Oregon has one national park: Crater Lake National Park, which is located in the Cascade Mountains and features a deep, pristine lake formed in the caldera of a collapsed volcano.
The natural wonder that is Crater Lake attracts visitors from around the world and is one of the most recognizable natural places in Oregon. Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and is fed only by rain and snow that collects in this natural caldera formed after the eruption of Mount Mazama. Visit here once and you will remember it for the rest of your life.
The most popular months to visit Crater Lake are July, August, and September. That’s when the park’s roads, trails, and facilties are usually fully open. May and June are months of transition in the park, as winter slowly gives way to summer. They can also be months of frustration, as lingering snow prevents us from accessing much of the park. Is it still worth visiting in May and June? Absolutely! But it helps to come prepared with realistic expectations of what you’ll be able to see and do.
If you’ve always wanted to swim or ride a boat in America’s deepest lake, this summer 2025 is your last chance to do it for a while. The trail closures will last from 2026 – 2028. The trail will be closed, and no boat tours will be allowed. If construction goes as planned, the trail will reopen in summer 2029.
Early Fall is a great time to visit the park. This time of year, the weather is mild, the skies are sunny, and the roads are clear. Even though Crater Lake is open year-round, many of the access roads close as early as October due to snow and remain closed through Spring. Nearby campgrounds for reservation include Lost Creek campground managed by NPS (reopening 2023), and Farewell Bend campground and Union Creek campground, managed by Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. All can be reserved on recreation.gov.
If you want to stay in the historic lodge, information is available on the travelcraterlake.com website.
America The Beautiful Pass
If you already have an America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, that’s the only entrance pass you need. Seniors, military, visitors with a permanent disability, and families with a 4th grader are eligible for a free or discounted America the Beautiful pass. Contact the National Park Service for discounted passes.
Crater Lake activities and events
The “Ride the Rim” event at Crater Lake National Park in 2025 will take place on September 6th and 13th: The Crater Lake Rim Road will be closed to vehicles on these days for people to enjoy the 33-mile trek. Mostly aimed at bicyclists, the event also welcomes hikers and runners on these days.
East Rim, the official vehicle free route, approximately 25 miles, will open at 8:00 am and will remain closed to vehicles until 4:00 pm. The East Rim can take roughly 4 hours to complete, give or take an hour based on individual experience levels. Please plan accordingly and start at an appropriate time. Riders can choose to continue past the vehicle free portion and complete the entire Rim Drive, which makes the ride a total of 33 miles. The additional stretch of riding with traffic and no shoulder does have a significant incline in narrow switchbacks for a small section, but is a great accomplishment for those that complete it. You can refer to the map to help better understand where the Start locations are located.
RIDE THE RIM CRATER LAKE WEBSITE
National Public Lands Day September 27, 2025
Since 1994, this annual event on the fourth Saturday of September has been the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort. Last year, over 130 national parks hosted events with 7,600 volunteers donating an impressive 41,500 hours of service. All national parks that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone on September 27, 2025 in celebration of National Public Lands Day.
National Public Lands Day is organized annually and led by the National Environmental Education Foundation, in partnership with the National Park Service and other federal agencies. Hundreds of thousands of volunteers roll up their sleeves to help restore and preserve public lands of all types and sizes—from iconic national parks and rivers to local urban green spaces and everything in between. National Public Lands Day is special because it provides all lovers of the environment—old and new—an opportunity to show our appreciation for these unique places.
Most days – Ranger hikes and programs: Guided hikes, stargazing sessions, and Junior Ranger talks are always happening (June to mid-September)