Crater Lake National Park Introduction

Crater Lake National Park covers an area of 249 square miles primarily focused on Crater Lake itself. Crater Lake is not a meteor crater, but rather is a volcanic caldera – a hole made by the collapse of a volcano. Volcanic eruptions built up a 10,000 – 12,0000 foot mountain now called Mt. Mazama until seven thousand seven hundred years ago, when the volcano exploded in a cataclysmic eruption. During this eruption, so much material was evacuated from the internal magma chamber that the remaining mountain collapsed and the caldera that we now see today half filled with water.

Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States at 1,943 feet deep, also making it the seventh deepest in the world. The clear fresh water is fed by the heavy snowfall in the park. While snowfall is common in the Cascade Mountains, Crater Lake National Park, itself, is one of the snowiest areas in the Northwest

Outdoor Activities
November through April is snowy, but provides wonderful skiing and snowshoeing opportunities. A wide variety of trails and unplowed roads provide winter enthusiasts with access to breathtaking views, open slopes, and dense forests, making Crater Lake ideal for both day trips and backcountry campers who are prepared to face the challenges of winter.

During the Summer months, Fishing is not only allowed in Crater Lake, but it’s actually encouraged because fish are not native to the lake. They were introduced from 1888 to 1941, and both Rainbow Trout and Kokanee Salmon still live in the lake today. No license is required and there is no limit on how many you may catch – the only rule is that you must use artificial bait. Fishing is allowed along the shoreline and on Wizard Island.

Climate
Weather plays a dramatic role at Crater Lake National Park. Winter, especially, shapes the landscape; snow generally begins to accumulate each year in October and doesn't melt in most places until the following June. Summer weather is more predictable, with warm, dry days, blue skies, and cool nights. Nevertheless, there may be days even in August when the lake is completely obscured by clouds and fog. Visitors to Crater Lake National Park should be prepared for any kind of weather, any time of the year.

Interesting Fact
Crater Lake National Park gets an average of 533 inches of snow per year - that is more than 44 feet of snow!

Other Details
The park is always open, but many of the roads and facilities are closed during the winter.

Crater Lake National Park
P.O. Box 7
Crater Lake, Oregon 97604
Phone: (541)594-3000

Location