Sight · Crater Lake National Park
A northward mountain view worth adding to the West Rim drive.
Overview
Map
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Crater Lake Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Crater Lake National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Crater Lake audio tourRecorded for this place
Diamond Lake Overlook“You're nearing Diamond Lake Overlook, a quick roadside stop for a view beyond the caldera. Look north across the forested basin toward the distant Cascade peaks.”
Plays as you drive up to Diamond Lake Overlook in the Parkwolf Crater Lake Tour Guide.
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“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Diamond Lake Overlook is a roadside viewpoint on the West Rim, looking north across a forested basin to distant Cascade peaks. It is one stop among Rim Drive’s 30 overlooks. It makes sense as a short pause while you are already driving the rim; it is not a separate destination that needs a special trip.
The NPS winter route places the overlook 4.6 miles from Rim Village, after Watchman Overlook at 3.9 miles and before North Junction at 6.0 miles. If you are following the winter route, use the signed parking at Rim Village; the route distance is not a road-mile marker.
West Rim Drive closes to vehicles each November 1 and becomes a ski and snowshoe route as snow covers the road. It is exposed and often windy, and icy sections can be treacherous. In winter, park only where signs allow; Rim Village parking fills early on busy weekends and holidays.
The stone parapet at the edge of the viewpoint gives a photo a sense of place. Keep it low in the frame so it anchors the northward basin without taking over the distant peaks.
Rim Drive’s overlooks were designed between 1931 and 1938 to bring attention to selected lake views, geologic formations and other features of the landscape. Diamond Lake Overlook contributes a broad look north across the forested high country.
Wildlife
16 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
178 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
26 sightingsCommon RavenMost seen around 9 AMSighting map
33 sightingsTurkey VultureMost seen around 1 PMSighting map
47 sightingsRed-tailed HawkMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
71 sightingsCascades FrogMost seen around 5 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Crater Lake. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
ModerateWatchman Peak Trail1.6 mi · 1 hr · 0.7 mi awayA short climb to a 1930s lookout above Wizard Island
ModerateLightning Spring Trail8.4 mi · 4.5 hr · 1.4 mi awayA spring breaks up the long descent from the rim.
ChallengingSmall PCT Loop24.8 mi · 12 hr · 1.4 mi awayRim views and remote PCT miles make this a real loop.
ModerateWizard Island Summit Trail2.4 mi · 1.5 hr · 1.8 mi awayA steep volcanic climb to a crater above the lake.
EasyFumarole Bay Trail1.5 mi · 1 hr · 1.8 mi awayA rocky Wizard Island shore walk to a clear, shallow bay.
ChallengingRim Trail16.2 mi · 9.5 hr · 2.4 mi awayWizard Island shifts position as you follow the western rim.
EasyDiscovery Point Trail2 mi · 1 hr · 3.2 mi awayWizard Island keeps appearing through the wind-shaped rim forest.
ModerateDutton/Lightning Loop12.9 mi · 7 hr · 3.2 mi awayA long forest loop earns its lake view at the west rim.
Sight · 0.7 mi awayWatchman OverlookA direct Wizard Island view without the summit climb.
Sight · 0.8 mi awayWatchman Observation StationA steep summit climb with a 360-degree caldera panorama.
Scenic pullout · 1 mi awayDevil's Backbone PulloutA jagged lava dike cuts from the lake to the rim.Picnic area · 1.3 mi awayLightning Spring Picnic AreaWalk up from the picnic area for a Wizard Island view.
Sight · 1.4 mi awayMerriam PointThe north road's first lake reveal, with Wizard Island in view.
Sight · 1.6 mi awayWizard IslandA cinder cone with a crater, rising from the caldera lake.Sight · 2.4 mi awayDiscovery PointA lake view with Wizard Island and the Lost Cabin story.
Food · 3.3 mi awayRim Village Café & GiftsA quick bite, lake-view patio, and souvenirs in one stop.Parkwolf’s Crater Lake ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
