Crater Lake National Park by Month: Weather, What’s Open & When to Go (2026)
Crater Lake National Park · every month
Pick a month. Stand on the rim in it.
Average temperatures from NOAA's park headquarters station, daylight from the sun's math, road and fee dates from the park's own pages. Choose a month and the page changes to what Crater Lake is actually like then.
average highaverage lowprecipitationsnowhours across the top = daylight
Crater Lake Nps Hq, Or Us, 6,480 ft (NOAA 1991-2020 normals, station USC00351946). Tap a column or pick a month below.
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Showing all twelve months. Pick one and the page becomes that month.
Last updated September 3, 2026 How we research
Crater Lake is a summer park wrapped in an eight-month winter. From roughly early June to November 1 the rim drives are open and you can circle the caldera by car; the rest of the year the scenic loop is buried, only Highway 62 stays plowed, and the lake itself is hidden by clouds about half the time. Your real planning constraint is not temperature. It is which roads are open on the day you arrive.
The chart shows the whole year at park headquarters, 6,480 feet, where NOAA keeps the station. The rim viewpoints above it run colder. Below the chart every month has the same five answers: what the weather feels like, how much daylight you get, what is open, how busy it is, and what to do. Dates and fees come from the park's published pages, not from memory.
When does it first snow?
Measurable snow falls at park headquarters in every month except July and August. NOAA's normals show 1.8 inches in September, 17 inches in October, and 59 inches in November before the deep winter months of December (91 inches) and January (87 inches). The park's own guidance is that early-season snow can hit the highest elevations late in September, that October can bring rain, snow, hail and sun in one afternoon, and that the rim drives close November 1 or earlier if heavy snow arrives first. Over a full winter the headquarters station averages more than 40 feet of snow, and the rim more than 50.
Crater Lake National Park in January
January: seven feet of snow and a lake you may not see
Highs in the low 30s, lows around 20, and about 87 inches of snow in the month. The rim is a white wall of drifts, the trees are buried to their shoulders, and the caldera is socked in with cloud roughly half the days.
- 33° / 20°avg high / low
- 9.3 hdaylight, 7:36 am to 4:57 pm
- 10.1 inprecipitation, 86 in snow
What’s open
- The rim drives and the North Entrance Road are closed for the season; only Highway 62 through the West and South entrances is plowed and passable.
- You can drive up to Rim Village when conditions permit, but the scenic rim loop is closed to regular vehicles.
- Winter entrance rate: $20 per private vehicle, $15 per motorcycle, $15 per person on foot or bike. Passes are valid 7 days.
- Most lodging and nearly all visitor services inside the park are closed.
How busy
Very low. The park's own crowd table calls January one of the emptiest months.
Best for
- deep snow
- solitude
What to do
- Snowshoe or ski the closed West Rim from Rim Village and hope for a clearing to see the blue.
- Snowmobile access runs November through March for experienced winter travelers with proper equipment.
- Base in Fort Klamath or Chiloquin on Highway 62 and drive up for the day.
Pack
- Insulated waterproof boots and snowshoes
- Chains or winter tires for Highway 62
- Headlamp: sunset is before 5
Crater Lake National Park in February
February: the coldest nights, an hour more light
The coldest lows of the year, around 19, with highs still in the low 30s and another 69 inches of snow. Daylight stretches past ten hours, which buys you a longer snowshoe day if the clouds lift.
- 34° / 19°avg high / low
- 10.5 hdaylight, 7:07 am to 5:38 pm
- 7.5 inprecipitation, 69 in snow
What’s open
- Rim drives and North Entrance Road closed; Highway 62 to the West and South entrances stays plowed year-round.
- Rim Village reachable by car when conditions permit; the rim loop itself is closed.
- Winter entrance rate: $20 per private vehicle.
How busy
Very low. Weekends bring a few snowshoe groups; weekdays are empty.
Best for
- snowshoeing
- quiet
What to do
- Snowshoe the West Rim from Rim Village on a clear morning.
- Snowmobile routes stay open through March for experienced riders.
- Watch the weather window: the lake is hidden by clouds about half of winter days, so plan two days for one view.
Pack
- Full winter layers for lows near 19
- Sunglasses for snow glare on the rare clear day
- Thermos and hand warmers
Crater Lake National Park in March
March: still full winter at the rim, with almost twelve hours of light
Highs in the mid 30s, lows around 20, and 72 inches of snow, more than February. The difference is the sun: nearly twelve hours of daylight and a caldera that clears a little more often.
- 36° / 20°avg high / low
- 11.8 hdaylight, 7:22 am to 7:13 pm
- 7.8 inprecipitation, 72 in snow
What’s open
- Rim drives and North Entrance Road closed; only Highway 62 is plowed.
