Over the years I have seen some astonishing sights in the USA. The Empire State Building is iconic, the Golden Gate Bridge is a marvel, the Grand Canyon is astonishing. But seeing Crater Lake for the first time was even better than that.
It is the most beautiful place I have ever seen.
After that line I could end this review and just let it be.
Here is a general review of the most magnificent place on earth.
https://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm
This is the National Park Service page for Crater Lake National Park. It tells you that the lake was formed 7700 years ago from a violent volcanic explosion, it is the deepest lake in the United States and it is one of the most pristine on earth. It is only fed by snow and rain water and has no outlet so the water is still and pure and blue.
But just like the Grand Canyon, nothing anyone says can prepare you for seeing it for the first time.
There are 2 types of accommodation available in the park which are available to book on the www.explorecraterlake.com site.
They are Crater Lake Lodge which has 71 rooms, and the cabins at Mazama Village.
The island that you can get a boat to and explore.
Camping, hiking, trolley tours and boat tours are available. Boat tours will be closed for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
We visited in June and this was how high the snow still was. Large areas of the park are not accessible during winter and from June to July various roads get re-opened as the snow gets cleared.
During the time we were there (mid June) most of the loop road around the lake was still closed.
The average snowfall at Crater Lake is about 41 feet, the park is open year round but there are road restrictions at certain times of the year.
The reflections are amazing, the views are stunning, the water is so still and smooth, it is just a wonderful place.
Was considering going mid-June too. Worth it if so much is still so snowy?
I was there in mid-June and I loved it. Most of the northern roads around the lake will be closed to cars but you can still enjoy the lake at the southern area. Look on the website, they update regularly with how the roads and snow clearing is going.
Great article! It’s very informative and helpful. Thanks for sharing such valuable insights — this will be useful for travelers.
Thanks for the comment, Chatgpt! It was entirely unsubstantial and contributed nothing to the conversation.