Aerial view of Crater Lake, looking to the southeast. Mount Scott is visible at the center of the photo, just beyond the crater rim. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Crater Lake National Park is always open, but many of the facilities and entrances are not, although you’ll already know that if you’ve read the instructions of how to get there!  Let’s take a look at what facilities are available at Crater Lake National Park, and when they are available! This is important stuff you know, so pay attention . . .

Crater Lake National Park Visitors Centers

There are two visitors centers in Crater Lake National Park, the Steel Visitor Center and Rim Visitor Center.

• Steel Visitor Center – is open every day, except December 25 – ring any bells – even Park Rangers need a day off to spend with their family once a year! Okay, so from early November through to early in April the opening hours are 10am – 4pm, and from early April through to early November the opening hours are 9am – 5pm. There’s actually a US post office located inside the visitor center, which is open from 10am until 2pm Monday through Saturday.
• Rim Visitor Center – opens during the summer months only, so from late in May until early in September it’s open every day between 9.30am and 5pm. The Rim Visitor Center closes from October through May.

Crater Lake National Park Food Outlets

You’re likely to get a bit peckish during your visit to Crater Lake National Park, so if you don’t take plenty of nourishment with you, it’s always worth knowing where you could find a bite to eat!

• Rim Village Cafe & Gift Shop – is open everyday except Christmas and Thanksgiving, between 10am and 4.30pm from mid October until May, with extended hours from May to September.
• Annie Creek Restaurant – can be found at Mazama Village, and is open every day from late in May through to September between 8am and 8pm, but closes in September until the following May.
• Mazama Village Camper Store – is also open 8am until 8pm every day from late in May until September, and even longer, 7am until 9pm during July and August, but closes between October and May. This means that gasoline is available only between the middle of May and the middle of October, there is no gasoline available anywhere in Crater Lake National Park from November until April.
• Crater Lake Lodge Dining Room – is open daily from mid May until mid October, when it closes down for the remainder of the year.

Crater Lake National Park Campgrounds

There are two campgrounds at Crater Lake, there operating hours are as follows.

• Mazama Campground – is open from July through to September, although the weather can have an impact on the opening and closing dates of this campground . . . you never can tell! This campground has 200 sites as well as running water, picnic tables, flush toilets and fire rings provided.
• Lost Creek Campground – has only 16 tent sites and is open from around the middle of July until early in October, again, weather permitting. Lost Creek Campground operates strictly on a first come, first served basis.

Crater Lake National Park Lodgings

As well as the campgrounds, there are lodgings available in Crater Lake National Park, at either Crater Lake Lodge or the Mazama Cabins.

• Crater Lake Lodge – generally opens between the middle of May through to the middle of October, with 71 rooms available advance reservations are strongly advised.
• Mazama Cabins – are located within the Mazama Village Complex. There are a total of 40 cabins which are open for business between late in May and mid September. You will need to reserve a cabin if this is what you fancy.

Watch out Miley Cyrus, there’s some competition growing up . . .