Little Crater Lake: a stunning natural wonder

Located in the gorgeous Mt. Hood National Forest, Little Crater Lake is a stunning natural wonder waiting to be discovered after a short hike.

I had the Little Crater Lake on my bucket list for years, but finally, this summer, we visited this magical destination. Even though it’s a 2 hours drive from Portland, it worths it every mile!

Since the signature azure blue color of the water is out of this world, and the natural scenery is beautiful, trust me that you won’t believe your eyes, once you get there.

What to see and do

In case you love to explore the fantastic Mt. Hood National Forest, you won’t want to miss the Little Crater lake.

This crystal clear and blue lake is 45’ ft. deep and spring-fed from the bottom, and the Little Crater Creek, and it can be found only 250 yards from a trailhead via a universal access path. Even though the water is impressive, you cannot swim there (temperature 34 °F).

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The main activities to enjoy in this area are, for instance, hiking, camping, picnicking and wildlife watching.

The short and accessible trail is ideal for hiking with kids, and it crossed a beautiful meadow full of wildflowers when it’s the season. After arriving at the lake, you will find a viewing deck, a bench, and an interpretive sign.

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Eventually, you can continue walking in the trail passing the lake, and hike to Timothy Lake (a 13-mile trail). In that same junction, you will also find a section of the Pacific Crest Trail, and after 150 yards, you can enjoy the lovely Crater Creek.

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Additionally, this area features a rustic but quiet and picturesque camp spot.

During our visit, we also included other destinations as part of our day trip, since these places were so closed. Our picnic took place at the beautiful and tranquil Frog Lake.

In addition before coming back to Portland, we couldn’t miss the opportunity to enjoy our loved and majestic Mt. Hood, particularly this time at Timberline Lodge.

Find out even more hiking ideas here!

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Plan your trip

Main features/Amenities

• Hiking trails.
• A Campground offering more than a dozen single-family sites for tent and RV camping. Each site is equipped with a table and campfire ring with grill.
• Restrooms and picnic tables at the Little Crater Lake Campground
• A hand-pump water spigot is located near the campground’s entrance.
• Parking lots (No fee).

Important information

• Location: Champion Way, Sandy, OR 97055.

• Website.
• Seasons: Summer into Fall. Always check the Website for last updates, closures, and alerts.
• Dogs are allowed but on a leash.
• Swimming is not allowed in Little Crater Lake.
• The last part of the trip to Little Crater Lake (road NF-58) had many potholes when we visited during the Summer-2020.
• Frog Lake requires to buy a Recreation Passes as a form of day-use fee payment from May 15th to October 1st.