FAQ

Answers to frequently asked questions about Crater Lake National Park.

Plan Around FAQ

A good stop is not just something to read about. Once it belongs on the day, move into a saved trip and build the route around it.

Add to trip View park guide

Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.

FAQ Details

Here are some frequently asked questions and answeers about Crater Lake National Park, courtesy of the National Park Service: **How much snow typically falls at the park, and does it every completely melt?** On average, the park gets around 533 inches of snow per year (that's almost 44 feet). The biggest snow year on record was in the winter of 1932-33, when the park accumulated 879 inches (73 feet) over the course of a single winter season. The snow usually melts enough for roads to re-open around July. Most seasons, the snow is completely gone by August, though in higher snow years not all of the snowbanks melt before it starts snowing again in October. **How deep is Crater Lake?** At 1,943 feet deep, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the country and the ninth deepest in the world. **Does Crater Lake freeze?** The surface of Crater Lake has not been completely frozen over since 1949. The nearby Pacific Ocean helps keep the temperatures over Crater Lake relatively moderate. Winters do not typically get cold enough to freeze a body of water as big as Crater Lake. **Where do I go to swim in the lake?** The Cleetwood Cove Trail, on the northeast side of the lake, is the only access point to get to the lake's shore. The trail typically opens for the summer in mid or late June, and is recommended only for people with strong physical fitness: it descends almost 700-feet over the course of just a mile. The trail drops you in Cleetwood Cove, where visitors are welcome to swim. Keep in mind, however, that the lake water is always cold. **Are there any fish in the lake, and can I go fishing? ** Fish are not native to Crater Lake; they were introduced between 1888 and 1941. The lake was originally stocked with six species, but today only Rainbow Trout and Kokanee Salmon remain. Fishing is allowed, and encouraged, on the shore in Cleetwood Cove or on Wizard Island for those who buy a boat tour to the island. You do not need a fishing license, and there are no catch limits. The only restriction is that you have to use artificial bait. **What happened to the meteor that made the crater?** Crater Lake is not a meteor crater; it is a volcanic caldera, a hole made from the collapsing of a volcano after it explodes. **Was there a volcano here?** For roughly 400,000 years, repeated volcanic eruptions caused a buildup of rock and sediment that eventually became a 10,000- to 12,000-foot mountain called Mount Mazama. The volcano erupted for the last time 7,700 years ago, an explosion so big that the mountain actually collapsed in on itself from the top, creating the caldera that today we call Crater Lake. ** What kinds of birds will I see in the park?** The most common kinds of birds in the park include Ravens, Clark's Nutracker, Gray Jays, Steller's Jay, Dark-Eyed Juncos, and Mountain Chickadees. **What kinds of animals are there at the park?** The most common animals include Roosevelt Elk, Mule Deer, Black Bear, Coyote, Bobcat, Porcupine, Yellow-bellied Marmot, Pine Marten, Snowshoe Hare, Pika, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, and Townsend Chipmunk. **Can I pet a squirrel or chipmunk?** Petting or feeding any wild animal is illegal and dangerous for several reasons. Many wild animals carry diseases, and might bite you instead of the food in your hand. Animals also have an important job in sustaining the local ecosystem, and feeding them human food can have lasting impacts far beyond the single animal. **Are there eagles in the park?** Yes, Bald Eagles are quite common in the park. You are especially likely to see one on a boat tour. You might also see a Golden Eagle, though those are more rare. **What do you put in the water to make it so blue? ** Nothing! The content of Crater Lake is almost pure H2O. The secret to the color is in the water's molecular structure: the water molecules absorb every color in the light spectrum except blue. The blue wavelengths bounce back at us, and our brain sees the water as "blue." Because the water in Crater Lake is not diluted by sediments or pollution, the color appears particularly clear. **What is that yellow stuff floating in the lake?** Just pine pollen! During June and July, fallen pine pollen collects on the lake's surface and can be seen from above as random, swirly pods of yellow goop. It is nothing to be concerned about: it is harmless to the lake, and will eventually just settle to the bottom. **How cold is the lake?** On average the lake is around 38 degrees below 300feet deep). In the summer, the surface of the lake (above 300 feet) can reach up to 55 or even 60 degrees -- still pretty chilly for swimming. **How many people visit the lake every year?** In the last decade, the park has had an average of 482,249 visitors each year.

Difficulty

Open

Distance

N/A

Estimated time

N/A

Region

Learn about the park