The Pinnacles
Only 90 miles of maintained hiking trails penetrate the park’s wilderness and explore the lake’s rim. This place is buried in snow most of the year and Crater Lake is so magnificent and spellbinding that it monopolizes most visitors’ time, but you should take at least a day to explore the area on foot. One nice thing is that choosing a trail is a very manageable task. For unsurpassed views of Crater Lake, hike to Garfield Peak or Mount Scott. Both lead high into the Cascades where you can peer down into the lake’s pure blue depths. For more easily accessible vantage points try Discovery Point or Watchman Peak Trails. The following table provides a more complete list of hiking trails. All trailheads are numbered and marked on the map.
Easy Hiking Trails
Trail Name | Trailhead (# on map) | Length (Roundtrip distances) | Notes
Godfrey Glen | Munson Valley Rd (1) | 1.0 mile | Self-guiding loop • Canyon views and old-growth forest
Castle Crest Wildflower | Park Headquarters (2) | 0.5 mile | Self-guiding loop • Wildflowers mid-July to mid-August
Lady of the Woods | Steel Info. Center (3) | 0.5 mile | Self-guiding loop • Discusses park architecture and nature
Discovery Point (favorite) | Rim Village (4) | 2.2 miles | Follows Crater Lake Rim from Rim Village to Discovery Pt.
Pinnacles | Pinnacles Spur Road (5) | 1.0 mile | View volcanic spires of Pinnacle Valley • Bikes allowed
Sun Notch Viewpoint | Rim Drive (6) | 0.5 mile | Uphill walk to views of Phantom Ship rising 160-ft from the lake
Fumarole Bay | Wizard Island (7) | 1.8 miles | Rocky trail follows the shoreline of Wizard Island
Moderate Hiking Trails
Wizard Summit (favorite) | Wizard Island (7) | 2.0 miles | Rocky trail to 90-ft deep crater of Wizard Island
Annie Creek Canyon | Mazama Campground (8) | 1.7 miles | Self-guiding loop • Wildflowers mid-July to mid-August
Watchman Peak (favorite) | Watchman Overlook (9) | 1.6 miles | Excellent location for sunset views and Wizard Island
Crater Peak | Rim Drive (10) | 6.4 miles | Meadow, forest, small volcano summit, no lake views
Boundary Springs | Hwy 230 Milepost 19 (11) | 5.0 miles | Leads to Rogue River’s headwaters • Unmaintained
Strenuous Hiking Trails
Garfield Peak | Crater Lake Lodge (12) | 3.4 miles | Great bang for the mileage • Wildflowers and lake views
Cleetwood Cove | Rim Drive (13) | 2.2 miles | Steep trail provides only access to Crater Lake
Mount Scott (favorite) | Rim Drive (14) | 5.0 miles | Hike to the highest point in the park • Wonderful lake views
Union Peak | Hwy 62, PCT Trailhead (15) | 11.0 miles | No lake views from the top • Highlights are geology and ecology