Cleetwood Cove Trail - Crater Lake National Park

The Cleetwood Cove Trail is the only official trail down to Crater Lake.  It is located at the north end of the lake on East Rim Road approximately 4.5 miles east of North Junction, the junction of North Entrance Road, East Rim Road and West Rim Road, or 11 miles from Rim Village along the west side of the lake.  A large paved parking area and vault toilets are located on the north side of the road directly across from the trailhead.  The trail is 1.1 miles one way and descends 674 feet from an elevation of 6,850 feet to 6,176 feet for an average grade of over 11 percent.  The park service has rated the trail as strenuous, the most difficult of four ratings.  According to the park service, "Trails listed as strenuous should be taken only by people in good physical condition."  Additional warnings include, "Hiking or climbing inside the caldera is prohibited.  Cliffs and rockslides make the caldera extremely dangerous.  The Cleetwood Trail is the only safe and legal access to the lake."  Depending on the weather, the trail is typically open from late June or early July to late September or early October.  Expect to find snow on the trail at the start and end of the season.  The trail surface is very fine grained which makes the climb back up seem like climbing a massive sand dune.  There are several log benches along the trail to allow hikers to rest on the climb up to the rim.  Our walking sticks came in very handy going down and up this trail.  If you are in reasonably good physical condition, don't let the park service rating of "strenuous" keep you from walking at least part of this trail.  Take plenty of water with you and when you've consumed one-third of it turn around and head back. While the park service estimates the hike will take 90 minutes round trip, you can extend that to several hours as you take your time and enjoy the beauty that surrounds you along this trail.  However, this is not a trail for finding solitude as can be seen by the nearly full parking area.

The parking area is one of the largest and most crowded in the park

View from the trail head

The initial portion of the trail is partially shaded

Vistas appear as the vegetation changes

There are several short switchbacks on the upper section of the trail

A typical switchback

The same switchback from the other direction

Foot traffic was maintained through several slide areas

Another switchback, but this one has a view

Destination in sight

After the initial switchbacks, the trail descends west along the rocks...

...and the trees...

...and the open slopes

Near the western switchback, Wizard Island appears

Along this lower section, additional rock work was required to provide a trail

The vistas open up as the trail continues to descend toward the lake

Several more switchbacks mark the bottom of the trail

Cleetwood Cove boat dock

Looking east along the shore of Cleetwood Cove

"Rogue" is one of four fiberglass excursion boats in the fleet

The buoys allow the concessionaire to anchor additional boats near the dock

Evidence of erosion is all around

Palisade Point

Skell Head, Redcloud Cliff and Cloudcap with Mount Scott in the background

Beginning the climb back up

Redcloud Cliff, Cloudcap and Mount Scott

Cribbing was required to keep the hill side from sliding onto the trail

Palisade Point and Cloudcap with Mount Scott

View from near the top of the lower switchbacks

Erosion has exposed tree roots on the hillside

Another view of Cloudcap

Pumice Point and Hillman Peak

Kerr Notch, Dutton Cliff and Sun Notch

Mount Scott and Cloudcap

A $10 vehicle pass is valid for seven consecutive days at Crater Lake National Park.  Another option is to purchase the America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass valid for one year for $80.  A lifetime Senior Pass is available for $10 for those 62 years of age or older.

The park website is http://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm.