Private Exploration Tour in Crater Lake National Park

Explore Crater Lake with expert guides. Hike iconic trails, discover hidden gems, and learn about the park’s rich history and natural wonders.

Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Rim Drive - This drive is approximately 33 miles long and offers numerous pullouts, overlooks, and attractions like Phantom Ship Overlook and Watchman Overlook, allowing visitors to stop and admire the spectacular vistas of the lake and surrounding volcanic terrain. It’s a popular route for sightseeing, photography, and enjoying the natural beauty of Crater Lake.
  • Mount Scott - The Mount Scott Trail at Crater Lake, starting near Crater Lake Lodge off East Rim Drive, spans about 2.5 miles one way, providing a moderately strenuous hike culminating in the park’s highest point at 8,929 feet. Trekking through rocky terrain and switchbacks, hikers ascend steadily, rewarded by breathtaking panoramas as they near the summit. The well-marked trail reveals glimpses of the surrounding beauty before unveiling a magnificent vista from the peak—Crater Lake stretches below, Wizard Island emerges within the crystalline waters, and an expansive view of forests and mountains unfolds. Weather can shift suddenly, so readiness for variable conditions, including potential wind and cooler temperatures, especially at higher elevations, is crucial for a safe and enjoyable trek.
  • Plaikni Falls - Plaikni Falls, found within Crater Lake National Park, offers a peaceful and family-friendly 2-mile round trip hike from Phantom Ship Overlook. The gentle trail winds through a serene forest with occasional wildlife sightings and informative signs about local flora. Arriving at the falls reveals a tranquil oasis—a graceful waterfall cascades down a mossy cliff. This makes it a serene gem in the park’s landscape.
  • Garfield Peak - Garfield Peak is a prominent summit within Crater Lake National Park, offering one of the most stunning viewpoints of Crater Lake. The trailhead begins near Crater Lake Lodge, and the hike is around 3.4 miles round trip, considered moderately strenuous due to its steep elevation gain. As hikers ascend, they navigate through switchbacks and rocky terrain, but the reward is the breathtaking panorama from the peak. At an elevation of around 8,054 feet, visitors are treated to an incredible view of Crater Lake, Wizard Island, and the surrounding landscapes. It’s a popular spot for sunrise or sunset, providing an unforgettable experience and an unparalleled perspective of the majestic beauty of Crater Lake.
What's Included
  • Private transportation
  • Binoculars
  • Park Entry Fees
  • Private, naturalist tour guide
  • Lunch
What's Not Included
  • Gratuity for guides - If you had a great day, a 10-20% tip is appreciated!
Additional Information

Our guides team is made up of Master Naturalists, experts with Master’s Degrees in Outdoor and Sustainability Education, and more!

Join your guide for a full day exploring the land and sea of Crater Lake National Park. Your day may include stops at iconic destinations such as Mount Scott and the Rim Drive, while also leaving time to hike on the trails and away from crowds. Your guide will work with you to choose walks that are perfectly suited for your group. Along the way, they’ll share stories of Crater Lake’s history, explain its natural features, and share information about its flora and fauna.

Location
Rim Drive
Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(8 Ratings)
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1 star
Stephen_w
Jul 23, 2024
Wow! Fantastic! Be Sure to Do This! - What an amazing tour! Justin was the most extraordinary guide. Super friendly, personable and helpful. We felt like we made a new friend. He has a deep knowledge of Crater Lake, as well as its trees & plants, and had a unique gift for combining his knowledge of physics with his touring to help us understand how the lake was formed and why it is so blue. We did four hikes - one to sun notch overlooking the phantom ship rocks, one long astoundingly beautiful hike to the top of Garfield Peak, one to wildflowers in a gorgeous meadow, and one very short overlooking Wizard Island. They were all magnificent, as was the very healthy, yummy lunch Justin provided. All in all, a fabulous day. We highly recommend it. And ask for Justin!
Review provided by Viator
Ravsteve
Jul 23, 2024
Wow! Fantastic! Make Sure to Do This! - What an amazing tour! Justin was the most extraordinary guide. Super friendly, personable and helpful. We felt like we made a new friend. He has a deep knowledge of Crater Lake, as well as its trees & plants, and had a unique gift for combining his knowledge of physics with his touring to help us understand how the lake was formed and why it is so blue. We did four hikes - one to sun notch overlooking the phantom ship rocks, one long astoundingly beautiful hike to the top of Garfield Peak, one to wildflowers in a gorgeous meadow, and one very short overlooking Wizard Island. They were all magnificent, as was the very healthy, yummy lunch Justin provided. All in all, a fabulous day. We highly recommend it. And ask for Justin!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
F5772ngheidih
Jul 21, 2024
Immense and Intimate Crater Lake Guided by a Knowledgeable, Kind Person - My husband and I hiked around Oregon for our 40th birthdays and Crater Lake was the big reason we chose the area. Justin called a couple days before our tour to make it as personalized as possible, down to what food we would like for lunch. He sent us pins for optimal spots to watch the sunrise and later places to eat in Eugene. He picked both scenic and awe-inspiring hikes. The lake views do not get old and his knowledge of the plant life was incredible. We hiked to the tallest available peak and hiked to the lake itself for a quick cliff jump (on my husband's part). Justin was kind, helpful, professional, and personable. I am very glad we booked with Good Trip versus trying to navigate the park on our own.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Boris
Jul 19, 2024
A wonderful and varied trip to Crater Lake! - The Lake is absolutely stunning! We were able to see its ever-changing vistas from many dfferent vantage points around the rim! Our guide Justin made this journey to Crater Lake exciting and stress-free. Our trip was tailored to us: the hikes were expertly chosen with our needs and fitness levels in mind. I really wanted to take a swim in the lake and Justin made it happen! He also set up a picnic with our dietary restrictions in mind. He was very welcoming and personable; and provided just enough information along the way to make the trip more interesting without bogging it down. 10/10 totally worth it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Explore22504389514
Jul 7, 2024
An amazing day at Crater Lake - Our guide Lauren S took our party of 8 on two great hikes in Crater Lake National Park. Beautiful views, great conversation about the history of the area and a lot of hiking. A memorable day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
71mattien
Jun 18, 2024
Wonderful guide! - My husband Blake and I did the full day tour of Crater Lake. Our guide was Tyler, and I’m so happy we had him as our guide. He knew so much about the lake and surrounding area such as the geology, history, animals, plants, etc. We actually had snow and fog at the very beginning of the tour, and his positive attitude and genuine kindness had us still loving the trip. Fortunately the weather passed quickly and we got to experience the lake and all of its beauty.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Climber324387
Jun 16, 2024
Crators&Volcanos - Tyler was fantastic resource for our one-day-no-plan-b tour of Crater lake. Lucked out with weather but if not-Tyler would have still 5-starred the day with his navigating us up over and through this gorgeous volcanic landscape. Super knowledgeable with geology, history, environmental and cultural info that really enhanced the experience. Great human! Oh, and we saw Mt. Shasta!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kwalsh0121
May 26, 2024
Visit to beautiful Crater Lake National Park. Highly recommend Kimberly as a guide. - 5. Kimberly was awesome….knowledgeable, enthusiastic, flexible, and fun. And she arranged perfect weather for our tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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