At 1,949 feet deep, Crater Lake reigns as the deepest lake in the United States. While worldwide it ranks 9th for depth, it is considered one of the cleanest and clearest bodies of water in the world! Oregon’s only national park is designated to protect this environment, and trails lead along the crater's rim and throughout the park. This guidebook shares the best hikes in Crater Lake National Park, both to access the best views and to escape the crowds.

Garfield Peak may be the single most popular hike in the park, so if you don't enjoy trail traffic it's best to head further off the beaten path. That said, Crater Lake as a whole isn't nearly as crowded as some of the big-name national parks, so the number of people vying for the summit of Garfield Peak is generally quite reasonable. This trail begins next to the Crater Lake Lodge and heads uphill for a mind-blowing view over the blue abyss.

The only way to actually reach the waters of Crater Lake is via this short two-mile roundtrip hike. Though the trail isn't long, you'll descend a steep 600+ feet in the one-mile walk down to the lakeshore. This means you're in for a steep climb to return to the crater's rim. You should only descend to the water if you're confident you can make it back up!

This is a stunning but logistically difficult hike on the island within Crater Lake. Getting there involves several steps, starting with the hike to the water at Cleetwood Cove. Then you must catch a shuttle boat to Wizard Island, which is best booked in advance. After a beautiful glide across the deep blue, you'll finally reach Wizard Island itself. Ahead of you remains a steep mile and a quarter of hiking to climb over 760 vertical feet, ending at the “Witches Cauldron" on top.

While Crater Lake itself is the focal point for the vast majority of tourism in this national park, heading off the beaten path can reward the intrepid explorer with unexpected, stunning vistas. One such location is the Pinnacles area in the southeastern corner of the park. This is an easy hike to see sculpted spires of volcanic pumice, formed by a combination of volcanic eruptions and subsequent erosion from the nearby stream.

Mount Scott is the highest peak in Crater Lake National Park, rising to 8,929 feet elevation. Its summit provides perhaps the best view you can get over the lake, plus a panorama of mountains and forest across Oregon. The trail climbs rather steeply and with some rocky sections, but switchbacks make the grade quite manageable. Views over the landscape are frequent throughout the hike, and they only get better going up to the top.

If you want to escape the crowds on Mt. Scott and Garfield Peak, head to Union Peak instead. While you won't be able to see Crater Lake itself from this remote summit, you will enjoy views of the greater Mount Mazama, and gaze southward to Mount McLoughlin and even Mount Shasta. This hike starts on a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail, then breaks away and climbs out of the trees onto a rocky, switchbacked trail leading to the very top of Union Peak.