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.

This trail was so fun! It has a convenient trailhead right off the road so the walk to the base…read moreisn't a trek of its own. As for the hike itself, WOW WOW WOW! I loved every second of switchbacks and inclines, and that's not sarcasm. The views from every spot on the trail are rewarding and encouraging. You ask yourself how it could get any more beautiful and then you turn a corner and are surprised once again. This is a moderate hike for the experienced hiker and a strenuous hike for the average joe. Wear good shoes with traction as there is a lot of loose gravel. This could be hard on the knees and joints for those who have those issues, so I'd bring trekking poles. Also, take plenty of water and snacks. The view at the top is worth it so push through and enjoy the ride. This was probably my favorite part of my stay in Crater Lake.

What a beauty! If you're looking for a challenging hike with rewarding views within Crater Lake…read moreNational Park, Mount Scott Peak is your best bet. At 1,200 feet of elevation, Mount Scott is the highest peak within all of Crater Lake. And with that 1,200 feet of elevation gain comes a serious climb. This is definitely a booty-glutey workout for sure. It's a moderately difficult 5 mile jaunt to the top of Mount Scott Peak and back. Totally worth the trek for some of the best views in the park. The beginning of the hike starts out relatively flat and then gradually begins to incline. I'd say about the first mile or so is relatively mild in terms of progression. It'll still get your heart pumping, but you won't be sweating too much just yet. Speaking of that, make sure to dress in layers if you're coming during the mid-fall season because it'll be chilly in the beginning but you'll warm up as you start to get higher up the mountain. The next mile or so is where the elevation starts to really kick in. You'll basically be switchbacking steeply up the mountain until you reach a plateau. From this point, you'll be able to see both the strikingly gorgeous blue Crater Lake in the forefront, and the summit near the end of the peak. I was actually astounded by how much snow that there was in mid fall! Definitely wear some thick and comfortable hiking boots. You'll need it for the snowy patches and rocky sections of the trail. Along the trail, you'll have beautiful views of the surrounding forests, bright blue skies, snow covered hills, and fellow mountainous terrains. Ground squirrels run rampant around these parts. They're adorable but be mindful of where you put your food because they'll eat it quickly! These ground squirrels seem to be kind of comfortable around humans which lets me know that people probably feed them often while on the trails. I never do this but they are damn cute and I can see why people want to feed them so badly. Most of the trail is exposed but there are a few shady spots. Luckily it didn't get very hot at all in mid fall, but the sunglasses and long sleeves still helped. I actually didn't run into many people at all on this trail. I'd say maybe a handful of groups at the most. Crater Lake is a super remote park to begin with, so social distancing (especially during the off season) would be quite easy to do. The views going up the ridge are beautiful, but nothing can compare to actually being able to summit the peak. The amazing 360 degree views of Crater Lake and the surrounding mountains make it all worth the while. The hike to Mount Scott Peak was naturally my favorite part of visiting Crater Lake. Would love to hike here again and would 100% recommend for a challenging adventure.

Rolling through South Oregon down long winding road you start to get numb to the environment. You…read morecome up over the hill and encounter a great birding spot. Watch for the river otters peeking up out of the grass along the roadside.

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.

Easy and slow paced trail to the top for beginners. Its a zig zag trail with a somewhat small…read moreincline to the top. Once you reach the top, you can see the whole wide view of Crater Lake. Parking for this is about a couple miles from the entrance. Its usually packed due to the amount of people overlooking the lake and taking pictures vs the amount of people going up to this trail. When you look towards the lake from this viewpoint, the trail is just to the right. Head straight and you will see a sign to either go to Rim Trail or Watchman Trail. I believe Rim Trail is a flat long path to a view but its not as nice as Watchman Trail's. You can eat up at the Peak as a reward but space is limited.

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.

3.58 mi, 1060 ft elevation gain, 1hr 40 min to complete…read more Started this hike at 0800 and there weren't many other hikers out- on the way back it was quite busy though! Came upon some deer, rock chucks, and chipmunks along the way! The hike starts with a beautiful meadow that quickly becomes a hill climb with outstanding views in all directions. We were fortunate to hike this on one of the more clear days. There are a few snowfields on the path and you are able to walk around and avoid most of them. The one nearest the top appears to block the trail to the summit- but folks have made a work around just behind the bench and you are able to make it all the way up to enjoy the view :)

This review is for Garfield Peak Trail which was a ~3.5 miles round trip that took ~2 hours to…read morecomplete. Beautiful views of Crater Lake! Inclines all the way to the peak! Limited parking on Rim Village Dr. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/hsczAXIZ77Q

Wow!!!! It is BEAUTIFUL! It is about an hour drive from Medford and TOTALLY worth the trip!!!…read more For those less mobile, you can get a great view of the gorge and water rushing through the rocks with a 5 to 10 minute walk to the first bridge depending upon your walking speed. And it is paved until the third overlook. I went hiking. It is a 1/4 mile to the Natural Bridge from the parking, but you can hike further past the three overlooks. I stayed on for another 1.5 miles which is worth the hike. By my standards, it is a "moderate" hike with a few steep grades. Once you cross the second bridge, take a left and walk another 1/4 mile to reach a shaded beach area to lay down and relax or cool off in the water.

This is a cool place to just take a stroll and really breath in the cleanest air possible. Well, it…read moremight not be the cleanest air, but it's darn near close enough in this wilderness area. There is also, a lot of parking here for all sorts of vehicles but it doesn't ever seem like this place gets full. I stopped here as I was staying at a place in Prospect. The road to Crater Lake was super snow covered and I didn't have chains so I opted to just hike here instead and try Crater Lake the following day. It wasn't really challenging but I still got a great hike. I really think it's amazing how the lava and water have carved so much of the landscape in this area and it's free just to roam and take it all in. Most of the trails are well travelled but there are several areas where I had to turn around and head back as they were fenced. Although you can hear the rush of the water nearby, it's oddly quiet. It's just how I like it for hiking so you can get real peace of mind. I kind of wish I saw a little more wildlife but I guess that's why they're called wild-life. They have limited first come, first serve tent sites as well as limited RV sites. There are vault toilets as well. There is no drinking water, so bring your own water. I think I saw signage for $10 for a campsite, but check the resources to make sure. Also with most campgrounds pack it in, pack it out with regards to trash.

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.