Crater Lake National Park

Rim Village

Built around a historic district of native stone and log buildings, this village sits on the caldera rim with views onto the lake. The Rim Village Promenade follows a native stone parapet wall for about a third of a mile, with three observation bays along the edge. Nature and art shaped the rustic architecture, and walkways trace natural plantings. The Community House is the oldest structure the National Park Service built in the park. Sinnott Memorial Overlook, the most popular viewpoint, was designed as a trailside museum with exhibits on the geology of Mount Mazama. The historic Crater Lake Lodge overlooks the water, and the Rim Visitor Center occupies the historic Kiser Studio. Visitors can take a self-guided walk or join a ranger program, including Junior Ranger activities for kids.

Cleetwood Cove

The Cleetwood Cove Trail is the only legal way to reach the shoreline of the lake, and visitors use it to swim, wade and fish. Over roughly 1.1 miles, the path drops about 700 feet in long switchbacks, so the descent is steep and strenuous, and the climb back is the harder part. Loose crushed pumice covers the surface and turns slippery when dry, so sturdy shoes and trekking poles help. The bottom offers no sandy beach, only boulders along the water's edge. Concession-run boats leave from the Cleetwood Marina dock for loops around the lake, with a call at Wizard Island where riders can get on and off. Toilets are available both up at the parking area and down by the water. Cloudcap Overlook, also on the rim, is a convenient stop before or after the hike.

Mazama Village

Set among old-growth lodgepole pines near the south entrance, this village pairs lodging with camping. Ten cabins, each holding four private rooms, have a rustic exterior but feel like a contemporary inn inside. At Mazama Campground nearby, trees overhang most sites, and each one has a table for meals, a ring for campfires, and a locker for bear-safe food storage. The Mazama Village Store carries groceries, camping supplies and firewood, while a restaurant, a cafe and an amphitheater are close by. The upper stretch of the Annie Creek Canyon Trail begins at the campground amphitheater and runs wide and nearly level, though roots and rocks may be underfoot. The drop into the canyon is steep, yet the view from the top is excellent.

Wizard Island

A small cinder cone volcano rising from the water, Wizard Island is reached by boat. A shuttle leaves from Cleetwood Cove, the only place where a trail reaches the lake itself, and carries visitors across to the island for a few hours of exploring. From the summit, hikers get wide views of the lake, and visitors look down into the island's crater, the Witches Cauldron. Fumarole Bay is another spot to explore, and swimming and fishing are also options here. The return trip ends with the steep Cleetwood Cove Trail, a strenuous climb back up to the rim. From the rim itself, Watchman Peak and overlooks along Rim Drive give good views of the island.