The hike up to Garfield Peak offers some of the best views in Crater Lake National Park. This 3.3-mile round-trip trail climbs steadily along the crater’s south rim, rewarding hikers with panoramic views of Crater Lake’s brilliant blue waters. Standing at 7,976 feet (2,431 meters), the summit of Garfield Peak offers one of the most impressive vantage points within the national park.
We hiked the Garfield Peak Trail in September, and it quickly became one of our favorite hikes in Crater Lake National Park (in our family, it’s a tie between this trail and the Wizard Island Trail). The trail is well-maintained, moderately challenging, and easy to reach right from Crater Lake Lodge. With its fantastic views, the Garfield Peak Trail offers significant rewards for moderate effort, making it a great fit for many visitors.
The Garfield Peak Trail is perfect for anyone who wants stunning scenery without the difficulty of a massive full-day hike. In this article, we break down the trail step-by-step, offering our experience along with tips on how to make the best of your hike. Let’s get into it.
Garfield Peak Hiking Stats
Distance: 3.3 miles (5.4 km) round-trip
Difficulty: Moderate
Total Ascent: 1,100 feet (335 m)
Lowest Elevation: 7,055 feet (2,150 m)
Highest Elevation: 8,055 feet (2,455 m)
Time: 1.5 to 2.5 hours
Garfield Peak elevation profile
Map of the Garfield Peak Trail
Please practice the seven principles of Leave No Trace: plan ahead, stay on the trail, pack out what you bring to the hiking trail, leave areas as you found them, minimize campfire impacts, be considerate of other hikers, and do not approach or feed wildlife.
Is Hiking Garfield Peak Worth It?
Absolutely. This is one of our favorite hikes in Crater Lake National Park, and we think it deserves a spot on almost every itinerary.
The trail is relatively short and can be challenging in stretches, but it’s doable for a wide range of hikers. And the payoff is genuinely hard to beat: Garfield Peak offers one of the best panoramic views of Crater Lake you’ll find anywhere in the park. The only other viewpoints we’d put in the same conversation are Watchman Peak on the west side and the summit of Wizard Island, but Garfield Peak tops them both for sheer drama.
It was actually the very first thing we did at Crater Lake. We hit the trail early on a Saturday morning during one of the two days of the Ride the Rim event, which draws massive crowds to the park. Getting there early was the right call. We snagged a parking spot and were among the first on the trail. We had the summit almost entirely to ourselves, sharing it with just one trail runner. By the time we headed back down, a steady stream of hikers was already making their way up.
Go early, and yes, it is absolutely worth it.
One of many amazing views along the Garfield Peak Trail
Trailhead & Parking
The best place to park is next to the Crater Lake Lodge. There is a parking lot here, plus additional parking along the road. From this spot you can also access the Visitor Center and the Discovery Point Trail (a short, easy hike that is also well worth your time).
If you need a bathroom, there are restrooms inside Crater Lake Lodge. This is also a nice place to get breakfast or lunch, before or after the hike.
The Garfield Peak trailhead is located to the right of the Crater Lake Lodge. From the lodge, follow the paved path along the rim for a few minutes before reaching the official trailhead, which is at the start of the woods. This short walk to the trailhead is a great chance to capture some initial photos of Crater Lake.
The view walking from Crater Lake Lodge to Garfield Peak Trailhead
Garfield Peak Trail trailhead
Garfield Peak: Step-By-Step Trail Guide
From the trailhead, you’ll immediately begin your ascent up to Garfield Peak. Be prepared for a steady uphill hike the entire way. The grade of the trail is pretty constant, although it will flatten out as you near the top. There’s also plenty of viewpoints along the way that offer chances to catch your breath.
The Garfield Peak Trail alternates between running along the rim of Crater Lake and heading up a steep hillside, with views over both the lake and the southern part of the park. It’s well defined the whole way and consists of packed dirt with some loose rock.
It’s important to know that the entire trail is exposed to the elements. While you’ll be able to enjoy panoramic views almost the whole way, you won’t have much protection from sun, wind, rain, or snow. We recommend bringing a hat or sunscreen if it’s sunny, as the lack of shade could add an extra challenge on a hot summer’s day.
The higher you hike, the better the views over Crater Lake. The views are phenomenal the entire way and only get better the further along the trail you ascend.
There are a few great viewpoints just before the summit. Our favorite is at the 1.3-mile mark. There’s a large opening where the trail makes a U-turn, and if you walk out onto the open ridge, you’ll get incredible views in all directions. You may also be able to spot a few hikers at the top of Garfield Peak.
Tyler is walking back from the viewpoint over the lake. Below is the view ↓
Looking up at the final climb to the summit
At the Summit
From Garfield Peak, you’ll enjoy the best views of the hike, with a fantastic vantage point out over Crater Lake.
On a clear day, you’ll see the full lake in all its glory, and to the west, you can spot the Crater Lake Lodge and the trail you hiked up. To the south, admire the tree-covered mountains as they stretch endlessly to the horizon.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: Morning is the best time to hike this trail. Not only are crowds low early in the morning, but the rising sun lights up the lake, making this the perfect time for photography. In the afternoon, you will be looking west as you gaze across the lake, and this could be a challenging time for photography. We started the hike at 7:15 am in mid-September.