- Drive to Rim Village when conditions permit; the scenic loop stays closed.
- Winter entrance rate: $20 per private vehicle. Snowmobile access ends after March.
How busy
Very low.
Best for
- late-season snow
- empty rim
What to do
- Longer snowshoe days on the West Rim as the light returns.
- Last month of the snowmobile season.
- Look for deer and other wildlife along the plowed Highway 62 corridor below the snow line.
Pack
- Waterproof shell: March can snow hard or turn to rain
- Microspikes for packed trails
- Sunscreen: the snow doubles the sun
Crater Lake National Park in April
April: the plows start, the snow keeps coming
Highs around 40, lows in the low 20s, and still 49 inches of snow. Crews begin plowing the rim roads this month, but nothing opens yet; the park is between seasons and feels like it.
- 40° / 23°avg high / low
- 13.3 hdaylight, 6:28 am to 7:49 pm
- 6.2 inprecipitation, 49 in snow
What’s open
- Rim drives and North Entrance Road remain closed while plowing begins; Highway 62 is the only route in.
- Rim Village reachable when conditions permit.
- Winter entrance rate still applies: $20 per private vehicle through mid-May.
How busy
Low. The old page rates April quieter than May and busier only than deep winter.
Best for
- snowshoeing
- solitude
What to do
- Snowshoe from Rim Village while the snowpack is at its deepest of the spring.
- Watch the lake clear more often as the storm track weakens.
- Use the long 13-hour days for a rim walk and a drive back down before dark.
Pack
- Waterproof boots for slush at the lower elevations
- Layers for a 20-degree swing between night and noon
- Traction devices
Crater Lake National Park in May
May: the rim road becomes passable, the loop stays buried
Highs near 50, nights below freezing, and a fast-shrinking 14 inches of new snow. The park is not fully open; expect partial access, deep snow on the rim trails, and weather that changes within hours.
- 49° / 29°avg high / low
- 14.6 hdaylight, 5:46 am to 8:22 pm
- 3.6 inprecipitation, 14 in snow
What’s open
- The road to Rim Village typically becomes passable by late May; the full rim loop remains snow-covered and closed to vehicles.
- West Rim Drive and North Entrance Road can open as early as late May in a light-snow year, more often early June.
- Entrance fee switches to the summer rate in mid-May: $30 per private vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, $15 per person.
- Crater Lake Lodge at Rim Village opens mid-May; call 541-594-3000 or check nps.gov before a May visit to confirm which roads are passable.
How busy
Low to moderate. Visitation builds late in the month as Rim Village opens up.
Best for
- first lake views
- late snowshoeing
What to do
- Snowshoe rentals are available through late May for anyone willing to walk the rim through deep snow.
- Stand at Rim Village for the first reliable blue-lake views of the year.
- Drive the Highway 62 corridor and the gateway towns while the high country melts out.
Pack
- Waterproof boots: snow and mud in the same walk
- Layers from freezing nights to 50-degree afternoons
- A backup plan for a closed road
Crater Lake National Park in June
June: the West Rim opens and the wildflowers begin
Highs in the upper 50s, lows in the mid 30s, and only 4 inches of new snow. Melting accelerates: snow at headquarters still exceeds two feet mid-month, but the West Rim opens and the first violets, buttercups and spreading phlox push through the lower elevations.
- 57° / 34°avg high / low
- 15.3 hdaylight, 5:28 am to 8:48 pm
- 2.3 inprecipitation, 4 in snow
What’s open
- West Rim Drive and North Entrance Road typically open in early June; a heavy snow year can push that to mid-June.
- East Rim Drive usually stays closed until early July because it climbs to higher elevations and holds more snow.
- The short Rim Village road can close for days during a late spring storm even after the loop nominally opens.
- Summer entrance rate: $30 per private vehicle. Call 541-594-3000 before a June trip to confirm road status.
How busy
Moderate. The old page pairs May and June with September as the middle-ground months.
Best for
- longest days
- first rim drive
- early wildflowers
What to do
- Drive the open West Rim segment for the first full-color views of the season.
- Watch the early wildflower bloom at lower elevations as the snow line retreats.
- Use the year's longest days, more than 15 hours, for an evening at the rim.
Pack
- Rain shell and warm layers for a rim that is still near freezing at night
- Sunscreen for high-elevation sun
- Microspikes if you plan to walk rim trails early in the month
Crater Lake National Park in July
July: full access arrives, and so does everyone else
Highs near 69, lows around 41, and less than an inch of rain. This is the month the East Rim finally opens, nearly every trail goes snow-free, and the lake shows its deepest blue under the clearest skies of the year.
