Rim Drive
Dozens of overlooks around the caldera.
Crater Lake National Park
America's deepest lake, startlingly blue, in the caldera of a volcano that erupted 7,700 years ago.
At 1,943 feet, it's fed only by rain and snow. Rim Drive circles the crater for 33 miles, and boats visit Wizard Island in summer.
- Best Time
- July to September
- Time Needed
- 1–2 days
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Year-round
- Getting There
- About 5 hours from Portland.
What to See
0 of 4 are freeCleetwood Cove Trail
The only way down to the water.
Wizard Island boat tour
Summer boat trips, booked ahead.
Crater Lake Lodge
A 1915 rustic lodge on the rim.
Know Before You Go
- Snow can linger into July.
- Rim Drive is often partly closed in winter.
Where to Stay
Stay at the lodge, or in Bend.
Where to Eat
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Go Next
If You're NearbyPortland
Oregon
Food carts, Powell's City of Books and rose gardens, with the Columbia River Gorge an hour away.
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Worth a DetourMount Rainier National Park
Washington
A glacier-covered volcano with wildflower meadows in late summer, a day trip from Seattle.
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Worth a DetourHistoric Columbia River Highway
Oregon
America's first scenic highway, built in 1913, through a waterfall-lined gorge just east of Portland.
Full Guide
Last checked 2026-11-01. Part of the Pacific Northwest list.