Crater Lake- Late May?

Hi there

We are a group of 6 planning a trip to Crater lake in late May. I%26#39;ve been reading up about the weather and looks like May might not be a good time to visit? And are the campgrounds closed at that time? If so, what would be the best place to stay... preferably not a hotel/motel but cabins in a rustic setting would be ok.

Also what are the activities around that time of year?

Thanks a lot in advance!

Crater Lake- Late May?

I do not keep track of when north entrnce opens. It is often fairly late. but it does open before the rim road on east side opens. South entrance to Rim Village opens first.

Best time to visit Creter lake in July the Sept. most things open then or have not closed yeti Late June and early Oct pretty good too.

Late May bit of a risk, if part of a larger trip i would chance it, and take what was open when there, but not sure I would plan trip from Seattle for just Crater Lake. in late May.

Diamond Lake has some fairly decent cabins. which can sleep six people. I have stayed there 3 or 4 times, but would not recommend to those who prefer the Hilton. They are preety basic, but if north entrance not open, long way to south entrance

Union Creek has cabins, but they are smaller than Diamond lake, and even more basic. Prospect has a hotel which some seem to like. I have not been there. except to go by.

Crater Lake- Late May?

The Lodge at Crater Lake doesn%26#39;t open until late May, which as phirl says, may be before the rim road opens. And the campgrounds in the park don%26#39;t open until June. But I believe the ';cabins'; at Mazama Village near the south entrance are open year round. We stayed in one a couple years ago; they reminded me more of a 1960%26#39;s style motel than a cabin.

You might also consider the Prospect Hotel, which isn%26#39;t really a hotel in the sense one usually thinks. And it%26#39;s got the ';rustic setting'; part covered.

Anytime we%26#39;re in that area, we include at least a night%26#39;s stay, and a play or two at the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland.

I guess I will chime in too-

I second the idea of going to Ashland and seeing a play, especially if you haven%26#39;t been there before.

Definetly the lodging in the area, with exception of the Crater Lake Lodge, is probably not up to most travelers expectations. Not that its bad, but FYI.

If there is enough snow left in May and you bring/rent your snowshoes/skis you might be able to ski around the rim???

Other activities- Lake of the Woods-I haven%26#39;t stayed there, but is centraly located to Crater Lake and Ashland(and lower in elevation)-and may have canoes available to rent then, etc. I%26#39;ve been there for a day trip and it was pretty nice.

I hope that you could consider coming to Crater Lake a little later in the season. I really like the area-so much to do when the snow is gone.

Hi! I spent 3 summers working at Crater Lake. It is beautiful-well worth visiting. The more I worked there, the more I loved it. I think it is beatiful any time of the year.

My family usually go there once every winter-just for the day, as my parents live about 45 minutes from the park-to cross-country ski, sled, snowboad, etc. Actually, we are going to go there either this coming weekend or the middle of next month.

In the winter, the rangers lead snowshoe hikes, which I believe they continue to do until there is not enough snow-sometimes all the way to the end of June or so. Much of what is available to do or happening at Crater Lake depends on the snow-and deep it is and how long it takes to melt or be plowed.

About a May visit, you may be able to go on a snowshoe hike or check out snowshoes from the rangers at park headquarters-I would call to see when they are doing it, though. Also, you can play in the snow, and most likely, view the lake from the Rim.

Rim Drive, the road around the rim, will most likely still be closed from snow. They usually hope to open it for Memorial Day weekend, but usually don%26#39;t open it until June. Sometimes, it isn%26#39;t open until 4th of July Weekend. You may be able to eat a picnic lunch at a picnic table if enough snow has melted. Bathrooms are open year-round, as is the main visitor%26#39;s center. The visitor%26#39;s center has some nice displays and shows 1-2 different short movies.

If you love the snow, like me, then you would probably love Crater Lake in May, but if you want to be able to do more hiking (not on snowshoes), go on the boat tour, possibly see animals, drive around the rim, see the waterfall, the pinnacles, or enjoy warmer weather, I would probably go a little later. The North entrance to the park is closed in the winter, and may still be by late May.

A good overview of tne Park is at: http://www.nps.gov/archive/crla/day.htm

or at the Park%26#39;s homepage:

http://www.nps.gov/crla

Oh, just checked-all lodging in the park is closed for the winter, but the lodge reopens sometime in May.

SamRam, the Crater Lake NP site has information that you requested. Posters have also advised. Since you apparently are in Seattle, you have other choices for your group if you are set on and must do a May trip. Otherwise, you do need to follow their advice.