3 closures
The Cleetwood Cove Trail is CLOSED for construction. This critical project will fully rehabilitate the trail and marina to ensure safe access to the lake, provide a much-improved visitor experience, and protect the environment.
Winter road closures are in effect. The park's North Entrance Road, most of the Rim Drive, Cloudcap, and Pinnacles Road are closed to automobiles. The park's West and South Entrances are open, as is Hwy 62 through the park. These roads will not reopen until mid-June or early July depending on the snowpack.
The road from Park Headquarters to Rim Village is temporarily CLOSED due to heavy snow from the current weather system. Roads are very slick and covered with slush. Please use extreme caution if driving in the park. All Oregon snow tire and chain laws apply.
CLOSED ALL YEAR 2026 Lost Creek Campground is managed by the National Park Service. It usually opens in early July and closes in mid-October, depending on weather and other factors. It is for tent campers only--NO RVs, buses, trailers, or vans and truck with toilets. Registration is self-serve on the day of arrival. No advance registration is available. The campground fills by mid-afternoon. The only means of knowing site availability is upon arrival at the campground. The elevation 6,000 ft. (1,829 m).
Mazama Campground is open only in summer. It typically opens in June and closes in late September. The exact opening and closing dates are determined each year by the snow level in the camp sites, safety issues, and other factors. The campground is nestled in an old-growth forest at 6,000 ft. (1,829 m) in elevation. There are 214 sites each with a picnic table, fire ring, and bear-resistant food locker. The concessioner, ExplorCraterLake, manages the campground. For more details go to reservations.
Views of the lake are prominent and accessible from Rim Visitor Center. It is located at the historic Kiser Studio in Rim Village. Outdoor exhibits at the near-by Sinnott Memorial Overlook are open when the ice melts from the walkway in June until mid-October. Get your passport stamp when the visitor center is open. Rim Visitor Center is usually open seven days a week in summer.
Rim Visitor Center* is in Rim Village, 7 miles north of Highway 62 from Annie Springs Entrance Station or 14 miles south of the North Entrance** via West Rim Drive. Angle-in parking with additional parking in the picnic area. Large vehicles use the dedicated parking area at the entrance to Rim Village or near-by pullouts. *There is no physical address for the Rim Visitor Center. **North Entrance Road and West Rim Drive are closed from November 1 or the first significant snowfall to generally mid-June.
Steel Information Center has reopened after a major structural renovation to stabilize the building against seismic and excessive snow load forces. The historic integrity of this former ranger dormitory, now known as the Steel Information Center, remains while accessibility and safety have been increased for all visitors and staff. The building received get new electric wiring, IT cabling, plumbing, heating, and an updated interior building layout.
Steel Visitor Center is located at park headquarters, 4 miles north of Highway 62 and 3 miles south of Rim Village on Munson Valley Road (sometimes shown on maps as Volcanic Scenic Byway). Turn into park headquarters at the only blinking 3-way stop sign in the park. During summer, there are two accessible parking spaces in front of the flagpole, and drop-off space next to the winter-access snow tunnel on the right side of the visitor center.
Changes detected in official NPS alerts for Crater Lake.
Averaging 43 feet of snow each winter, snow often lingers on high elevation trails well into July.
Before embarking on hikes, backcountry routes, or winter travel, verify immediate conditions directly with National Park Service staff:
Alerts, closures, and operating notices on this page are fetched directly from the official U.S. National Park Service Developer API. Records are compared using content hashes to detect genuine status updates over time. Secondary topic labels assist quick trip scanning and do not alter official NPS classifications.