- 69° / 41°avg high / low
- 15.1 hdaylight, 5:42 am to 8:46 pm
- 0.8 inprecipitation
What’s open
- East Rim Drive typically opens in early July, completing the 33-mile Rim Drive. In 2026 the segment from park headquarters to Phantom Ship Overlook is closed for construction.
- Cleetwood Cove Trail, the only route down to the water, is closed for rehabilitation through 2028; there are no boat tours.
- Summer entrance rate: $30 per private vehicle, valid 7 days. The park is open 24 hours a day.
- Crater Lake Lodge, Mazama Village cabins and Mazama Campground all operate; lakeview lodge rooms book six or more months ahead.
How busy
Peak. July and early August are the busiest weeks of the year.
Best for
- every road open
- clearest views
- wildflowers
What to do
- Drive the full open Rim Drive early or late; plan 2 to 3 hours of driving plus overlook stops.
- Castle Crest Wildflower Trail starts its peak bloom in mid-July.
- Watchman Peak for the lake view and historic lookout; Mount Scott for the park's highest panorama.
Pack
- Sun protection: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen at this elevation
- 2 liters of water per person; rim trails have no shade or water
- A warm layer for 40-degree nights
Crater Lake National Park in August
August: the warmest, driest, busiest month
The warmest month by NOAA's numbers, highs around 69 and lows near 42, with zero snow and under an inch of rain. Afternoons can be windy, mornings cold, and by mid-month the last snow patches on the high trails are gone.
- 69° / 42°avg high / low
- 14.0 hdaylight, 6:13 am to 8:13 pm
- 0.8 inprecipitation
What’s open
- West Rim Drive and North Entrance Road fully open. In 2026, East Rim Drive is closed from park headquarters to Phantom Ship Overlook for construction; the far side of the closure is reachable from the east.
- Cleetwood Cove Trail closed through 2028: no lake access and no boat tours, so plan rim viewpoints instead.
- Summer entrance rate: $30 per private vehicle through October 31. America the Beautiful pass is $80 a year.
- Crater Lake Lodge (71 rooms, open mid-May to early October), Mazama Village cabins and the 214-site Mazama Campground run at full capacity; book months ahead or stay in Klamath Falls or Chemult.
How busy
Peak. Rim Village and the West Rim overlooks fill by late morning; arrive before 9 a.m. for parking.
Best for
- warmest weather
- peak wildflowers
- full itinerary
What to do
- Castle Crest Wildflower Trail, a 0.41-mile accessible loop with 200-plus species, peaks mid-August.
- Watchman Peak, 1.6 miles with 420 feet of gain, and Mount Scott, 4.4 miles and 1,250 feet, for eagles and peregrines on the caldera cliffs.
- Sunrise or sunset at the overlooks: the park is open 24 hours and the crowds are not.
Pack
- Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses; the wind is real on the rim
- A warm jacket and, if camping, a bag rated for 20 to 30 degrees
- Microspikes only if you are on high trails in the first days of the month
Crater Lake National Park in September
September: summer access with fewer cars
Highs in the low 60s, lows in the upper 30s, mostly dry and sunny. Visitation drops noticeably after Labor Day, waits at overlooks shrink, and the first dusting of snow can touch the highest elevations late in the month.
- 63° / 37°avg high / low
- 12.6 hdaylight, 6:46 am to 7:20 pm
- 1.9 inprecipitation, 2 in snow
What’s open
- The rim drives and North Entrance Road stay open; roads rarely close before November 1.
- Summer entrance rate: $30 per private vehicle.
- Crater Lake Lodge stays open into early October; Cleetwood Cove remains closed through 2028.
How busy
Moderate. The old page calls early September a good shoulder alternative to August.
Best for
- fewer crowds
- hiking
- dry days
What to do
- Every August hike without the August wait: Castle Crest, Watchman, Mount Scott.
- The full Rim Drive on a weekday with room at every pullout.
- Camp at Lost Creek before the season ends; nights in the 30s reward a good bag.
Pack
- Layers for frost at dawn and 60s by noon
- A warm hat for the rim wind
- Traction for an early-snow morning late in the month
Crater Lake National Park in October
October: the most volatile month and the last open one
Highs around 50, lows near 30, and about 17 inches of snow across the month. Rain, snow, hail, wind and clear sun can all happen the same afternoon, which is exactly why the rim drives close November 1 or sooner.
- 51° / 30°avg high / low
- 11.1 hdaylight, 7:20 am to 6:27 pm
- 4.8 inprecipitation, 17 in snow
What’s open
- Rim drives stay open until November 1, or earlier if heavy snow arrives first; plan any fall visit by mid-October for full access.
- Summer entrance rate ($30 per vehicle) runs through October 31; the winter rate starts November 1.
