The perfect blueness, stillness, clarity and magnificence of Crater Lake must be seen to be believed. And luckily, there are many overlooks and summits that offer scenic views in Crater Lake National Park!
For the best views of Crater Lake, Oregon‘s most famous lake, you can drive the famous Rim Drive, stopping at overlooks as you go, or hit some of Crater Lake National Park’s hiking trails to mountaintops.
Whatever extent of physical exercise you’re in the mood for, there are numerous great vantage points from which you can enjoy the beauty of Crater Lake.
Mere steps from your car, along an easy crater rim trail, on a summit hike, from the patio of the historic Crater Lake Lodge… views of Crater Lake are everywhere in its namesake national park.
On the scenic 33-mile Rim Drive alone, which is one of the greatest roads in the national parks, there are no fewer than 30 overlooks.
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5 Most Scenic Views of Crater Lake (West Rim Drive)
Not a complete overview of all overlooks in Crater Lake National Park, the following are simply my personal favorite places for scenic views of Crater Lake itself.
They’re based on my own visits to the park and include overlooks and viewpoints on the West Rim Drive, which offers the best vistas of Wizard Island.
5. Merriam Point
When you enter Crater Lake National Park from the north, Merriam Point at North Junction offers your first glimpse—a full-blown panorama, actually—of Crater Lake.
From the large parking lot, it’s a short walk up to the rim, where a breathtaking view awaits. Especially if it’s your first time seeing Crater Lake, this will certainly leave an impression.
At Merriam Point, the vista encompasses the entire lake, with Wizard Island to the far right. Thanks to its unobstructed views, this wide Crater Lake viewing area is also a great spot for stargazing at night.
Additionally, just across the Rim Drive from the Merriam Point parking lot, you can enjoy a completely different landscape.
Looking to the north and west, a sprawling scene of pumice plains, towering cinder cones, distant volcanoes and forests extends below and before you. It’s worth crossing the road to see it, especially near sunset!
4. Garfield Peak
One of the highest points on the rim of Crater Lake, Garfield Peak offers sensational views of the shimmering blue lake below, as well as the rocky slopes in other directions.
With its elevation change of 1,010 feet and one-way distance of 1.7 miles from start to summit, the Garfield Peak Trail is a fairly steep climb.
Going up (and back down the same way), hikers can immerse themselves in the typical landscape of Crater Lake National Park. There are excellent chances of seeing wildlife like pikas, yellow-bellied marmots and Clark’s nutcrackers, while the hillside are blanketed with wildflowers in summer.
From the summit, the view takes in much of Crater Lake, including Wizard Island to the west and Phantom Ship to the east. The trailhead is just beyond the Crater Lake Lodge in Rim Village.
3. Rim Village and Crater Lake Lodge
A highlight for many visitors to Crater Lake National Park, the historic Crater Lake Lodge sits on the southwest rim of Crater Lake, at the eastern end of bustling Rim Village.
One of the most iconic national park lodges, Crater Lake Lodge not only offers accommodation, food and drinks, but it also has some pretty stellar views of Crater Lake.
You can grab a bite and a beverage and enjoy a spectacular panorama of America’s deepest lake from its patio. It’s a fantastic place to rest after hiking the Garfield Peak Trail, which starts just at the far end of the patio.
Starting your day in Crater Lake National Park with breakfast and a view is, of course, also a memorable experience.
The easy, paved Rim Village Promenade runs along, you guessed it, the rim of Crater Lake in Rim Village and is one of the busiest areas in the park. For good reason, though: the views are jaw-dropping.
2. Discovery Point Trail
One of the easiest, yet most beautiful, Crater Lake hikes is the Discovery Point Trail. This virtually flat trail starts at the west end of Rim Village, where the paved path turns into a dirt trail. It runs for 1 mile to the Discovery Point Overlook.
On the way, you get to enjoy spectacular scenic views of Crater Lake and Wizard Island—a volcano within a volcano—as you walk through a forest of mountain hemlock and whitebark pine along the crater rim.
This is a great trail for an early sunrise walk along the rim of Crater Lake. Be careful near the cliff edges, though!
(You can also do this easy 2-mile roundtrip Crater Lake hike in the opposite direction, from Discovery Point to Rim Village and back. Alternatively, there’s also a parking lot at Discovery Point, which is a popular stop among motorists driving the Rim Drive.)
1. Watchman Peak
Starting from the Watchman Overlook, which offers pretty amazing views of Crater Lake itself, the Watchman Peak Trail is a 1.7-mile roundtrip hike to a magnificent viewpoint.
In fact, the 360-degree view from the Watchman Observation Station might just be the single greatest panorama in Crater Lake National Park. Originally a fire lookout, the views from this peak on the western rim are epic in all directions.
One of the highest accessible points on the Crater Lake rim, Watchman Peak is also super-close to Wizard Island. Both of those facts make it the best viewpoint in Crater Lake National Park and one of the greatest views in the entire national park system.
Seriously, you cannot get a better panoramic view of Crater Lake anywhere else.
Map of the Best Views of Crater Lake
Other Scenic Views of Crater Lake (East Rim Drive)
- Cleetwood Cove
- Skell Head
- Cloudcap Overlook
- Sentinel Rock
- Phantom Ship Overlook
More About Crater Lake National Park
- Park Website
- Travel Guide
- Topographic Map
- Best Crater Lake Hikes
- Top Things To Do in Crater Lake National Park
- Accommodation
Which Are Your Favorite Places for Views of Crater Lake? Share Your National Parks Experience Below!
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