Lightning Spring Trail

Dogs Unknown

Features River/Creek · Views

The track is wide, and you'll fly on the way down. The real test of your mettle will occur when you turn around and head back up to the rim!

Access this great trail from a parking area about 2.5 miles north of Rim Village on Rim Road. A gravel parking area is conveniently located near the trailhead, on the west side of the road.

The trail used to be a fire road, so it's easy to make out your path from the parking lot. Once wide enough for cars to travel, the forest surrounding the trail has slowly begun to retake the path, and in many places the trail switches between doubletrack and singletrack. You'll be skirting fields of pumice and other volcanic refuse in between groves of fir trees for the first mile and a half, so sturdy shoes and ample sun protection are recommended. Enjoy the general descent to Lightning Spring, and stop for a moment to take in the sound of the water as it babbles away from the rim.

After stopping at the spring, you'll continue on your way, switchbacking for a while before reaching the Watchman Lava Flow, and a steep ridge. Luckily, the trail skirts the ridge while offering views of the 400-500" thick andesite formation. The budding geologist in your party will enjoy this portion!

Once you leave the ridge, the trail drops quickly and joins up with a small creek. You'll end up following the creek for the rest of your way to the PCT. The remainder of the trail is a steady downhill, so enjoy the scenery as you work your way down.

Keep an eye out for those with pack animals! This route is commonly used by PCT through hikers, and the trail is a short jaunt with access to viewpoints of the lake.

Like much of Crater Lake, coniferous forests dominate the landscape. Fir and Hemlock line the trail in the upper portions, while lodgepoles take over in the south.