Crater Lake National Park is located in southern Oregon and it is one of the United States national parks. A national park in Oregon, Crater Lake was established in 1902, making it the fifth oldest in the United States and the state’s sole national park. Crater Lake’s crater, a relic of Mount Mazama, a volcano that was destroyed, and the surrounding hills and woods make up the park. At its deepest point, the lake is about 1,949 feet deep, making it the deepest in the United States and the ninth-deepest in the world. It is often referred to as the seventh-deepest lake in the world. Crater Lake ranks as the third deepest in the world at 1,148 feet. As Mount Mazama’s catastrophic eruptions and subsequent collapse occurred 7,700 years ago, Mount Mazama’s almost symmetrical 1,200-foot-deep caldera was created. The relatively damp environment characteristic of the Cascade Range’s crest is also a factor in the astounding depth of this volcanic lake.
There are no streams that flow into or out of Crater Lake. Subsurface seepage and evaporation finally remove all the water from the lake. All precipitation in the form of snow and rain fills the lake to the brim, creating a stunning blue tint.
Entrances to the Crater Lake National Park
- To get to the park’s West Entrance from Medford, use Highway 62. Throughout the year, it is open.
- You may get to the park’s South Entrance through Highway 97, which connects to Highway 62 and the park’s southern entrance.
- As a northbound traveler, exit the I-5 south of Eugene. To get to Highway 97, use Highway 58. You may get to the park’s North Entrance by driving west on Highway 138. To get to Chiloquin if the North Entrance is blocked, use Highway 97 south. Get off of Highway 62 at the park’s South Entrance and follow it to the parking lot.
- You may get to the park’s North Entrance from the northwest (Roseburg) by following Highway 138 east. Take Highway 230 to the West Entrance if the North Entrance is blocked; otherwise, take Highway 62 to the West Entrance.
How to reach Crater Lake National Park?
By Car
- The park and the surrounding region have poor cell phone service. Keep a map or GPS handy.
- You may have difficulty finding the park with certain GPS devices since there is no real street address. Park Headquarters is 3 miles from Rim Village and may be entered as a town or waypoint on a map, or you can enter the coordinates for the Park Headquarters. The coordinates for this location are 42° 53′ 48.91″ north and 122° 08′ 03.08″ west.
- It is important to know that the park’s North Entrance is closed for around 7 months of the year. May to late June is when it’s scheduled to open for business. Check out the current conditions page to see what’s going on. Seasonally, the park’s south and West Entrances are open.
- The Mazama Village Store sells unleaded petrol throughout the summer months. On the Current Conditions page, you can see the current operating hours. Chiloquin (35 miles west) and Prospect (33 miles west of the park headquarters) is the nearest petrol stations for the remainder of the year (34 miles south of Park Headquarters).
By Plane
The Park Airplane isn’t the only option for getting to the park. Medford, Oregon, is the nearest commercial airport to where I am now located (75 miles from Park Headquarters). This airport is serviced by airlines such as Allegiant and American Airlines, Delta, and United.
By Train
To Klamath Falls, Oregon, Amtrak operates a daily service via train (63 miles from Park Headquarters). The Amtrak station to Rim Village shuttle operates from July to early September.
Public Transportation
There is no public transit in the immediate area of the park at this time.
Trailers, RVs, and Buses
Recreational vehicles of all sizes are permitted in the park. Drivers should be aware of bikes and pedestrians on the park’s limited roads. Read “To Tow or Not To Tow” on the Scenic Rim Drive website for further RV information.