Crater Lake Boat Tours to Halt Until 2029 After This Summer
Visitors to Crater Lake National Park can now reserve tickets for boat tours this summer, marking the final season these popular excursions will operate before a lengthy closure.
The National Park Service announced that boat tours will run from July 7 through September 14, 2025. After this season, access to the lake will be unavailable until 2029 due to planned construction.
Major renovations
The closure stems from major renovations to Cleetwood Cove Trail, the only legal path to reach the shoreline of America’s deepest lake.
“We look forward to welcoming guests aboard for another year of scenic adventures and unforgettable experiences”, said ExplorUS, the new concessionaire managing Crater Lake’s tour operations.
Park officials have implemented a split reservation system for the anticipated high demand. Half of all tickets can be booked in advance through the ExplorUS website, while the remaining tickets become available 24 hours before each tour’s departure.
Three tour options
Three tour options are available for visitors. The standard cruise offers a guided tour around the lake with views of the park’s iconic features. Two additional options include stops at Wizard Island, allowing visitors to hike, swim, or fish during either a three-hour or six-hour island visit.
Park spokesperson Marsha McCabe advised visitors to plan carefully during what is expected to be a busy season. “To avoid long lines at the entrance stations, please consider arriving before 10 a.m. or after 3 p.m.”, she said. “Weekdays are also tend to be a little less busy than weekends.”
The upcoming closure results from necessary infrastructure improvements to the Cleetwood Cove Trail, which will begin in 2026 and continue through 2028, making this summer the final opportunity for lake access in the near future.
