Oregon · Hiking

Lightning Spring Trail

4.2 mi
round trip
1,596 ft
climb
7,169 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Lightning Spring Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Crater Lake National Park. It doesn't name Lightning Spring 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.

Lightning Spring Trail is a moderate out-and-back hike in Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, managed by the National Park Service. The trail is about 4.2 miles long, and the round trip climbs about 1,600 feet, with the high point at 7,169 feet. The route is front-loaded, with the steepest stretch at about 1.5 miles in, and the start sits at roughly 5,879 feet. 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. The trail is about 8.4 miles long round trip, and the estimated time is about 3.5 hours. A fee is charged. Nearby, Watchman Peak Trail is about 2.5 miles away and the Rim Trail about 2.8 miles. For an overnight stay, Mazama Campground is about 6 miles off, and the Fumarole Bay Trail is about 3.5 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Lightning Spring 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.

    1. Jan

      33° / 20°

      18 wet

    2. Feb

      34° / 19°

      17 wet

    3. Mar

      36° / 20°

      18 wet

    4. Apr

      40° / 23°

      16 wet

    5. May

      49° / 29°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      57° / 34°

      7 wet

    7. Jul

      69° / 41°

      4 wet

    8. Aug

      69° / 42°

      4 wet

    9. Sep

      63° / 37°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      51° / 30°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      38° / 23°

      16 wet

    12. Dec

      33° / 19°

      18 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Crater Lake Nps Hq, OR, 4.7 mi away at 6,485 ft. The station sits about 700 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

Watchman Peak TrailPhoto: Markgorzynski, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Watchman Peak Trail

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Rim TrailPhoto: w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

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Dutton Creek TrailPhoto: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Fumarole Bay TrailPhoto: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Discovery Point TrailPhoto: Šarūnas Burdulis from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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Wizard Island Summit TrailPhoto: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Wizard Island Summit Trail

~6 min drive

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors