Oregon · Hiking

Rim Trail

8.04-mile out-and-back trail in Oregon with 800 ft gain and 2,655 ft loss.

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

8.0 mi
round trip: 4,686 ft
climb: 7,739 ft
high point: Out and back
route

Is Rim Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Crater Lake National Park. It doesn't name Rim Trail, so check the source for the area it covers.

Cleetwood Cove Trail is CLOSED for Rehabilitation
Park closure covering Crater Lake National Park · NPS · Crater Lake National Park

As of Oct 23, 6:30 pm PDT · Source: NPS · Crater Lake National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Best time to visit Rim 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, 2.2 mi away at 6,485 ft. The station sits about 1,300 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.

Rim Trail is an out-and-back hike in Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, managed by the National Park Service. The route is about 16 miles long, with a total elevation gain of about 4,700 feet, and it is rated expert. The trail starts at roughly 7,100 feet and climbs to about 7,700 feet, with the steepest stretch around the 2-mile mark, where the grade reaches nearly 60 percent. 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. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the rim run cooler. Discovery Point Trail and Wizard Island Summit Trail both lie within about a mile, and Fumarole Bay Trail is about 1.2 miles away. For an overnight stay, Crater Lake National Park Mazama Campground is about 4 miles off.