Crater Lake Live
Live NPS webcams from Crater Lake National Park — the deepest, bluest lake in the United States, sitting inside the collapsed caldera of ancient Mount Mazama.
Crater Lake, Oregon (6 cams)
Rim views of the caldera lake and Wizard Island — NPS still-refresh webcams updated every few minutes.
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About Crater Lake
Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States at 1,943 feet (592 m) and the ninth deepest in the world. It sits inside the collapsed caldera of Mount Mazama, a Cascade Range volcano that erupted catastrophically about 7,700 years ago, blowing out so much material that the mountain collapsed inward on itself.
Unlike almost every other lake on Earth, Crater Lake has no rivers flowing in or out. It's fed entirely by rain and snowfall — the park averages 44 feet of snow per year — and loses water only through evaporation and seepage. This isolation gives it extraordinary clarity: the water has a measured Secchi depth of 144 feet and a blue color unlike anything else in North America.
Wizard Island, the cinder cone rising 763 feet above the lake surface, formed after the caldera collapse and is reachable by boat tour in summer (mid-June to mid-September). The Sinnott Memorial Overlook — shown on one of these webcams — is the primary viewpoint at Rim Village and the best spot to take in the full scale of the caldera.
Best times to visit and watch
The lake is visible year-round, but Rim Drive (the 33-mile circuit around the caldera) typically doesn't open fully until mid-July after snowplowing. July and August offer the clearest skies and full boat access. September is underrated — crowds thin, skies stay clear, and the surrounding Cascades show early fall color. Winter snowpack frequently exceeds 10 feet on the rim; the webcams often show a dramatically different scene with snow-covered slopes dropping to the same impossibly blue water below.
FAQ
Why is Crater Lake so blue?
Depth and purity. The lake is so deep and clear that it absorbs all wavelengths of light except blue, which scatters back to the surface. No rivers carry in sediment or algae, so the water stays crystal clear year after year. The color reads like a Photoshop edit in real life — it isn't.
Can you swim in Crater Lake?
Yes — the only legal access point is Cleetwood Cove, a steep 1.1-mile trail on the north rim that descends 700 feet to the water. Water temperature stays around 55°F (13°C) even in August. The hike back up is strenuous.
Is Crater Lake open in winter?
The park is open year-round, and the south and west entrances stay accessible in most conditions. Rim Drive closes to cars after the first major snowfall (usually October) and reopens in July. The rim visitor center stays open year-round on weekends.
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