Hiking the Rim Trail at Crater Lake (Partial)
The Rim Trail at Crater Lake National Park is a stunning 19.1 mile around the rim of Crater Lake. I would love to tell you that I hiked it all, but I wouldn’t want to lie. In Fact, a majority of the trail was closed due to snow when I visited. The snow on all the peaks was still thick enough for rangers to call it a hazard on the 4th of July weekend. So if you are making your way to the Rim Trail, make sure you check the conditions and you might want to bring spikes and poles to deal with the snow. However, I did hike a few miles and can tell you I was completely blown away by the beauty of the trail.
Getting Started
There are several places to join the Rim Trail including several of the overlooks. The overlooks do get crowded fast so parking is always a challenge. I started near the Discovery Point. There were so many people in the spot I thought that the trail was going to be just as busy. However, as soon as made my way up the trail, I found that the people really cleared out and I had most of my short section completely to myself.
There are some pretty big elevation changes, especially if you aren’t comfortable with hiking at elevation. There are some flatter spots as well and the trail does have plenty of spots with views of the water.
The Terrain
The small section of the hike that I hiked alternated from being under some trees, to moving out into the open. The trail was still a mix of hard packed dirt and a bit of snow and ice, even at the lower levels. At the higher levels, the snow can get really deep.
There are not a lot of fencing as the trail continues uphill. For those of you who don’t love heights, it can be a bit unnerving. The views on the other hand are absolutely amazing as you get closer to the edge.
The Views
Honestly, I didn’t get very far on this hike. Partly because of the fact that there was snow, but mostly because I couldn’t get over the views. I hiked far enough to get away the enormous crowd on a holiday weekend. Then I found a nice little spot and sat down to take it all in.
Typically, I wouldn’t write up a hike that I didn’t finish, or didn’t have a ton of information on. This hike was so special though that I had to show it. The 19 mile of this trail must be absolutely out of this world. For me, the mile or so I hiked up, was a perfect respite from the crowds and a chance to sit down and look at a living masterpiece.
And because this is my blog and I can do what I want, I am just going to post another picture so you can have the joy that I found at this spot and in this moment.
Wrapping up the Crater Lake Rim Trail (Partial)
I don’t know if you can tell but I loved this hike. Due to the remaining snow, there was no chance for me to hike it all. So I just enjoyed the moment and the views. The nice part about the Rim Trial is that there are plenty of spots to enjoy it.
If you find yourself at Crater Lake and are looking for a bit of a break form the crowds, take a look at the Rim Trail. The trail is a great way to find a different perspective of one of the best places in the world.
I have added this hike and all of my hikes to the interactive map page you can find here. If you have any suggestions for hikes or comments feel free to email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com or you can follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Happy Hiking!
