Crater Lake
- Hike
- 1.8 mi each way
- Road
- Paved
- Permit
- Required
- Dogs
- Not allowed
Vehicle entry needs a reservation: day access reservation for Maroon Bells Scenic Area. Entry fee: Timed-entry / parking reservation required (see visitmaroonbells.com for current prices). Crater Lake is a lake cove in Pitkin County, Colorado.
Closures and warnings
Alpine wilderness lake below the Maroon Bells. Cold water, altitude, and wilderness hazards apply. USFS pages emphasize hiking and wilderness rules, not swimming. As of September 28, 2026.
Before you swim
| Water type | Lake cove |
|---|---|
| Current | None |
Access
| Hike | 1.8 mi each way |
|---|---|
| Road | Paved |
| Road note | Maroon Creek Road to Maroon Lake trailhead; continue on Crater Lake Trail into Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. |
| Parking | Maroon Bells Scenic Area parking; vehicle or shuttle reservation required via visitmaroonbells.com. |
| When it fills | Reservations required for shuttle or personal vehicle access to Maroon Bells Scenic Area and associated trailheads. |
| Fee | Timed-entry / parking reservation required (see visitmaroonbells.com for current prices). |
| Reservation or permit | Required |
| Reservation window | Day access reservation for Maroon Bells Scenic Area; overnight wilderness permits required in designated permit zones. |
| Seasonal closure | Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness trails and high passes are typically snow-covered and trailheads may be inaccessible from early October through late June. |
| Managed by | USDA Forest Service (White River National Forest, Aspen-Sopris Ranger District) |
Rules
| Dogs | Not allowed |
|---|---|
| Camping | Allowed |
Common questions
Common questions
Is Crater Lake open?
Alpine wilderness lake below the Maroon Bells. Cold water, altitude, and wilderness hazards apply. USFS pages emphasize hiking and wilderness rules, not swimming. As of September 28, 2026. Seasonal closure: Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness trails and high passes are typically snow-covered and trailheads may be inaccessible from early October through late June.
Can you swim at Crater Lake?
No current is reported here.
How long is the hike to Crater Lake?
It's a 1.8 mi hike each way. The road in is paved. Maroon Creek Road to Maroon Lake trailhead; continue on Crater Lake Trail into Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. Parking: Maroon Bells Scenic Area parking; vehicle or shuttle reservation required via visitmaroonbells.com. Reservations required for shuttle or personal vehicle access to Maroon Bells Scenic Area and associated trailheads.
Do you need a reservation for Crater Lake?
Yes. A reservation or permit is required: Day access reservation for Maroon Bells Scenic Area; overnight wilderness permits required in designated permit zones.
Is there a fee at Crater Lake?
The fee is Timed-entry / parking reservation required (see visitmaroonbells.com for current prices).
What are the rules at Crater Lake?
Dogs are not allowed and camping is allowed.
Nearby
Camping nearby
Public land
Crater Lake is inside Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness and White River National Forest .
Sources
3
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/recreation/maroon-bells-scenic-area (accessed September 28, 2026; backs manager / Maroon Bells Scenic Area access reservations, access.permitRequired / parkingPattern / reservationWindow, access.hikeDistanceMi ~1.8 mi one way Maroon Lake to Crater Lake, hazardNote alpine wilderness context, access.roadSurface paved Maroon Creek Road corridor)
- https://geonames.usgs.gov/apex/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:180258 (accessed September 28, 2026; backs waterbodyName Crater Lake / kind swimming_hole identity, swimmerNotes.waterType lake / current none)
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/recreation/maroon-bells-snowmass-wilderness (accessed September 30, 2026; backs rules.dogs, rules.camping, access.seasonalClosure)
More: Colorado swimming holes