The Return Hike
To finish the hike, return the way you came. You will undoubtedly take plenty of pictures on your descent, as oftentimes you’ll be hiking with Crater Lake directly in front of you.
The view of Crater Lake Lodge from the trail
A Note on Visibility
On overcast days, the lake can cloud in and greatly limit your visibility. Low-lying clouds sit right along the rim, blocking any view you may have of the lake.
We know this because it happened to us. As you can see from our photos, we had a crystal-clear day on the day we hiked Garfield Peak. The next day wasn’t so wonderful. Rain moved in overnight, and with that, a blanket of clouds. All morning, all we could see was white, as the lake was completely clouded in.
We planned to spend this day hiking Mount Scott (but there’s no point in summitting an even higher peak when visibility is so bad) and then visit Wizard Island. Fortunately, conditions did improve late morning, and our visit to Wizard Island was one of our favorite overall experiences in Crater Lake.
Crater Lake features three webcams operated by the National Park Service. You can check here to see what the current visibility is like, to help better plan your Crater Lake experience.
Tips for Hiking Garfield Peak
Go as early as possible. We can’t stress this enough. The trailhead is steps from Crater Lake Lodge, which means it fills up fast. Getting there early gets you a parking spot, a quieter summit, and the best light for photos. We started at 7:15 am in September and had the summit nearly to ourselves.
Check the webcams before you go. Crater Lake is notorious for clouds rolling in and completely obscuring the lake. It happened to us the day after we hiked. The National Park Service runs three webcams on the lake, so you can get a real-time look at conditions before heading out. There’s no point hiking to the summit if all you’ll see is white.
Dress in layers. The entire trail is exposed with no tree cover, so wind and temperature can change quickly. Even on a warm day, it can be noticeably colder at the summit. A light jacket or fleece is worth throwing in your pack.
Wear sunscreen. No shade means full sun exposure the entire way up and back. On a bright summer day especially, this adds up faster than you’d expect.
Watch your footing near the rim. There are a few sections along the ridge with steep drop-offs into the crater. Nothing technical, but worth staying aware of, especially if you’re distracted by the views (which you will be).
If you’re visiting on a Ride the Rim day, arrive extra early. Ride the Rim is a two-day cycling event on Rim Drive that brings huge crowds to the park. Parking near the lodge becomes very competitive. We showed up early and just barely got a spot.
Things to Do after Hiking to Garfield Peak
Once you’ve returned to the trailhead, what about enjoying a nice meal? The Crater Lake Lodge serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, perfect for those looking to fuel up for a long day of sightseeing. We ate breakfast here twice and had a great experience (I recommend the Crater Lake Shortstack 🙂). The Lodge itself is also neat to check out, with its rustic design and viewing area over Crater Lake.
Continuing west from the lodge, there’s a paved trail that follows along Crater Lake’s rim. A short walk along this path is worth it as you’ll get more photo opportunities of Crater Lake’s deep blue water.
Further up the path is the Discovery Point Trail, a short and easy 2.1-mile hike along the rim.
From scenic drives to boat rides and other short hikes, there are plenty of other great things to do in Crater Lake National Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I bring on this hike?
We recommend hiking with a warm jacket or fleece, long pants, and a good pair of hiking shoes. Much of the trail is exposed, so on windy days it can be quite cold. We also recommend a hat or sunscreen if you’re hiking on a hot, sunny day. Check the weather before you go to best prepare for your hike.
Can anyone do this hike?
As long as you have a basic level of fitness, you’ll be able to complete the Garfield Peak hike. The trail is of moderate difficulty, spanning 3.3 miles round-trip as you hike up to Garfield Peak. We saw those of all ages when we hiked here in September. If you’re hiking with children, make sure they’re comfortable with long, steady ascents and 2 to 3-hour hikes.
Does the trail Close?
Most of Crater Lake’s roads and trails, like the Rim Drive and the Garfield Peak Trail, close due to heavy snow. These routes stay covered in snow for most of the year, usually from December through June. If you plan to hike at Crater Lake, we suggest visiting from July to October, when the snow has melted and the weather is pleasant.
Plan Your Trip to Crater Lake
One day in Crater Lake is just the beginning. If you’re still in the planning stages, our post Best Things to Do in Crater Lake National Park covers everything you need to know before you go — from entry fees and road conditions to the best times to visit and where to stay. Our Crater Lake Travel Guide has links to all of our guides on Crater Lake, plus nearby places to visit.
If you’re visiting once boat tours resume in 2029, don’t miss Wizard Island. It was the single best experience of our trip. Read our full guide to visiting Wizard Island to understand why it’s worth planning your entire visit around.
Looking for a road trip idea? Combine Crater Lake with Lassen Volcanic and Redwoods National Parks on this 10-day road trip through Northern California and Oregon.
If you have any questions about how to hike the Garfield Peak Trail, let us know in the comment section below.
Explore More of Oregon & the US National Parks
Below are links to our guides on places to visit in Oregon and beyond.
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