Crater Lake

North Twilight Peak (13,075) and its reflection in the waters of Crater Lake

A scenic hike to a pretty lake nestled beneath North Twilight Peak (13,075). The hike can be extended by hiking to the saddle beyond the lake and/or scrambling to the top of North Twilight.
See Trail Detail/Full Description

• Distance: 11.0 miles (round trip) to Crater Lake
  11.8 miles (round trip) to Saddle above Crater Lake
  
• Elevation: 10,770-ft. at Trailhead
  11,640-ft. at Crater Lake
  11,770-ft. at Saddle above Crater Lake
  
• Elevation Gain: 870-ft. to Crater Lake
  1,000-ft. to Saddle above Crater Lake
  
• Difficulty: moderate
• More Hikes in:
  Silverton / Ouray / Southwest Colorado

Why Hike Crater Lake

The hike to Crater Lake does not require a big expenditure of energy for its scenic rewards. Starting at 10,770-ft. the trail traverses a rolling terrain of meadows and forests with great views of the surrounding peaks, gaining a net 1,300-ft. in 5.5 miles.

The lake, cradled in a pretty timber-lined bowl, is a photographer’s delight with North Twilight Peak (13,075), rising to the south, reflected in its still waters.

Any easy side trip takes hikers to a panoramic saddle above the lake. From the saddle, a class 3 scramble up the east ridge of North Twilight Peak provides bird’s eye views of the Needle Mountains and the Grenadier Range to the east.

Crater Lake is located in the rugged West Needle Mountains, an area added to the Weminuche Wilderness Area in 1993. This is the only trail penetrating this segment of the wilderness.

Elevation Profile

Trail Resources

Trail Detail/Full Description / Trail Photo Gallery / Trail Map

Basecamp(s) Information:
Silverton / Ouray

Region Information:
Southwest Colorado

Other Hiking Regions in:
Colorado