Parking
Park in Lodgepole Picnic Area off Highway 62, the third picnic area from the park’s south boundary. The signed trailhead is in the middle of the area among lodgepole pines.
Overview
About Pumice Flat Trail
Why go
- A broad meadow opens just over 1.5 miles into the climb.
Heads up
- Crosses Highway 62 near the start.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Crater Lake map
Full mapElevation5,876–6,345 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
2 active Crater Lake alerts
- ClosureCleetwood Cove Trail closed for rehabilitationCleetwood Cove Trail is closed to the public during construction to rehabilitate the trail and marina.Official details
- CautionPinnacles Road restricted to hikers and bicyclistsPinnacles Road is open only to hikers and bicyclists because of a road construction project; motor vehicles cannot use it.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Crater Lake Tour Guide
Your drive to Pumice Flat Trail, narrated.
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 trailhead
Lodgepole Picnic Area and Pumice Flat0:00 / 0:27
“Lodgepole Picnic Area is coming up on Highway sixty-two, a small lunch stop beneath old-growth pines. There are just two tables, so this suits a simple break.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Crater Lake Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- When Snow Turns Pink
- A Jay's Winter Stores
- Godfrey Glen Trailhead
- Annie Falls Picnic Area
- 58 audio storiesacross Crater Lake’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Black Bear, Mule Deer, Common Raven, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 34 trails, 49 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“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!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Pumice Flat Trail
The walkPumice Flat Trail is a 5.
Pumice Flat Trail is a 5.5-mile out-and-back from Lodgepole Picnic Area to the Pacific Crest Trail, with about 470 feet of gain. Plan on roughly four hours. It suits hikers who want a steady, gentle climb through forest into open pumice country more than a lake overlook.
Cross Highway 62, then turn at the PCTStart at the signed trailhead in the picnic area.
Start at the signed trailhead in the picnic area. The route reaches Highway 62 near the beginning; cross to the briefly unsigned continuation, which becomes obvious once you are over the road. Stay on Pumice Flat to the PCT junction and turn around there. The Stuart Falls route continues beyond this junction and is a longer hike, outside the 5.5-mile round trip.
From shaded pines to open pumiceThe first half mile is shaded.
The first half mile is shaded. After that, the tread crosses pumice flats and burned-tree country on a gentle uphill grade through grassy meadows. A little past 1.5 miles, the trees open around a broad, flat meadow; pause here before continuing to the junction. The meadows bring wildflowers and pollinators and provide habitat for bird diversity.
Know before you goThe trailhead sits among old-growth lodgepole pines at Lodgepole Picnic Area, with two picnic…
The trailhead sits among old-growth lodgepole pines at Lodgepole Picnic Area, with two picnic tables. Many of the straight pines there top 100 feet; look for their needles growing in pairs. Dogs are not allowed on this trail. Snow and ice can linger into June and sometimes early July, so confirm seasonal trail access before setting out. Take care crossing Highway 62 near the start.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Crater Lake
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.
