Crater Lake in April: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack

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April is a quiet month with trade-offs at Crater Lake National Park: crowds run 10% of the July peak (16,857 average visits). Weather: highs average 40°F and lows 23°F, with 6.2″ of precipitation and 13.4 hours of daylight. Roads and services are only partly open this month — see the access note below. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.

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Bring for Crater Lake in April

Insulated jacket, beanie and glovesSee it on AmazonWhy: nights average 23°F, below freezing.
Rain shell + pack coverSee it on AmazonWhy: 6.2″ of precipitation is normal this month.
Traction devices (microspikes) and gaitersSee it on AmazonWhy: 49″ normal snowfall.

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Partial access: Rim Drive and the north entrance are typically closed November–June; the south entrance and Rim Village stay open year-round for snow-season lake views. Current NPS conditions →

Crater Lake in April: what the park service says

April is the end of the winter season at Crater Lake, and the park service says plowing typically starts on West Rim Drive in mid-April. There are no set reopening dates: in the park's own table of recent years, the North Entrance and West Rim Drive opened anywhere from May 14 (2015) to June 30 (2023), depending mostly on how much snow fell that winter.

Source: NPS, checked 2026-11-05.

A view of Crater Lake and Wizard Island — Crater Lake National Park — photo: NPS Photo (public-domain NPS media)

Crowds in April

Crater Lake averages 16,857 recreation visits in April — 10% of what July, the peak month, draws. Trailheads and parking fill accordingly — crowds are thin by this park's standards.

Average visits (April)

16,857 (mean 2021–2025, NPS)

Share of the year

2.9% of annual visitation

vs. peak (July)

10%

Weather & daylight

Days are cold (highs average 40°F), and nights drop below freezing (lows average 23°F). This is one of the wetter months (6.2″ of precipitation on average). Normal snowfall is 49″ — expect snow on the ground. Mid-month daylight runs 13.4 hours.

NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station CRATER LAKE NPS HQ, OR US (1 mi from park coordinates, 6,485 ft elevation) — conditions vary inside the park, especially with elevation. Daylight computed for the 15th of April.

What to pack for Crater Lake in April

Computed from the month's weather normals above — not a generic list.

Insulated jacket, beanie and gloves — nights average 23°F, below freezing
Rain shell + pack cover — 6.2″ of precipitation is normal this month
Traction devices (microspikes) and gaiters — 49″ normal snowfall (compare other options)
Insulated, waterproof boots — plus navigation and a basic first-aid kit — 49″ of snow is normal this month

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If your dates are flexible, consider shifting: The computed best months for Crater Lake are May and June.

Also at their best in April

Other parks whose computed April verdict is a best window — same NPS × NOAA formula:

Theodore Roosevelt in April — 7% of peak crowds, highs 56°F, score 92/100
Badlands in April — 16% of peak crowds, highs 60°F, score 90/100
Lake Clark in April — under 1% of peak crowds, highs 46°F, score 89/100
Voyageurs in April — under 1% of peak crowds, highs 49°F, score 88/100

Common questions

Is Crater Lake crowded in April?

No — April is one of the quieter months: 10% of the July peak, averaging 16,857 visits (NPS, 2021–2025). See every month at Crater Lake.

What is the weather like in Crater Lake in April?

Average highs of 40°F, lows of 23°F, 6.2″ of precipitation (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, CRATER LAKE NPS HQ, OR US station). Compare it with other national parks in April.

What should I pack for Crater Lake in April?

Insulated jacket, beanie and gloves; Rain shell + pack cover; Traction devices (microspikes) and gaiters — the full weather-computed list is on this page. Going in May instead? Crater Lake in May has its own list.

Is everything open at Crater Lake in April?

Rim Drive and the north entrance are typically closed November–June; the south entrance and Rim Village stay open year-round for snow-season lake views. Always check the park's live NPS alerts for current conditions.

See also: the best national parks to visit in April · Last verified 2026-09-24