Crater Lake Lodge Review and Photos

The Historic Crater Lake Lodge was built on the edge of a caldera, almost a thousand feet above Crater Lake. Lodging options include seventy-one rooms, Six of which Are ADA Accessible, and there are rooms that overlook the lake!

Crater Lake Lodge

Crater Lake Lodge originally opened in 1915 and sits on the edge of Crater Lake. Those lucky enough to stay here can experience all that Crater Lake Lodge offers, with sweeping views overlooking the lake, the Lake Lodge Dining Room, and fantastic examples of National Park "Parkitecture."

The lodge's placement on the lake's edge gives visitors sweeping views of the deep blue water of Crater Lake, surrounded by tall cliffs that become covered in snow for several months each year.

Crater Lake is 1,943 feet deep in the deepest part, with the caldera rising to 8,000 feet.

The lodge is located in Southern Oregon on the crest of the Cascade Mountain Range, one hundred ten miles from the California Border. The closest airport is Rogue Valley International Medford Airport, 83 miles away.

This is one of the Historic Hotels of America, a title that has only been given to six hotels in all of Oregon. The combination of the National Park Rustic design and jaw-dropping views will leave you wanting to come back again and again.

Crater Lake National Park Entrance Fee

Remember that Crater Lake has an entrance fee separate from camping and lodging fees.

Park Entrance Pass -

$30.00 Per private vehicle (Summer rate from Mid-May through the end of October) (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
$20.00 Per private vehicle (Winter Rate from November to Mid-May) (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)

Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle/snowmobile -

$25.00 (Summer rate from Mid-May through the end of October)Per motorcycle/snowmobile (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
$15.00 (Winter Rate from November to Mid-May) Per motorcycle/snowmobile (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
$15.00 Per snowmobile (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)

Per-Person Entrance Pass—$15.00. Visitors 16 years or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.

Annual Park Entrance Pass - $55.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.

$25.00 for vehicles with 1-6 seats and non-commercial groups (16+ persons)

$75.00 for vehicles with 7-15 seats

$100.00 vehicles with 16-25 seats

$200.00 for vehicles with 26+ seats

America the Beautiful/National Park Pass - $80.00 (Also known as the Interagency Annual Pass or Interagency Pass) covers entrance fees for an entire year to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites.

This is very worthwhile if you are planning a vacation to a National Park, especially for visitors to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks!

The park pass covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.

Buy on REI.com and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.

Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the annual five free entrance days the National Park Service offers.

Crater Lake Lodge Reservations

Click here to book your stay at Crater Lake Lodge.

Room Types

Standard Lodge Room - Bed options include

1 King Bed
1 Queen Bed
2Queen Beds

ADA Bed Options include

1 Queen Bed
2 Queen Beds

Deluxe Lake View - Bed options include

1 King Bed
1 Queen Bed
2 Queen Beds

Loft Room - Bed options include

1 King Bed
1 Queen Bed
2 Queen Beds

Crater Lake Lodging Information

Season: The lodge is typically open from mid to late May through mid-October.

Crater Lake Lodge Direct Phone Number
(541)594-2255

Park Address:
Crater Lake Lodge
Crater Lake, OR. 97604

Check-In: 4:00 pm

Check-out: 11:00 am.

GPS Coordinates: N42'54.83238", W 122'4.26252"

Pet Policy: No pets are allowed in the lodge.

Accessible Rooms: Six rooms are ADA Accessible.

Crater Lake Lodge Amenities

The lodge tries to maintain the natural ambiance and to allow you to get away from it all. This means that the lodge's amenities are very basic. You will find that the lodge does not have any TVs, phones, a pool, or air conditioning. I only saw two outlets in the room available for use.

The room had complimentary toiletries, a hairdryer, and a small gift shop area as you entered the lodge.

Cell phone service is poor at Crater Lake, especially in the lodge.

Free WI-FI is available in the lodge for guests, but expect it to be extremely slow as everyone else is connected. I managed to finish some work between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. when everyone else was asleep, but I would not count on having service.

Parking is available on-site.
Non-smoking-only hotel.
Ranger Programs are available in the lodge; check inside the lodge for details.
The lodge is an outstanding example of National Park Parkitecture. Crater Lake Lodge is one of four lodges, including El Tovar in the Grand Canyon, The Ahwahnee in Yosemite, and Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone, that set the standard for America's National Park Lodges, hotels, and Inns.

Park Ranger John Pro Tip

Not all rooms have a shower and a tub. If you prefer a shower, make sure to put in your special accomodations when making your reservation. This is not guaranteed, but they will do their best to accommodate your request.

If you cannot get a room on your desired date, make sure to check if they have a room at Mazama Village. They have 40 rooms located about 7 miles from the Crater Lake Lodge.

Crater Lake Lodge Dining Room

The Crater Lake Lodge Dining Room is open from mid-May through mid-October for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Reservations are accepted for dinner only and can be made by calling (866)292-6720.

The dining room is extremely popular, with incredible views of Crater Lake. Reservations are highly recommended for dinner and often fill up a week in advance!

I enjoyed the menu selections, especially the breakfast. The dining room is a Green Certified Restaurant.

One of my favorite things to do in Crater Lake is to enjoy a drink on the deck after a big day of exploring the park.

Why stay at Crater Lake Lodge

You have to be open-minded when reading Crater Lake Lodge Reviews. By today's standards, you will not find many of the amenities that most people look for in hotels.

This is because this lodge was built over 100 years ago, and the National Park Service recognizes the importance of Historic Preservation and keeping this incredible lodge unique and special.

