Picnic area · Crater Lake National Park
A shaded picnic stop just south of the lodge.
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
Rim Village and Sinnott Memorial“Rim Village is coming up, a useful stop for a lake walk and a bite to eat. Make time for Sinnott Memorial if you want geology exhibits alongside a sheltered view of the water.”
Plays as you drive up to Rim Village Picnic Area in the Parkwolf Crater Lake Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“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
Rim Village Picnic Area is a set of picnic sites under a forest canopy just south of Crater Lake Lodge. Tables and grated fire pits make it a practical lunch stop while you explore Rim Village. The lake views are around the village; this is a shaded break rather than a named overlook.
The site was formerly a campground and became a picnic area in 1976, partly to reduce congestion and development on the rim.
Bring a meal or pick up grab-and-go sandwiches, salads and snacks at the separate Rim Village Café. Public flush restrooms and running water are available in Rim Village, though their location relative to the picnic tables was not established. Park rules allow leashed pets in picnic areas, with leashes no longer than six feet. Heavy winter snow can close the road to Rim Village for days or weeks, so check current access before driving up.
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
ModerateGarfield Peak Trail3.6 mi · 2.5 hr · 0.1 mi awayA steady climb earns broad views from Crater Lake’s rim.
ModerateHemlock Loop1.3 mi · 1.5 hr · 0.3 mi awayA marked winter loop through hemlock forest with Garfield Peak views.
ModerateDutton Creek Trail4.6 mi · 3 hr · 0.3 mi awayA steep forest descent to Dutton Creek and the Pacific Crest Trail.
EasyDiscovery Point Trail2 mi · 1 hr · 0.3 mi awayWizard Island keeps appearing through the wind-shaped rim forest.
ModerateDutton/Lightning Loop12.9 mi · 7 hr · 0.3 mi awayA long forest loop earns its lake view at the west rim.
ModerateRaven Trail2 mi · 2.5 hr · 1 mi awayA marked winter climb to the caldera rim.
EasyLady of the Woods Trail0.7 mi · 36 min · 1 mi awayA short history loop to a weathered forest carving.
ChallengingRim Trail16.2 mi · 9.5 hr · 1.3 mi awayWizard Island shifts position as you follow the western rim.
Lodging · 0.1 mi awayCrater Lake LodgeA historic rim lodge with a lake-view porch and big stone fireplace.
Visitor center · 0.2 mi awayRim Visitor CenterStart here for ranger help, passport stamps, and a rim-side stroll.
Sight · 0.2 mi awaySinnott Memorial OverlookA stone shelter frames the lake and explains the caldera.
Food · 0.3 mi awayRim Village Café & GiftsA quick bite, lake-view patio, and souvenirs in one stop.Sight · 0.9 mi awayLady of the WoodsA half-finished 1917 carving tucked into the forest.
Visitor center · 0.9 mi awaySteel Information CenterA practical first stop for ranger advice and Crater Lake context.Sight · 1.3 mi awayDiscovery PointA lake view with Wizard Island and the Lost Cabin story.
Sight · 2.1 mi awayWizard IslandA cinder cone with a crater, rising from the caldera lake.Parkwolf’s Crater Lake ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
