Crater Lake National Park Travel Information
When Mount Mazama erupted a little less than 7,000 years ago, its
center imploded to form a caldera that gradually filled up with water,
creating Crater Lake. With depths of 1,932 feet, it is the deepest
lake in the United States (the seventh-deepest in the world) and is
known for its stunning, sapphire blue color. In 1902, Congress
established the lake and some 180,000 surrounding acres as the
nation's fifth national park, and Oregon's first and only. Crater
Lake National Park is technically open year-round, although July and
August are the most popular months for visitation; snowdrifts can
close roads as late as early July, and winter services are extremely
limited due to heavy snow. There are no overnight accommodations in
the park from mid-October to mid-May, and visitors are not allowed to
sleep in vehicles. Nonetheless, some intrepid visitors partake of
seasonal cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and winter
camping. Crater Lake is encircled by subtly colored cliffs fringed
with hemlock, fir, and pine. Late-June to mid-September, several boat
tours depart daily for sightseeing tours around the lake, and the
33-mile Rim Drive accesses more than 20 scenic overlooks and several
mountain trails. During this peak season, visitors may stay at any of
the park's 214 camp sites, cabins, or historic Crater Lake
Lodge. Access to the park is by one of three entrances on the North,
South and West side. The South and West entrances are open year
round. The North entrance, by way of route 138, is closed in the
winter and spring. Dates vary, but generally the entrance is open
from late June through the end of October. Crater Lake National
Park is located in southwest Oregon, east of Portland. To learn more
about the area, please select a topic of interest from the navigation
bar on the left.
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