State: Oregon
Location: Crater Lake National Park
Length, Round Trip: 1.8 miles
Trail Type: Out and Back
Minimum Elevation: 6176 feet
Elevation Change: 750 feet
Best Season: June to October
Difficulty: More Difficult
Usage: Moderate
A forest fire smokes on the upper left in this Crater Lake View
Trail Information
Visitors who want to hike on Wizard Island must first descend to the lakeshore via Cleetwood Cove Trail. This is a steep descent and the most difficult portion of this hike is at the end of the day when you must ascend the 11% grade back up the Cleetwood Cove Trail. The trek to Wizard Island makes for a full day especially for people who are not acclimated to the elevations of Crater Lake.
The commercial tour boat will take visitors to the Wizard Island boat dock where the trail to the summit begins. The elevation of the dock is 6,176 feet. The tread ascends to the northeast from the dock steadily at first. A short distance from the trailhead the terrain steepens and switchbacks lead hikers to the 6,940-foot summit of Wizard Island.
This hike is only a one mile round trip to the summit of Wizard Island. The total trail distance including the Cleetwood Cove Trail is 4.0 miles with approximately 1800 feet of elevation gain.
Directions
From North Entrance Station:
Drive south on the park road several miles to North Junction. Turn left on East Rim Drive and drive 4.5 miles east to the trailhead. Hike south on the Cleetwood Cove Trail to reach the boat dock. This will take you to the dock on Wizard Island and the trailhead.