There are many great reasons to stay at the Crater Lake Lodge. The lodge's massive stone fireplaces are great for warming up with a warm beverage in the great room after spending a cool, brisk October day in the park. Don't forget to also check out the exhibit room, just off the lobby, and read about its history.

I also enjoyed sitting by the fireplaces after getting up early to see the sunrise. There was even free coffee in the great room in the morning!

The second reason to stay at the lodge is location, location, location! You will have awe-inspiring views of the deepest lake in the United States and its deep blue waters, you will be located near rim village, visitor center, hiking trails, and close to Discovery Point and its epic views of Wizard Island!

If that's not enough, imagine yourself standing outside the lodge at night looking out at Crater Lake. All you see is endless stars and the moon as they light up the sky enough to see the 200-foot cliffs and the lake. If you get up early enough, you will possibly see one of the most epic sunrises of your life.

The magic starts early, close to an hour before sunrise, as you get the first tones of red and yellow coming from the east side of the lake. The colors get gradually brighter until almost sunrise, when the sky is already turning bright blue when the first rays of the sun peak over the cliffs of the lake.

Lodging Near Crater Lake

Lodging options at National Park Lodges often sell out months in advance; if you cannot find availability, see if a cabin is available at The Cabins at Mazama Village. They are open from mid to late May to late September and are only seven miles from South Rim Village. You can also click on the map below for additional hotels and vacation homes near Crater Lake Lodge.

Outdoor Activities

Crater Lake offers both summer and winter recreational activities. Most visitors take the scenic drive around the lake. Numerous hiking trails, including a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), Boat Tours, and Trolley Tours are also available.

With an average of 42 feet of snow each year, Crater Lake offers plenty of winter recreational activities like snowshoeing, Cross-Country Skiing, snowboarding, sledding, and snowmobiling.

Crater Lake National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour - For those who wish to explore the park at their own pace, make sure to get this app, which provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, photos/videos, and more. There is no need for continuous cellular service or a Wi-Fi connection, as the app works on a GPS Map offline.

Crater Lake Lodge History

During his presidency, Theodore Roosevelt designated five National Parks. The first, created in 1902, was Crater Lake in Oregon.

One person who was extremely satisfied with this designation was William Gladstone Steel. Steel was an American journalist who had been fighting for seventeen years to ensure that the breathtaking area in and around Crater Lake was protected for centuries.

To understand the importance of a peaceful and beautiful lodge being built in this area, we must first understand the reason it was built.

Crater Lake was not just a large, beautiful lake in Oregon that Teddy Roosevelt felt akin to. At 1,943 feet, it is the deepest lake in America.

Because there are no water sources emptying into the lake, it retains its magnificent blue color and purity due to the fact that it is supplied solely by snow and rain. According to the National Park Service, it is the cleanest and clearest large body of water in the world.

7,770 years ago the Native Americans in what is now Oregon would have witnessed the creation of the lake after what was called Mount Mazama, a 12,000-foot volcano erupted and collapsed. Mount Mazama was an important figure to the native people in the area.

The natives believed that the fall of the mountain was caused by a battle between the spirit of the sky and the spirit of the mountain. The eruption was the signal of the end of the battle.

Once Crater Lake was made a National Park, Steel wasted no time in campaigning for a lodge to be built near its grandeur. He wanted outdoor lovers to have a place to stay for a longer period of time while visiting the park.

Steel eventually partnered with a man named Alfred Parkhurst, a real-estate developer from Portland. They hired the architectural firm R.L. Hockenberry to complete the blueprints.

Everyone involved agreed that the main goal for the building was to use materials that would withstand the elements for many years to come.

They also knew they wanted majestic elements added that would live up to the magnificence of the towering mountains and pristine lake that surrounded it. Stones were added to create a look similar to that of New York’s Adirondack Mountain resorts which were largely popular at the time as well.

When the lodge opened in 1915, it quickly became the most popular tourist attraction in the area. Not surprisingly, the Great Depression greatly affected business at the lodge.

In addition, very little money was able to be spent on lodge maintenance and upkeep. Crater Lake Lodge soon fell into a long-term season of desolateness and then decay.

During the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps added beauty to the exterior by planting hundreds of indigenous trees and shrubs that helped blend the overall area of the lodge into its surroundings.

Later, the National Park Service paved the lodge’s parking lot which decreased dust and helped diminish erosion issues around the exterior. Although the park and lodge were closed during World War II, from July 1942- June 1946, business boomed once again after the war ended.

The National Park Service was continually requesting that the lodge operators spend more money to take better care of the building, but little to nothing was done.

In 1967, the lodge was finally acquired by the National Park Service. By 1988, the lodge had major safety concerns and had to be closed.

The Park Service’s plan was to completely demolish the building and start fresh. This was not taken happily by citizens, and it was finally decided that instead, the lodge would undergo a massively extensive renovation.

A new foundation, roof frame, and concrete and steel structure were built. They were able to use original exterior and fireplace stones.

The Crater Lake Lodge was completed in the fall of 1994 after the $15 million renovations were finished.

The small guestrooms decreased from 150 to 71 rooms. This gave designers the luxury of making each room unique and exquisite. Some have views of Crater Lake and Garfield Peak, others of the meadow near the lake.

One room on the fourth floor boasts a fantastic claw-foot tub which you can enjoy while gazing at the lake below.

The lodge was officially reopened on May 20, 1995, too eager visitors and park-goers who appreciated the grandiose site with its nostalgic 1920s feel and peaceful atmosphere.

This renovation brought the lodge up to safety standards and was built to last the harsh winters of Crater Lake.

The Crater Lake Lodge was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

It also fit the needs of a Classic "Criterion" Classification 1 Lodge under National Park Service Standards and will serve the public for years to come.