How to Experience Oregon’s Crater Lake in 2 days
An easy fun-filled weekend in one of Oregon’s Seven Wonders
The weekend is on the horizon and you are looking for something to do or somewhere to go. You’ve thought about all your normal spots, but for some reason, a getaway out of your normal realm is tugging at your heart. If you’re based in Oregon, Crater Lake is a perfect way to spend your time off on a little weekend getaway.
We arrived in Crater Lake National Park towards the end of the summer season and it proved to be a great time to come, as the crowds were limited and the sights were vast. Andrew had explored this National Park when he was younger, but I had never set foot into this part of Oregon, and I was excited to be able to experience one of Oregon’s wonders.
We spent three days in the park driving, sightseeing, and hiking around, but you can condense this down to two days if you are looking for a perfect weekend spot!
Day 1: Drive the Loop
Crater Lake is separated into two parts, the East and West Rim. This road circles the top rim of the crater, and let me tell you, the views are great from every turnout.
Turnouts you shouldn’t miss:
- Wineglass Turnout (East Rim): A great organic spot for a photo (aka no barriers between you and the view).
- Sentinel Rock Turnout (East Rim) – Go just beyond the rock wall of the turn out to find a small trail that leads down to a fantastic view of Phantom Ship, Pumice Castle, and the deep blue lake below!
- Crater Lake Lodge (West Rim): A little sight worth seeing/enjoying on it’s own – but we’ll get to that in a sec.
- Watchman Overlook (West Rim): An amazing view of Wizard Island (which looks huge from this overlook).
Please note: that most of the Rim road is closed during the winter season and may not open until as late as early July due to snow conditions. Come back in the winter months to enjoy the quant lodge with large fireplaces in the evening, and snow activities such as snowshoeing or cross-country skiing in the day time.
Day 1 Evening: Enjoy the Lodge
All are welcome at the Lodge! Personally, I love any excuse to go into an old lodge, and though the Crater Lake lodge is quant and non-fussy, I still loved the warmth it provided. Another thing I love is learning about the history of the build for any lodge, and in this aspect, the information provided did not disappoint.
If you make a left at the front desk, you’ll find yourself in a little nook that used to be the old hotel bar back in the day, which is now turned into a historical exhibit equipped with timelines, photos and artifacts. Once you’ve taken in some of the history, find a nice cozy spot in one of the several sitting areas offered. If it’s still light outside, take some time on the deck, rocking in handmade rocking chairs and taking in the view. If you come in after dinner and darkness has fallen, we advise to grab a glass of wine, claim a spot by one of the two roaring fireplaces, and play some cards. Cribbage is our favorite!
Night 1: The Luxuries of Free Camping
Since we ‘camp’ full-time, finding free, safe and awesome spots to set up for the night is crucial. We found a great spot at Annie Creek Sno-Park, a dispersed camping site which is open all year. There are pit toilets and a level parking lot, but we recommend you take the unpaved road down into the trees and camp along the river.
Find our little river spot here, which is about 15 mins outside the Annie Spring Entrance on the south side.
Day 2: Hikes You Can’t Miss
If you are only here for a limited amount if time, there are really two hikes that you shouldn’t miss. One taking you upward towards an expansive view of the Lake, and the other taking you down to the actual water. Both can be done in the same day, but we advise going down first.
Hike 1: Cleetwood Cove Trail (2.2 miles round-trip, strenuous, yes you will sweat)
Start your day off with a hike plus a swim at the Cleetwood Cove Trail, which takes you through a series of switchbacks from the top of the rim right down to the water’s edge. Once you walk the 1.1 miles down to the lake, peel off those layers, put on a swimsuit, and jump into the very cold 55 degree water. Yes, that may sound cold, but it’s totally worth it. Walk/Jump into the more shallow areas by going to the sides of the point, or muster up some courage and jump off the 20 ft. high rock into the depth below. Make sure to open your eyes once in the water, as the water is some of the clearest we’ve been to, but please leave your snorkel gear at home – it’s not allowed in the lake. Be prepared, it’s super easy to spend a few hours here, especially once the sun is shining and you start watching other jumpers.
What to bring:
Good shoes
Water
Swimsuit
Extra clothes (if you wear your swimsuit down)
Towel
Camera
A snack if you plan to be down there most of the day
What not to bring:
Face mask
Floaties
Snorkel Gear
Things of this nature are not allowed in the lake as contamination from other bodies of water is highly possible – help keep this lake clear!!
Warning: This trail isn’t for the faint of heart as the climb back up is very steep and sweating will happen. Take breaks if needed. Also, if the winds are up, we do not advise jumping off the high rocks. Please be careful.
Hike 2: The Watchman Trail (1.6 miles round-trip, moderate, bring a camera)
Gain an even wider glimpse of Crater Lake at the top of The Watchman, a short hike found at the Watchman Overlook. Though the trail goes up, the elevation gain isn’t bad, coming in at 420 ft in 0.8 miles (one way). Plus, the views are spectacular and you almost feel right on top of Wizard Island, so it’s definitely worth the climb. We did this hike before dinner, and proved to be the perfect little pre-meal excursion. If you are heading back for home, make sure to fit this in before lunch and take off.
If you are staying a little longer, consider looking into these other hikes:
- Mount Scott (5.0 miles round-trip, strenuous): Known as the highest point in the park, coming in at 8,929 ft in elevation, this hike will provide stunning views as well as an old fire lookout.
- Plaikni Falls (2.0 miles round-trip, easy): Though we didn’t make it out this way (we forgot to head out towards the pinnacles, which is where this hike is located), I’m a sucker for any waterfall, so you should put this on your list and tell me how it is.
Sand Meets Summit Crater Lake Travel Tips:
- Gas Stations (and one with diesel): If you are looking to fill up before heading out, you’ve got two closer options. One is at Mazama Village, just inside the south entrance station. Here you will find gas options, but no diesel. The closest diesel pump we could find was about 17 miles outside the south entrance at a truck stop heading towards Klamath Falls. All we can say is do your research before your tank gets too low. We overheard someone just about ran out of gas inside the park at 9pm, and his options weren’t very vast.
- Take in the views. We realize that this National Park really only has one feature, and that’s the lake. Make sure to find joys in the little things, like braving the cold waters or taking a night by the fire in the lodge.
Sand Meets Summit Update:
We spent the month of August in and around Oregon for several family events and van updates and we are now happy to say we are back on the road and excited to be moving again! The first week of September we filled our time at Lake Tahoe, soaking up some H2O and Vitamin D, and celebrating our first year of marriage. The week was filled with lake time, puppy swims (which was amazing to see since Ziggy doesn’t swim often!), frisbee golf, and a lot of hanging out! Now we are in southern Utah, excited to be experiencing National Parks galore!
