Little Crater Lake Overview

Little Crater Lake campground has 16 campsites and is located near Little Crater Lake in a beautiful area of the Mt. Hood National Forest.

The seasonal campground is generally open late May to mid September. Amenities include potable (drinking) water, vault toilets and trash collection (dumpsters). Firewood is also available to purchase from the camp host (site #15).  Cell service is not available in the area.  Campsites are well-spaced with good room between neighboring sites. Each site can accommodate tents and small trailers/RVs. Most are best for tent camping. Each campsite also has gravel parking spur (20 to 26 feet in length), a table, fire ring and grate.

Little Crater Lake Campground – Area Recreation and Activities

Unlike the larger Crater Lake, Little Crater Lake wasn’t formed by a volcanic event. Little Crater Lake was formed when the earth cracked along a fault line. Water was forced up the crack and formed an artesian spring, which washed away the soft limestone bedrock and formed the lake.  Visitors can access the lake via a short (1/4 mile) from the parking area located at the southern end of the campground. The trail also connects to the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, which winds its way through the area, past Timothy Lake and up the slopes of Mt. Hood. The long-distance trail is popular among hikers and backpackers, stretches 2,650 miles through California, Oregon and Washington, from Canada to Mexico.

The campground is a beautiful place to camp and access many hiking trails. Don’t forget to bring your camera! As an added bonus, this may be the best area in the Mt. Hood National Forest to pick huckleberries!  You can also drive about 9 miles over to Timothy Lake for some boating, swimming and fishing. Gone Creek campground (50 campsites) and Hoodview campground are located next to Timothy Lake. There’s also some nice fishing in the area.

Other campgrounds in the area include Frog Lake and Clear Lake. Rock Creek campground is also nice.

Make a Reservation for Little Crater Lake

Amenities

• BBQ Grills
• Campsite Tables
• Cell Service - None
• Drinking Water
• Fire Pit
• Fire Rings
• Golden Age & Access Passports accepted
• Grills
• Pets OK
• Picnic Tables
• Restrooms (Vault Toilets)

Activities

• Backpacking
• Berry Picking
• Biking
• Bird Watching
• Fishing
• Fly Fishing
• Hiking
• Mountain Biking
• Nature Trails
• Photography
• Picnicking
• Stargazing
• Wildlife Viewing