Wizard Island Trail

The Wizard Island Trail includes…. a little over a mile on a trail down to the the boat. Boat, boat, boat. Then, a little over a mile to the top of Wizard Island. Then, back again. Under 5 miles of hiking but one helluva adventure. Hope it’s back open in 2029!

Driving

– It’s a 2 hour drive from Interstate 5. Exit 30 into Medford. Take Crater Lake Drive towards…. surprise… Crater Lake! It’s Route 62. Past Medford, White City, Shady Cove, Prospect, and Beckie’s Pies. Turn right at about 75 minutes in which is still Route 62 but turns right so you don’t end up at Diamond Lake.

25 more minutes and you will turn left at the Crater Lake Park sign. It comes up fast. Pay attention! Toll booth is right there. Pay… or, be lucky and no one is there! Another 15 minutes and you hit the stop sign where the Visitor’s Center is. Keep going! and at the top you’ll hit the intersection for the Lodge straight ahead. Forget that nonsense, turn left on the Crater Lake Rim Drive.

25 minutes on this and you’ll meet people from Bend who are coming up from the other side of Crater Lake. Turn right here to stay on the Rim Drive. 10 more minutes and you are at Cleetwood Cove and the parking lot is packed.

Parking

– The designated area is 50 cars and fills up fast. After that, there are pull-outs before and after Cleetwood Cove that are completely legal. Pick something and walk along the Rim Drive to the top of the Cleetwood Cove Trail.

Hiking

– Across the road from the parking area is the trailhead. Big sign, seating, fancy National Park stuff. If you bought a boat ticket online, go back to the parking area where there is an area that checks you in for your boat. But back to the trail. You have 9 switchbacks downhill to the lake and it is slightly over 1 mile.

Apparently, people like to throw rocks down on other people? So there are many signs saying “Don’t throw rocks!” I don’t know you but… crazy that I have to say to you “Don’t throw rocks on other people!” The trail is well groomed and you arrive at the boat dock. Walk past the boats for a minute and there you will find the restrooms and some swimming areas and… an awesome rock to jump off of.

If you bought a boat ticket go back to the boat ramp and check in. Down to your boat. 15 minutes on the boat to the island. You are dropped on a rocky ava island. There are bathrooms and if you head up the trail there is a left turn to the “Lagoon” but that’s just more water. Turn right and scramble uphill for a mile to the top of Wizard Island. It’s a little over 1 mile and it’s a decent uphill. I recommend hiking sticks. Super rocky.

At the top you can stroll around the ridge of Wizard Island. Super quick. an amazing and unique view of Crater Lake. Then… reverse all that and go back to your car. Pretty good day, right?