It is very highly traveled and probably one of the busiest trails in the park. There were several people swimming at the bottom. Heading back up there are many benches along the way to take a breather and have a sip of water. It was pretty smokey today so it was difficult to see Wizard island and the other side of the lake from the trail. Though, looking down you can see the bright blue water and boats anchored waiting to take passengers to wizard island and on tours of the lake.

What a beautiful national park! It is definitely worth the drive from pretty much anywhere. No…read morematter what you are expecting, you will experience so much more. We went today when only a small portion of the rim was open and it was absolutely beautiful. It was a bit 45°F out with strong winds but it was still an amazing experience. We stopped at the Steel Information Center after going through the entrance to the area, then drove up to Rim Village and went to the Rim Visitor Center. There is plenty of parking there and you can follow the path to the rim and get some stunning views of the lake. It was a beautiful day and the water was so clear and blue. I definitely want to come back in July or August when it's a bit warmer and the whole rim is open. If you have a permanent disability you can get a free lifetime national park pass, which is how we got in today. This is a beautiful national park and we need to do everything we can to protect it.

Pro tip: Stay in Bend, OR and pack lots of food and drinks, and drive into the park for a day trip…read more There may still be snow, yes - even in July! We visited the park and stayed at the cabins Jun 19 -20 and they got five inches of snow the night we left. There is not much to do in the park after dark and not really anything to do in the cabins so bring books and cards, because there is no cell service. You can almost drive all the way fully around the whole lake but there are closures happening so you won't be able to go all the way around. Food is very limited and not good, so bring your own! There is NO CELL SERVICE on most of the volcano. However, there is Wifi at the Mazama Store. I was able to sit in my car (once connected inside) and use the wifi for the apps that it would allow over WIFI. It is not a secure network either. You will need to drive to most all of the sites and activities at the park. If the park activities are open for the season, you will probably have about two fulls days worth of activities to do. However, in off season, a day visit is plenty to take in the sites.

0.8 mi, 128 ft elevation gain, 20 minutes to complete…read more Very popular and easy trail. A great low effort and high reward hike! We saw deer along the way and at the end had views of both wizard island and the phantom ship.

0.45 mi, 12 min, 13 ft elevation gain…read more Not many people stopped here but it is worth the walk through if you have bug spray on hand for all the mosquitos! At the beginning of the trail there is a 75 cent pamphlet with all the wildflowers you might encounter. There are also a few foot bridges and streams to cross. There are certain spots where the pathway gets a bit muddy as well. It is a cool peaceful hike that gives a different view of the park.

Gorgeous views when it is clear and great hiking when it's not windy or snowing. Even with the snow…read morethey had marked off the trail and had boundary ropes up to keep you away from cornices that could collapse into the lake on you and ruin your day. Definitely plan to be there several hours to get in the hike and views you will likely stare at for hours. Bring water and snacks or hit the visitor center which has a cafe and gift shop.

Visited in mid November after a dusting of snow that left about 1-2 inches in the ground. The north…read moreroads were all closed and very few trails were available for exploring. The Discovery Point trail was open and I hiked it for about 2 miles in from Rim village. The views of Wizard Island got closer as I went along. Perfectly sunny day. Spectacular! Highly recommended! There were some wary folks along the way, but if you stay on the trail you'll be safe.

How about hiking the highest peak in Crater Lake National Park?…read more We drove 15 miles from Rim Village around the East Rim, open July-September, of the park to Scotts Peak. Parking for about two dozen vehicles, at 9am. Both the wife and I were equipped with hiking boots, hiking poles, hats, sun block, 40 ounces of water, and multiple fruit cups with utensils. No need for mosquito repellent, as temperatures too cold at night. Lots of people wearing only running shoes, which can be painful if you hit your toes on rocks embedded in the trail. Ladies, you don't want blackened toes to ruin your pedicures! The trailhead is right on the Rim Drive, at 7680' elevation. The first part of the trail is an open expanse through grassland, with a gradual rise in elevation. In and out of forests of mountain hemlock, west and southwest on the backside of the mountain, with Crater Lake hidden from view. Very little level areas, only unremitting climbing. The trail becomes a series of switchbacks, with glimpses of Crater Lake as a sliver of dark blue, with reflections from the eastern walls of the volcano on the waters of the Lake visible 10 miles away. Up we go, with the switchbacks ending and the trail leveling off onto a ridge leading to a fire lookout tower. The forests recede, and we are left with whitebark pines windblown and twisted in the difficult climate. Marmots and pikas hunt for food, while birds of prey circle overhead. It take us 2 hours to reach the top, and another 90 minutes to reach the bottom, 4.4 miles overall, with a 1250 foot elevation gain. 8934' Scott's Peak. 84 degrees today, September 28. One week from now, rain and snow with temperatures in the 30s. The wife beats me down by a good 25 minutes, with me taking pictures, and she making a beeline for the only restrooms in the area, at a picnic ground 500 feet down the road!

September 2, 2025 - Crater Lake…read more Grab a self-guiding brochure at the trailhead. After walking just a few steps from the trailhead, the trail splits into a 1.1-mile loop. We took the route to the right, and had a lovely hike through old-growth mountain hemlocks and firs. About half way through, the trail parallels Munson Creek Canyon. Along the canyon walls are the pinnacles or fossil fumaroles. You can hear the water and a waterfall below deep in the canyon, but unfortunately, you can't see it. This was an easy trail with breathtaking views, and is one of the few trails in Crater Lake that is dog-friendly.

1.2 mi, 62 ft elevation gain, 30 min to complete…read more Easy minimal elevation change trail. This could definitely be accessed for folks who use a wheelchair. We came here since the pinnacles were unable to be reasonably accessed and we were told it was a good alternative (section of rim road was closed and would have taken 2.5 hrs to get there otherwise). An absolutely gorgeous hike. You are able to hear a waterfall but unfortunately could not see it from the trail. There are a few pillars/pinnacles that are visible from this trail in a couple different sections.