Crater Peak Trail
- 3.5 mi
- round trip
- 2,376 ft
- climb
- 7,259 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Sep
- best months
Is Crater Peak Trail open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Crater Lake National Park. It doesn't name Crater Peak Trail, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).
Rim Drive and North Entrance Road are CLOSED for the Season.
Park closure covering Crater Lake National Park · NPS · Crater Lake National Park
Cleetwood Cove Trail is CLOSED for Rehabilitation
Park closure covering Crater Lake National Park · NPS · Crater Lake National Park
As of · Source: NPS · Crater Lake National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Crater Peak Trail is a moderate hike in Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, managed by the National Park Service. The trail is about 3.5 miles long, and the round trip adds up to roughly 7 miles with a total elevation gain of about 2,376 feet. The route starts at an elevation of about 7,178 feet and reaches a high point of about 7,259 feet, with the steepest stretch coming within half a mile of the start at a grade of about 21%. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July and August highs around 69°F with only about four wet days a month, while winter months bring highs in the low 30s and rain on most days. A fee is charged for the hike. Crater Lake National Park Mazama Campground is about 2 miles away, and Godfrey Glen Trail and Power Line Road are both within about 3 miles. Castle Crest Trail is about 3.4 miles off.
Best time to go · Jun–Sep
Best time to visit Crater Peak Trail
Best months: June–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
33° / 20°
18 wet
Feb
34° / 19°
17 wet
Mar
36° / 20°
18 wet
Apr
40° / 23°
16 wet
May
49° / 29°
12 wet
Jun
57° / 34°
7 wet
Jul
69° / 41°
4 wet
Aug
69° / 42°
4 wet
Sep
63° / 37°
6 wet
Oct
51° / 30°
10 wet
Nov
38° / 23°
16 wet
Dec
33° / 19°
18 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Crater Lake Nps Hq, OR, 3.8 mi away at 6,485 ft. The station sits about 800 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Don Henise, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Power Line Road
~5 min drive
0.33-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 24 ft of elevation gain.
Photo: Krystal.Hamlin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Annie Creek Canyon Trail
~5 min drive
2.14-mile out-and-back hike in Annie Creek Canyon, Oregon with 845 ft gain.
Photo: w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Rim Trail
~10 min drive
8.04-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 800 ft gain and 2,655 ft loss.
HIKE
Mckie Camp
~14 min drive
11.76-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 1,132 ft elevation gain.
Photo: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Castle Crest Trail
~6 min drive
0.79-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 206 ft gain.
Photo: Krystal.Hamlin, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Annie Creek Spur Trail
~7 min drive
0.72-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 317 ft gain.
HIKE
Red Blanket Trail
~16 min drive
8.3-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 3,006 ft elevation gain and loss.
HIKE
Castle Crest Wildflower Trail
~6 min drive
The Trail At 6300 feet in elevation, the Castle Crest Wildflower Trail loops around a spring-fed meadow, through a mixed conifer forest, over streams, past a grassy slope, and below Castle Crest Ridge which towers 2,000 feet above the trail on the north and east sides. All…
Photo: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Dutton Creek Trail
~8 min drive
4.76-mile out-and-back hike in Oregon with 1,223 ft elevation gain
HIKE
Varmit Camp Trail
~16 min drive
5.9-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 2,773 ft elevation gain and loss.
Route details
- Distance
- 3.5 mi round trip
- Climbing
- About 2,376 ft
- Summit
- 7,258 ft
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Time
- About 1.5 hours
Questions about this route
How long is the Crater Peak Trail on Crater Peak?
About 3.5 mi round trip.
How much elevation gain is on the Crater Peak Trail?
About 2,376 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the Crater Peak Trail?
It is rated moderate.
How long does the Crater Peak Trail take?
About 1.5 hours round trip.
Conditions and forecast on Crater Peak
Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
