A quiet and serene lake in Oregon is about to get a lot busier, according to Google.
That’s because Crater Lake National Park was officially declared it most popular national park in the United States on Google last year.
In 2023, the lake received only a modest 559,000 visits according to official information from the National Park Service. That’s compared to 3.8 million in Yosemite National Park and as high as 1.3 million in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
What’s so special about Crater Lake?
So what’s so special about it Crater Lake? It’s not difficult to understand. The lake, created from a collapsed volcano fed by rain and snow, is a stunningly clear blue.
It is also officially the deepest lake in the entire country at 600 meters and one of the deepest lakes in the world. The lake that takes the world title is Lake Baikal in Siberia, at an altitude of 1,800 meters.
Tourists love Crater Lake National Park as a place to get away from it all and be closer to nature.
This time of year for travelers it’s all about cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. There are many backcountry trails where travelers can enjoy a slice of Oregon’s winter peace and tranquility.
In the summer, the action revolves around hiking, especially on the Sun Notch Trail.
However, the most popular year-round tourist activity is simply driving along the Rim Drive and taking spectacular photos of the lake and surrounding volcanic mountains. Another popular photo attraction is Wizard Island, a small, cone-shaped island on the western edge of the lake.
Northwest National Parks popular with travelers
Crater Lake National Park was actually part of a trend in most popular national parks googled in 2024.
The Pacific Northwest’s national parks dominated the top five popular national parks last year.
Mountain Rainier National Park in Washington came in at number 2, followed by Kobuk Valley National Park in Alaska at number 3.
Fourth place went to North Cascades National Park in Washington.
The only non-Pacific Northwest national park to make the top five was Michigan’s Isle Royale National Park at No. 5.
Kobuk Valley National Park in Alaska was also one of the rarely visited national parks strangely listed with fewer than 18,000 visitors in 2023.
What tourists should know
From Medford it is not that difficult to reach Crater Lake National Park. Travelers should follow Highway 62 to the park’s west entrance, which is open year-round.
From Eugene and Portland, tourists can exit Interstate 5 just south of Eugene. Take Highway 58 to Highway 97. If the north entrance is open, head west on Highway 138 to the north entrance to the park. However, the north entrance is subject to closure due to winter weather.
Travelers from Eugene and Portland can also drive south on Highway 97 toward the town of Chiloquin and take Highway 62 to the park’s south entrance.
The entry fee is $20 through May 21 and then $30 from May 22 through October 31.
Tourists can also purchase a Crater Lake annual pass for $55, or an annual pass to federal lands nationwide for $80.
