Peak-a-View!

Hike to Garfield Peak in Crater Lake National Park

07.29.2020
Hike to Garfield Peak in Crater Lake National Park

That blue! Crater Lake National Park has the deepest lake in the country and the seventh deepest in the world. The park is a volcanic wonder, created when a massive eruption collapsed 12,000-foot Mount Mazama thousands of years ago.

The marquee attraction is the stunning lake, surrounded by huge, sheer cliffs that are reflected on the water. The setting is all the more enchanting with Wizard Island—a volcanic cinder cone set right in its midst. It’s utterly photogenic.

Hikers heading up the trail to Garfield Peak in Crater Lake National Park Oregon

Hikers on the trail to Garfield Peak in Crater Lake National Park

Hikers sitting and overlooking Crater Lake at Garfield Peak in Crater Lake National Park

For one of the very best perspectives of Crater Lake, hike the 3.4-mile (total) out-and-back to Garfield Peak. The trailhead is located at Crater Lake Lodge. Get an early start for fewer crowds and less wind.

Hike Garfield Peak Crater Lake

This is a peak hike, so it’s all about going up, but it’s pretty gradual, and totally rewarding. The views are with you most of the way, and the higher you go, the better the view of the lake and surrounding Cascade Mountain Range, including as far as Mount Lassen on a clear day.

BONUS KAYAK: You can't kayak or canoe on Crater Lake, but you can do both in the Klamath Basin. The Upper Klamath Canoe Trail is ideal for an afternoon exploration. The entire Upper Klamath Canoe Trail is 9.5 miles, but you can paddle a shorter duration, too. Keep an eye out for river otters and enjoy some premier views of snowy Mount McLoughlin. Rent a kayak or canoe from ROE Outfitters and ask about their guided tours too. ROE Outfitters also has a zipline.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST: In the episode "Road Trip to Spectacular: National Park, Hot Springs & Hikes" the Weekend Sherpa team discuss their adventures in Southern Oregon. Part of the podcast was recorded from the top of Garfield Peak!

Kayakers on Upper Klamath Canoe Trail in Southern Oregon

TIP: If you want to spend the night in this area, Running Y Ranch Resort is a good bet, with a nice outdoor dining patio and fire pit at the Ruddy Duck restaurant.

Running Y Ranch Resort people sitting around an outdoor firepit

Check out the Best Southern Oregon Road Trips

2020 Travel: Here’s more information on Southern Oregon’s health guidelines and updates.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Napa Valley Paddle kayaker and paddle boarder on the Napa Valley river

    Napa's Wild Side

    It’s wine country’s Amazon. The gentle Napa River is an ecological—and recreational—delight. And Napa Valley Paddle sets you up for maximum enjoyment of this experience.

    View

  2. Been There, Dome That

    Surrounded by granite domes, craggy peaks, and miles of hiking trails, the High Sierra landscape of Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park is famous for good reason. For a truly grand view, take a short hike to bold—and bald (except for snow at times)—Lembert Dome.

    View

  3. Wapama Wows

    Hetch Hetchy can be overlooked in Yosemite National Park because of its more remote location and limited facilities. But this is where you’ll also find one of the best day hikes in the park: Wapama Falls.

    View
  4. Hike Mount Tamalpais into Muir Woods

    Muir Woods Through the Backdoor

    A backdoor entrance into Muir Woods? Hike a tranquil trail that starts in Mount Tamalpais State Park and quietly leads into Muir Woods, letting you avoid the busyness of the main parking area.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Inn-spiration Point!

    For more than a century, people have been hiking or mountain biking to West Point Inn for good reason. Perched at 1,785 feet on the southern slope of Mount Tamalpais, the historic inn has sweeping views from the Marin Headlands to the San Francisco skyline.

    View

  2. A Thousand Steps to Paradise

    A picture is worth a thousand words, but is a gorgeous beach in Laguna worth a thousand steps? The answer is yes, though the question is moot, because it’s only 223 steep steps down to the 400-yard stretch of sand known as 1000 Steps Beach.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    Take the Exit to the Best of the San Francisco Peninsula

    The San Francisco Peninsula is proof that some of Northern California’s greatest surprises are hiding just off Highway 101. All you have to do is take the exit.

    View
  4. Hike to the Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout in the Lakes Basin

    Lookout for This View!

    Sierra Buttes Lookout, at a lofty 8,591 feet, is a memory maker for its pucker-worthy stairway to the tower’s balcony. It's a 5-mile (round-trip) hike to reach it. And the reward? Epic!

    View