Crater Lake in Oregon Will Close Until 2029 After This Summer

Crater Lake National Park's Crater Lake will be closed until 2029.

By Michael Capetta Published on April 4, 2025

Close Crater Lake is the main feature of Crater Lake National Park in south-central Oregon. Photo:

Greg Clay/Getty Images

• Crater Lake and the popular Cleetwood Cove Trail will be closed to swimmers, boaters, and hikers until 2029.
• This summer will be the last chance for travelers to visit the lake until 2029.
• Several other trails and roads within the park are also closed due to recent wildfire damage.

Hopeful visitors to Oregon’s Crater Lake National Park may want to reconsider their upcoming summer travel plans. 

Crater Lake, which is the deepest lake in the U.S., will be closed to boat tours and swimmers during the 2026, 2027, and 2028 summer seasons. This means that the upcoming summer 2025 season will be the last opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts to experience the lake for several years.

During the closure, the 1.1-mile-long Cleetwood Cove Trail (the most heavily used pathway in the park) will be rehabilitated, the Cleetwood Cove Marina will get some structural upgrades, and high-risk rockfall zones will be mitigated. The National Park Service said that if construction timelines and goals are met, the lake will reopen to boat tours and visitors for the 2029 season. 

“The park is planning on starting construction in 2026,” a news release from the park said. “Due to the extent [of] work to be completed and short construction seasons, trail closures will be required and are expected during the duration of the 2027 and 2028 summer seasons.”

Travelers planning to visit Crater Lake National Park (located about 270 miles south of Portland, Oregon) this summer should keep in mind that there are several closures across the park, due to damage from the recent Middle Fork Fire. The North Entrance Road and Rim Drive will be closed for the season until June or July; the Bald Crater Loop, Bert Creek, and Boundary Springs Trails are closed until further notice.

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