- Crater Lake Lodge closes in early October, and most lodging and services inside the park close by the end of the month. Check nps.gov for closure announcements late in the month.
How busy
Low to moderate, thinning every week as services shut.
Best for
- last rim drive
- storm light
- quiet
What to do
- One last full Rim Drive under October light before the gates close.
- Storm-watching from Rim Village: the caldera fills and empties of cloud within hours.
- Fort Klamath and Chiloquin for beds and dinners as the park's own close.
Pack
- Waterproof layers head to toe
- Chains or winter tires in the car
- A backup plan for a closed road
Crater Lake National Park in November
November: the gates close and the snow arrives in earnest
Highs in the upper 30s, lows in the low 20s, and about 59 inches of snow. The rim drives and North Entrance Road close November 1, the lake disappears behind cloud half the days, and the park becomes a Highway 62 day trip.
- 38° / 23°avg high / low
- 9.8 hdaylight, 7:00 am to 4:46 pm
- 9.6 inprecipitation, 59 in snow
What’s open
- North Entrance Road and both rim drives close November 1 and stay closed through spring; only Highway 62 through the West and South entrances is plowed.
- Winter entrance rate begins November 1: $20 per private vehicle, $15 per motorcycle, $15 per person.
- Most lodging and nearly all visitor services close by mid-November.
How busy
Very low.
Best for
- first deep snow
- solitude
What to do
- Snowshoe the West Rim from Rim Village as the season's first deep snow builds.
- Snowmobile season opens for experienced winter travelers with proper equipment.
- Stay in Chiloquin or Fort Klamath and drive up for a clear-weather window.
Pack
- Insulated boots and snowshoes
- Headlamp: sunset is before 5
- Chains or winter tires
Crater Lake National Park in December
December: the snowiest month of the year
Highs just above freezing, lows around 19, and 91 inches of snow, the most of any month. Nine hours of daylight and a caldera that shows itself only when a storm breaks. This is Crater Lake at its most extreme.
- 33° / 19°avg high / low
- 9.0 hdaylight, 7:32 am to 4:34 pm
- 11.3 inprecipitation, 91 in snow
What’s open
- Rim drives and North Entrance Road closed; Highway 62 is the only plowed route, and Rim Village is reachable when conditions permit.
- Winter entrance rate: $20 per private vehicle.
- In-park lodging and nearly all services are closed for the winter.
How busy
Very low. Near-total solitude on weekdays.
Best for
- deepest snow
- solitude
What to do
- Snowshoe or ski the West Rim between storms for the deepest-snow views of the year.
- Snowmobile access continues through March for experienced riders.
- Watch for deer and other winter wildlife along the plowed corridor below the rim.
Pack
- Full winter kit
- Snowshoes
- Thermos, hand warmers, and a car ready for chains
Which month is yours?
Questions people ask about Crater Lake’s seasons
What is the best month to visit Crater Lake?
July and August are the only months with reliably full road access and warm weather, with highs near 69 and lows around 41. September keeps the roads open with noticeably fewer people. May, June and October are unpredictable: roads may be partly closed and surprise snow is common.
When does the Rim Drive open and close?
West Rim Drive and North Entrance Road typically open in early June, as early as late May in a light-snow year or mid-June in a heavy one. East Rim Drive usually opens in early July because it reaches higher elevations. All of them close November 1, or earlier if heavy snow arrives. Call 541-594-3000 or check nps.gov before a May, June or October visit.
Is Crater Lake open in winter?
Yes, but access is limited. Highway 62 through the West and South entrances is plowed year-round and you can drive to Rim Village when conditions permit, but the scenic rim loop is closed to regular vehicles. Snowshoeing and, from November through March, snowmobile travel replace driving. The winter entrance rate is $20 per vehicle from November through mid-May.
How much snow does Crater Lake get?
December and January are the snowiest, averaging 91 and 87 inches at park headquarters. Across the November to April winter the headquarters station receives more than 40 feet and the rim more than 50. Only July and August average zero snow.
What is the coldest month at Crater Lake?
January and February have the coldest lows, around 19 to 20 degrees at headquarters. Nights freeze routinely from November through April, and the rim viewpoints above headquarters run colder than the station figures.
Can you get down to the lake or take a boat tour?
Not through 2028. Cleetwood Cove Trail, the only route to the water, is closed for rehabilitation, which also suspends the boat tours. Plan the rim overlooks and rim trails instead.
Every month on this page is built from NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for the park headquarters station, the sun's position, and Crater Lake's published road, fee and closure dates, not from a visit. Where the park's own guidance gives a range instead of a date, the page keeps the range. Temperatures: Crater Lake Nps Hq, Or Us, 6,480 ft (NOAA 1991-2020 normals, station USC00351946).
