See It While You Can: Access to Crater Lake Will Close for 3 Years

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The National Park Service (NPS) has announced it will close the Cleetwood Cove Trail, which provides access to the shore of Crater Lake, for renovations in 2026, which will take about three years. Oregon’s Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States, and it’s one of the top 10 deepest lakes in the world. In a press release, NPS calls Cleetwood Cove Trail “the most heavily used trail” in Crater Lake National Park and announces that the renovation project will address critical safety issues both on the trail and at the marina.

During the closure, NPS says it will rehabilitate the 1.1-mile trail and trail head, replace the bulkhead and dock, and replace the marina’s toilets, among other projects. Construction will begin in 2026 (the press release doesn’t state exactly when) and extend through the 2027 and 2028 summer seasons.

“During this time, no boat tours will be provided and the trail will be closed due to construction and rockfall hazards,” NPS says. “If construction goes as planned, the renovated trail will reopen in summer 2029.”

If you’d like to swim or boat in Crater Lake, it seems 2025 is the time to go—unless you want to wait until 2029, of course. While it’s always a shame when construction limits access in national parks, it’s also a necessary part of keeping people and places safe.

See more details about the plans to close off access to Crater Lake during construction here.

Header image by NPS/Kim Chamales