Three tour options are available

By Lee Juillerat for Ashland.news

Boat tours will be offered again this summer on Crater Lake.

After some uncertainty, ExplorUS, Crater Lake National Park’s concessionaire, announced the tours will be offered. The status of the tours had been uncertain because of the Cleetwood Cove Trail and marina rehabilitation project, which had been scheduled to begin late this summer. Park officials instead decided to begin work on the trail, which provides the only access to the lake and is the park’s most popular trail, in 2026. The trail is expected to be closed for at least two years, which will also result in the closure of boat tours.

“We look forward to welcoming guests aboard for another year of scenic adventures and unforgettable experiences,” ExplorUS said on its website.

Reservations can be made for three different tours:

• A standard two-hour tour
• A Wizard Island-lake combo that includes a three-hour layover on Wizard Island for fishing, hiking and/or swimming
• A Wizard Island shuttle that allows up to three hours on Wizard Island

Costs range from $33 to $48 for the standard tour, $42 to $60 for the Wizard Island-lake combo, and $20 to $32 for the Wizard Island shuttle.

For information and reservations, visit https://explorecraterlake.com/things-to-do/boat-tours/.

The standard and combo boat tours feature a park ranger who provides interpretive information about the lake, its geology and other information. All tours depart from the Cleetwood Cove boat dock. The 1.1-mile trail from Rim Drive loses about 700 feet in elevation. People are cautioned to be aware because of the park’s high elevation — about 6,176-feet at the Rim Drive trailhead — and the steep trail.

The hike down to the dock typically takes about 45 minutes, while the hike from the lake back to the rim parking area typically takes longer.

The Standard Lake Cruise two-hour cruise travels the perimeter of the lake and offers up-close views of Wizard Island, Phantom Ship, and other natural formations of Crater Lake’s caldera. A ranger provides information about the natural beauty of Crater Lake and the cliffs that were formed thousands of years ago when Mount Mazama collapsed and the lake was created.

The Wizard Island tours allow participants to spend three hours on the island. Swimming and fishing are permitting while many hike a trail to the top of the island’s 763-foot cinder cone, which affords “inside out” views of the lake and the caldera.

The Wizard Island Shuttle, which takes passengers directly to the island, allows visitors wanting to explore Wizard Island by fishing, swimming or hiking to its summit. Daily departure times are 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. The shuttle does not include circling the lake.

Tickets can be purchased in advance online, but when the tours will begin will depend on when Rim Drive is cleared of snow and the trail is deemed safe for hiking. Additional tickets are available 24 hours in advance of the scheduled tour. Tickets can be be purchased up to two hours before the departure time at the Mazama Village Cabin/Campground registration desk, Crater Lake Lodge front desk and at the Cleetwood Cove kiosk.

Only half of the available boat tour seats are available for advance reservations. If tours are cancelled, the concessionaire will work with visitors with advance reservations to go on the next available tour or issue a refund. Attending children must be at least three years of age.

Tour passengers are advised to wear good hiking shoes and dress in layers for potential inclement/cold weather. Recommended items to carry include sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, water, snacks and a camera or smartphone to take photos.

Boat tour schedules are based upon weather and are subject to change. It is recommended to allow at least 90 minutes prior to the boat trip for travel from Crater Lake Lodge/Rim Village to Cleetwood Cove.

For more information, visit the https://explorecraterlake.com/things-to-do/boat-tours website or call 866-292-6720. Information is also available on the park website at ww.nps.gov.

Email freelance writer Lee Juillerat at 337lee337@charter.net.