What's on in Crater Lake National Park, United States through the year

Busy — Winter / Christmas break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Deep winter (1 Nov – 30 Apr)

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Deep winter (1 Nov – 30 Apr)

Busy — Spring break in United States

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Deep winter (1 Nov – 30 Apr)

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Deep winter (1 Nov – 30 Apr)

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

• Closure

  Cleetwood Cove trail closed

  1 May – 31 Oct

  The only legal way down to the water is shut for a multi-year rebuild, which also means no boat tours and no Wizard Island landings. You can still drive the rim; you cannot touch the lake. Check the park's conditions page before booking anything around it. Source ↗

• Season

  Late snowmelt

  1 May – 30 JunOff-season shutdownClosures

  There is still snow lying at headquarters through May and often into June, so most trails, the north entrance and the far side of Rim Drive stay shut. You can usually drive to Rim Village and look at the lake, and that is about it. Source ↗

Busy — Summer break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Cleetwood Cove trail closed (1 May – 31 Oct), Late snowmelt (1 May – 30 Jun)

Busy — Summer break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Opening

  Rim Drive fully open

  5 Jul – 31 Oct · usuallyTrail season

  The full thirty-three-mile loop and the north entrance usually clear by early July and close again on 1 November, or sooner if it snows first. This is the short window when the whole park is reachable by car. Source ↗

• Nature

  Alpine wildflowers

  10 Jul – 25 Aug · usuallyWildflowers & blooms

  The meadows along the Pacific Crest Trail and up the Castle Crest loop go over in about six weeks, straight out of the snowmelt. Late July is usually the middle of it, and the mosquitoes peak at the same moment. Source ↗

Still on: Cleetwood Cove trail closed (1 May – 31 Oct)

Busy — Summer break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Cleetwood Cove trail closed (1 May – 31 Oct), Rim Drive fully open (5 Jul – 31 Oct (usually)), Alpine wildflowers (10 Jul – 25 Aug (usually))

Busy — Summer break in United States

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Cleetwood Cove trail closed (1 May – 31 Oct), Rim Drive fully open (5 Jul – 31 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Cleetwood Cove trail closed (1 May – 31 Oct), Rim Drive fully open (5 Jul – 31 Oct (usually))

Busy — Thanksgiving break in United States

• Season

  Deep winter

  1 Nov – 30 AprIce seasonClosures

  One of the snowiest places in the country: the north entrance and Rim Drive shut, the west and south roads are ploughed, and rangers run snowshoe walks from Rim Village. The park's own warning is that cloud hides the lake about half the season. Source ↗

Busy — Winter / Christmas break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Deep winter (1 Nov – 30 Apr)