If it’s possible to be inspired by simply opening your eyes and looking around, that’s how I felt during my recent visit to Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. My husband and I are on a quest to visit every National Park in the United States. My recent trip to Oregon naturally required a stop at the state’s only National Park.

Crater Lake National Park is the deepest lake in America at 1,943 feet. A volcano once stood 12,000 feet tall where the lake now is, but after a major eruption 7,700 years ago, the volcano collapsed and is now the lake we see today. Later eruptions created Wizard Island, a single peak that rises up out of the lake (and one you’ll soon read my recommendation to visit and climb). The water is a stunning blue, and the lake is surrounded by cliffs. Get ready to enter a magical outdoor world!

If you have 36 to 48 hours in Crater Lake National Park, this is your go-to guide for a visit.

Getting to Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake is easy to access by renting a car and driving from Oregon’s main airports. Medford is the closest airport to the park. We were touring the state during our visit, so we drove from Bend, Oregon, to Crater Lake (about a two-hour drive). The majority of the drive was through a National Forest, and I had almost no phone or cell service the majority of the ride. We saw views of Mt. Hood on the way, and the drive was really beautiful.

Once you enter the park, roads are quite narrow and a bit harrowing at times. We had a large commercial bus in front of us and there were moments we weren’t sure how the vehicle would move forward without plunging over the cliff. We were suddenly glad we had a small sedan that we could easily maneuver on the winding path.

My first look at the lake at the initial overlook we stopped at took my breath away. Crater Lake is by far the most beautiful National Park I’ve been to thus far.

The slopes we passed on our way around the lake were still covered in snow, even during the middle of summer. As a Florida girl who loves the cold, I was smiling ear-to-ear.

Where to Stay at Crater Lake National Park

Lodging at or near Crater Lake National Park is very limited, and the park is typically only open for visits from May to October. I would recommend staying at Crater Lake Lodge. It is a 71-room historic hotel that was first opened in 1915. Make your reservations for both lodging and dining early, as spots fill up and there is little else to choose from. The rooms don’t reflect the price you’ll pay to stay here, but the convenience and beauty make it worth it. You should know there is no wifi, and you won’t have cell service while you’re here or in the park for the most part. As it should be when visiting the most beautiful places in the world, right?

The lodge has a beautiful back deck lined with rocking chairs overlooking stunning views of the lake. It is also the perfect place to watch the sunrise, which we did before our hike on the first morning during our visit.

Where to Hike

We only had about 36 hours at Crater Lake before making our way to the Oregon Coast. We wanted to make the most of our hiking time, and we really wanted to experience the lake. Here’s what I would recommend to maximize your time and views at Crater Lake while getting in some quality hiking miles. The total hiking distance was 5.5 miles. If you are staying longer, the park’s newsletter, which is updated seasonally, is a great resource to check out.

1. Make the 20-minute drive from Crater Lake Lodge to the Cleetwood Cove trailhead. This is the only place where you can get direct access to the lake/shore. It is about a one-mile hike from the parking lot down to the lake, which includes a 700-foot descent. Going down only takes about 25 minutes, depending on how many times you stop to take photos. And yes, you eventually have to hike back up the way you came to get out.
2. Make a reservation to take a volcanic boat cruise to Wizard Island to get a view of the lake unlike any other. If you have a whole day, you can take a guided boat tour with a park ranger that then drops you off at Wizard Island for a few hours, or, you can simply take the Wizard Island Shuttle that drops you off at Wizard Island for three hours. Tours leave in the morning and afternoon.
3. Once at Wizard Island, make the 1.1-mile hike to the top of the summit, and walk around the perimeter of the crater at the top. Bring snacks to enjoy your time at the top. After you make the 1.1-mile hike back down, take another short hike over to another cove by the lake that is covered in lava rocks. Your boat will then return you to Cleetwood Cove, where you will make the 700-foot climb over a mile back up to your car.

Once we made it to Wizard Island, we explored the peak. Here are some views from the hike up and our time at the top.

After we hiked the summit and made our way back down, we explored another short hike over to an area of the lake covered in lava rocks.

If you’ve never been to Crater Lake National Park, definitely add this to your bucket list. It was a fantastic trip, and I’m looking forward to one day returning.

Next up is Channel Islands National Park in California next month!

Have you ever been to Crater Lake National Park? Where did you hike? If not, tell me how your summer is going.