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Offered languages
- English
Experience dramatic vistas, clear blue water, and incredible volcanic history with this self-guided driving tour of Crater Lake National Park. Explore Rim Village, hike a trail down to the lakeshore, and take in the views from Watchman Peak. Each stop is packed with natural beauty and geological wonders, plus plenty of fascinating history!
Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!
After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point.
New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Begin from Steel Visitor Center, Munson Valley Rd, CRATER LAKE, OR. After booking the tour, search your emails and texts for "audio tour". Your tour is VALID FOREVER, so follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.
Itinerary
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1Rim Village
The government drew up designs to accommodate these new arrivals. The idea was to design a model ‘village’ that looked like a place people might actually live. Architects worked hard to blend the buildings in with the surrounding environment. Note: The tour is over 44 miles long, with more than 40+ audio stories, and takes about 2-3 hours to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2Pumice Castle
Mount Mazama didn’t just erupt once. Each minor eruption before the big one released lightweight volcanic rock full of gas bubbles. That’s pumice! This super porous rock is so light because it’s full of holes. Volcanoes like Mount Mazama create this unusual material when they put rocks under super high heat and super high pressure, then expel them at high speeds through the air during an eruption.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
Cleetwood Cove Trail (Pass by)
This 2-mile hike is steep and strenuous, but if you want to visit Crater Lake’s shore or take a ferry to Wizard Island, this is the spot to do it.
Admission ticket free -
3
You won’t find a boarding schools for wizardry and witchcraft on the island, though. Instead, it gets its name from the small peak on the island, which looks a bit like the pointy tip of a wizard’s hat!
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4Watchman Peak
A historic watchtower offering fantastic, unobstructed views of Crater Lake. This 2-mile trail is moderately difficult, with some rough terrain and elevation gain of 400 feet. It takes about an hour in total.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5Merriam Point
Merriam Point, another great spot to see stunning views of the lake and its surroundings.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6Cleetwood Cove Trail
This 2-mile hike is steep and strenuous, but if you want to visit Crater Lake’s shore or take a ferry to Wizard Island, this is the spot to do it. Just remember that it’s not just about descending 700 feet… You have to climb back up!
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
7
This is the highest point to catch a view of Crater Lake. Cloudcap Overlook gives us a clear view as we look to the west. The view from here helps show us just how deep the water is. Once we park, make sure the lake doesn’t steal all your attention. Just behind us, away from the lake, rises Mount Scott, the highest point in the park.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
8
Despite its name, the Phantom Ship isn’t really a ship, but a collection of ancient volcanic rock formations. This formation sits as its own little island, just offshore from the mainland. When the fog rolls in, settling on the lake, it’ll look like a ghostly ship sailing across its surface.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
9Sun Notch Trail
Just ahead is Sun Notch Trail, an easy half-mile loop that takes about 15-20 minutes total to hike. This hidden gem offers more great views of the Phantom Ship and the deep blue water of Chaski Bay right below us.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
10Vidae Falls
Now keep in mind that Crater Lake is 600 feet below us. So where does the water come from to feed this waterfall? It’s actually a spring fed by seasonal snowmelt and rainfall! That means the falls are most powerful in spring and early summer, and slow later on.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
11
The first flowers peeking through the snow are Mountain violets and Gorman buttercups. They can't wait to emerge after being covered by nearly 50 feet of snow in an average winter.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Cleetwood Cove Closure: The Cleetwood Cove Trail, parking lot, and marina are closed for the 2026–2028 seasons due to a major rehabilitation project. There will be no public lakeshore access via Cleetwood Cove and no public boat tours during this period.
- Please note that Crater Lake National Park requires an entrance pass, valid for multiple consecutive days per vehicle. This pass is not included with the tour.
- Please note that the areas between Sun Notch Trailhead and Cloudcap Overlook at Crater Lake are temporarily closed. Visitors will need to drive back and access each section separately, as both Sun Notch and Cloudcap Overlook remain open.
- Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Cleetwood Cove Closure: The Cleetwood Cove Trail, parking lot, and marina are closed for the 2026–2028 seasons due to a major rehabilitation project. There will be no public lakeshore access via Cleetwood Cove and no public boat tours during this period.
- Please note that Crater Lake National Park requires an entrance pass, valid for multiple consecutive days per vehicle. This pass is not included with the tour.
- Please note that the areas between Sun Notch Trailhead and Cloudcap Overlook at Crater Lake are temporarily closed. Visitors will need to drive back and access each section separately, as both Sun Notch and Cloudcap Overlook remain open.
- Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.
- Private tour: Explore in your own vehicle without crowded buses or large tour groups.
- At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.
- Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.
- Good value: One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle, not each person separately.
- More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours.
- Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.
- Follow the route: Begin at the suggested starting point or join anywhere along the route shown in the app.
- Lifetime access: Preview the tour before your trip and revisit the stories, photos, and details afterward.
- Supported devices: iPhone with iOS 15+, Android with version 9+, or a GPS-enabled iPad/tablet with cellular capability.
- NOTE: East Rim Drive is currently closed to all public access from Park Headquarters to Phantom Ship Overlook due to road construction.
- The app’s audio will play through your car’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto display, while the app’s map will display on your phone. You can connect your phone to the car via Bluetooth to listen to the commentary through the car stereo.
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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