Little Crater Lake Trail #500

Beginning from Little Crater Lake Campground day use parking, this trail traverses through a meadow to Little Crater Lake, and then on to the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. The first 800 ft. of this trail are barrier free to a viewing deck of Little Crater Lake. This trail carves through Little Crater Meadow, to Little Crater Lake, and then on to the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. Little Crater Lake is 45-ft. deep and spring-fed from the bottom, and from Little Crater Creek. The lake was formed by dissolving limestone and is not of volcanic origin. It remains near 34 degrees Fahrenheit year-round because of the properties of the aquifer that feed it. This trail also provides access to the many trails around Timothy Lake.

This trail is a flat, barrier-free trail from the trailhead to Little Crater Lake (0.15 mile). There is a viewing platform, bench, and information sign at Little Crater Lake. The trail continues 0.15 mile past the lake to the Pacific Crest Trail #2000.

General Information

Day use: The day-use area is managed by a concessionaire, Alaska Recreational Management. To park, you must pay the day-use fee. The only recreation pass accepted in lieu of fee payment is the $30 Annual Northwest Forest Pass. Learn more about which fee sites accept recreation passes.

Please stay on the developed trails.
Absolutely NO SWIMMING is permitted in Little Crater Lake for ecological preservation.
To reduce user conflict, bikes are not allowed on this connector trail.

Getting There

Directions

From Portland, OR - to the trailhead (No fee), take U.S. Hwy 26 40.2 miles southeast of Sandy to Skyline Road (Forest Road 42). Turn right (west) at Skyline Road (Forest Road 42) and travel 1.1 miles to Forest Road 2660. Drive 2.5 miles on Forest Road 2660 and turn left at Abbott Road (Forest Road 58). Travel 1.7 miles to the Little Crater Lake Campground and turn right (west) into the campground. Follow the campground road west to the trailhead parking.