Oregon · Hiking

North Crater

North CraterPhoto: Don Henise, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
17.4 mi
round trip
1,508 ft
climb
5,890 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Caution today

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 1 h ago

Is North Crater open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Diamond Lake Ranger District.

As of · Source: USFS · Diamond Lake Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

North Crater is a hard hike of about 17.4 miles on an out-and-back route in Oregon's Umpqua National Forest, within the Diamond Lake Ranger District. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and is open from April 1 to November 15. It climbs steadily from a start at about 5,350 feet to a high point of 5,890 feet, with a total gain of 1,508 feet for the round trip. The climb is most intense near the beginning, with a section of about 11% grade at mile 0.26. The trail has a natural surface and is open to bikes. That makes it a viable option for riders as well as hikers. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. A nearby weather station at Crater Lake records typical July and August highs around 69°F with only about four wet days a month, while winter brings highs in the low 30s and rain on most days. Several trails lie close by, including Spruce Ridge Trail at about 0.6 miles and Howlock Mountain Trail at about 1.1 miles. For an overnight stay, Diamond Lake Campground is about 1.7 miles away and Thielsen View Campground about 2 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 North Crater

    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, 19.7 mi away at 6,485 ft. The station sits about 600 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Spruce Ridge TrailPhoto: Don Henise, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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Spruce RidgePhoto: Don Henise, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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~2 min drive

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Howlock Mountain TrailPhoto: Don Henise, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Howlock Mountain Trail

~2 min drive

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Maidu Loop TrailPhoto: Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

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LAKE WEST SNOMOPhoto: OregonDOT, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

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Howlock Mtn.Photo: brewbooks, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Howlock Mtn.

~4 min drive

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