IMPORTANT: Cleetwood Cove Trail will be CLOSED from summer 2026 through summer 2028 for a rehabilitation project. Read more about that on the official NPS page here.
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of dipping your toes into the frigid waters of an active volcano. If you want to experience this exhilarating feeling, good news: you’re in the right place!
To go swimming in Crater Lake, you’ll need to hike the Cleetwood Cove Trail. This is the only trail that travels from rim to water. And it’s a strenuous one!
But as someone who’s hiked this trail and swam in the icy waters of this sapphire-blue volcanic lake, I can confirm it is 100% worth it. In fact, this might be the best thing to do in the entire park!
To prepare you for the swim of a lifetime, I’m going to share with you everything you need to know about hiking the Cleetwood Cove Trail so that you can go swimming in Crater Lake – the deepest lake in America and the deepest volcanic lake in the world!
Let’s dive in!
Cleetwood Cove Trail Guide: How to Swim in Crater Lake
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Directions, Parking & Hours
The Cleetwood Cove Trail is tucked inside Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon.
To get to the trailhead from the Rim Visitor Center, drive clockwise around the lake on Rim Drive for about 10 miles.
The Cleetwood Cove parking lot will be on the left, while the trailhead will be on the right. The trailhead parking lot is big but can fill up quickly.
Depending on snow conditions, the trail is usually open and accessible from mid-June to late October.
And since the park is open 24 hours per day, you could technically hike this trail at any time of day. If you are going to night hike, make sure you bring a headlamp and watch your footing.
Know Before You Go
Pets are not allowed on the Cleetwood Cove Trail or in Crater Lake. Leave your furbaby at home; this isn’t the most dog-friendly park in general.
All flotation devices are prohibited. To keep the lake pristine, don’t bring any scuba or snorkeling gear, wetsuits, inner tubes, kayaks, rafts, noodles, life jackets, etc.
This trail is not for the faint of heart. The Cleetwood Cove Trail may be short, but it’s steep. Don’t hike this trail if you are not prepared to hike back up. Most of the rescues in this park stem from this trail.
This trail is a rockfall zone. Never kick rocks off the trail; there are hikers on the switchbacks below!
Please Leave No Trace when recreating outdoors. Leave the trail and lake exactly as you find them. Please do not carve into the trees, do not move or stack rocks, and do not pluck wildflowers. And make sure to pack out all of your trash.
Bonus points if you bring a trash bag and pick up other hikers’ garbage along the way!
When to Hike to Cleetwood Cove
Weather and snowpack dictate its official grand opening and closure, but the Cleetwood Cove Trail is generally open from mid-June to late October.
If you want to swim, I’d recommend hiking this trail in July or August as these are the warmest months in Crater Lake. The lake is cold and only averages about 55 to 60 degrees F, even in the summer!
If you don’t want to swim, you can hike this trail in any of the months that it’s open.
What to Pack
Here are some essentials to bring for your day hike and swim at Crater Lake:
- 10 essentials – Don’t hike without packing these items
- Day pack – To store all of your essentials
- GoPro – Having a waterproof camera around water is a must
- Packed lunch – Have a picnic with a view by the lake
- Swimsuit – Mine is lightweight and perfect to wear under a hiking outfit!
- Lightweight pack towel – For post-swims
- Tevas – These sandals are perfect for hiking and swimming
Hiking the Cleetwood Cove Trail
- Distance: 2.2 miles
- Type of Trail: Out & back
- Elevation Gain: 700 feet
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Pet-Friendly: No
Since Cleetwood Cove is the only legal access to Crater Lake, anyone who wants to go swimming in Crater Lake (or take a boat tour!) will have to hike the strenuous Cleetwood Cove Trail.
But even if you don’t want to swim or take a boat tour, I still highly recommend hiking this trail. You get some of the best views of the entire park from this trail.
Crater Lake looks entirely different from the water level than it does at the rim.
The trek down to the lake is beautiful. While the hike down is not as hard as the way up, it’s still steep!
To help with the elevation, the trail is riddled with switchbacks. I’d recommend using trekking poles to take the pressure off your knees!
One of the neat parts about this trail is that you can track your progress by simply glancing down at the lake. You’ll see the lake get gradually closer and closer as you hike switchback after switchback.
You’ll know you’ve reached the end of the trail when the boat dock comes into view, and you’re at eye-level with the cobalt-blue water.
If you’re taking a boat tour, check in at the docks.
If you want to swim, dip your toes, sunbathe, read a book, take photos, or simply hang out by the water, pick a spot along the boulder field. The crowds lessen as you venture further from the trail.
Now, for the trek back up…
After all, what goes down must come back up!
The short length (just about one mile) fools people into thinking it’ll be a walk in the park. But it’s actually quite steep! Not to mention, this trail is at an altitude of over 7,000 feet. And people are often surprised by the difficulty, especially when they go to make their way back up.
Follow the same switchbacks all the way up to the rim. The lake will be behind you at this point. Make sure to take plenty of breaks to hydrate and fuel up on salty snacks.
Once you reach the top, you’ll feel sweet relief wash over you. You’ve finished one of the most epic hikes in Crater Lake!
Swimming in Crater Lake
If you’re going to swim in Crater Lake, this section is for you!
Where Can You Swim?
The only legal spot to swim in Crater Lake is at the bottom of the Cleetwood Cove Trail. And you must stay within 100 yards of the shore and at least 50 feet away from any boat, boat dock, or buoy.
If you’re going on a boat tour, you will be allowed to swim near Wizard Island, too.
Once you get to the bottom of the Cleetwood Cove Trail, you can turn right to cliff jump or turn left to find a spot to swim.
To escape the crowds, turn left and do a little scrambling through the boulder field. Everyone tends to cluster by the docks near the exit of the trail, so the further you venture, the fewer people there will be.
Claim a rock and spend an afternoon in/by the water!
What Can You Bring and Not Bring?
Do your part to help preserve the clarity of the lake by leaving the water toys at home or in the car.
Bring: bathing suit, towel, sturdy footwear, books, snacks, hiking essentials, etc.
Don’t Bring: scuba and snorkeling gear, rafts, kayaks, inflatable boats, life jackets, etc.
How Cold Is the Water?
The water is extremely cold, even in the summer! Even in the warmest months, the surface of Crater Lake only reaches about 55-60 degrees F.
This makes the first dip shocking. I’d encourage you to dip your toes in first to get a feel for the temperature before jumping, diving, or even sliding in.
Then, if you’re feeling brave and adventurous, leap off one of the boulders into the icy water.
After all, not many people get to say that they swam in an active volcano!
Finish Planning Your Trip to Crater Lake!
Take the stress out of trip planning with the help of my guides!
Discover Your Next Adventure
Where to next? I’ve got some suggestions!
- Olympic National Park
- Columbia River Gorge
- Mount Rainier National Park
- North Cascades National Park
- Saguaro National Park
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