“Embark on a tale of two parks, where Crater Lake National Park and Voyageurs National Park paint a picture of nature’s diversity. The former flaunts a stunning blue crater lake, surrounded by towering peaks and a rich volcanic history, while the latter displays a symphony of interconnected lakes, boreal forests and wildlife. Whether you prefer the quiet and serenity of Crater Lake or the thrill of exploring Voyageurs by boat, these two parks offer a contrast in experiences that will leave you in awe. So gear up for a journey that showcases the best of what nature has to offer, and discover which park speaks to you.”
Hiking Trails in Crater Lake National Park and Voyageurs National Park
Crater Lake National Park in Oregon and Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota offer contrasting hiking experiences. Crater Lake features a stunning deep blue lake surrounded by towering cliffs and offers a variety of trails from easy lakeside walks to challenging ridge hikes. The Rim Village Walk, a 1-mile paved trail, is one of the easiest, providing panoramic views of the lake. The hardest hike is the Cleetwood Cove Trail, a 2.2-mile descent with steep terrain to the lake shore.
In contrast, Voyageurs National Park is defined by its interconnected lakes and waterways, and its over 100 miles of trails include easy shoreline walks and more strenuous hikes through the boreal forest. A top easy hike is the Kabetogama Lake Overlook Trail, a 1-mile loop with lake views. For a more challenging hike, try the 6-mile Rainy Lake Hiking Trail, which includes steep climbs and rocky terrain through the forest.
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Crater Lake National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garfield Peak Trail | 5471.756 | 325.8312 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Cleetwood Cove Trail | 3379.614 | 189.8904 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| The Watchman Peak Trail | 2574.944 | 117.9576 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Mount Scott Trail | 6759.228 | 383.7432 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Discovery Point Trail | 6437.36 | 278.892 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Plaikni Falls Trail | 3218.68 | 40.8432 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Wizard Island Trail | 3701.482 | 228.9048 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Sun Notch Trail | 1287.472 | 38.7096 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Pinnacles Valley Trail | 1126.538 | 11.8872 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Mazama Village to Rim Village at Crater Lake | 13357.522 | 530.9616 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Voyageurs National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blind Ash Bay Trail | 5793.624 | 117.9576 | Moderate | out and back | 4 |
| Kabetogama Lake Overlook Trail | 643.736 | 17.9832 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Cruiser Lake to Brown Lake and Anderson Bay | 14001.258 | 224.9424 | Moderate | loop | 4 |
| Beaver Pond Overlook Trail | 482.802 | 1.8288 | Easy | out and back | 3.5 |
| Kab-Ash Trail | 24461.968 | 406.908 | Easy | out and back | 3 |
| Sullivan Bay Trail | 2092.142 | 27.7368 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Black Bay Beaver Pond Trail | 1931.208 | 22.86 | Easy | out and back | 5 |
Wildlife in Crater Lake National Park and Voyageurs National Park
Crater Lake National Park in Oregon showcases a range of wildlife including deer, elk, black bears, and squirrels. Avian enthusiasts will enjoy sightings of ospreys, bald eagles, and peregrine falcons. In contrast, Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota is renowned for its beaver, otter, and moose populations. The park also attracts birdwatchers with common loons, mergansers, and bald eagles as frequent visitors. Both parks boast diverse plant life, including coniferous forests, wildflowers, and aquatic vegetation.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Crater Lake National Park and Voyageurs National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Crater Lake National Park | Voyageurs National Park |
|---|---|
| Peregrine Falcon | Peregrine Falcon |
| Northern Harrier | Northern Harrier |
| Sharp-Shinned Hawk | Sharp-Shinned Hawk |
| Osprey | Osprey |
| Tree Swallow | Tree Swallow |
| Mallard | Mallard |
| Canada Goose | Canada Goose |
| Lincoln’s Sparrow | Lincoln’s Sparrow |
| Ruby-Crowned Kinglet | Ruby-Crowned Kinglet |
| American Robin | American Robin |
| Great Horned Owl | Great Horned Owl |
| Red-Tailed Hawk | Red-Tailed Hawk |
| Northern Flicker | Northern Flicker |
| Merlin | Merlin |
| Barn Swallow | Barn Swallow |
| Savannah Sparrow | Savannah Sparrow |
| Great Blue Heron | Great Blue Heron |
| Hermit Thrush | Hermit Thrush |
| Bald Eagle | American Kestrel |
| Song Sparrow | Bald Eagle |
| European Starling | Song Sparrow |
| Northern Pintail | European Starling |
| American Wigeon | Northern Pintail |
| American Pipit | American Wigeon |
| Swainson’s Thrush | Green-Winged Teal |
Mammals
| Crater Lake National Park | Voyageurs National Park |
|---|---|
| Coyote | Coyote |
| American Beaver | American Beaver |
| Muskrat | Muskrat |
| Big Brown Bat | Big Brown Bat |
| Bobcat | Bobcat |
| Striped Skunk | Striped Skunk |
| Little Brown Bat | Little Brown Bat |
| Deer Mouse | Deer Mouse |
| Raccoon | Raccoon |
| Black Bear | Black Bear |
| Porcupine | Porcupine |
| Silver-Haired Bat | Silver-Haired Bat |
| Hoary Bat | Hoary Bat |
| Red Fox | Red Fox |
| Long-Tailed Weasel | Long-Tailed Weasel |
| House Mouse | House Mouse |
| Mountain Lion | Mountain Lion |
| Mink | Mink |
| Mule Deer Or Black-Tailed Deer | Common Gray Fox |
| Gray Fox | Plains Wolf |
| Wolf | American Badger |
| Long-Legged Myotis | Ermine |
| Long-Eared Myotis | Snowshoe Hare |
| American Badger | River Otter |
| Ermine | Masked Shrew |
Fish
| Crater Lake National Park | Voyageurs National Park |
|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | Largemouth Bass |
| Brook Trout | Longnose Sucker |
| Brown Trout | Green Sunfish |
| Lake Trout | Bluegill |
| Silver Salmon | Fathead Minnow |
| Kokanee Salmon | Golden Shiner |
| Cutthroat Trout | Lake Trout |
| Northern Pike | |
| Ellpout | |
| Mottled Sculpin | |
| Slimy Sculpin | |
| Longnose Dace | |
| Black Crappie | |
| Black Bullhead | |
| Creek Chub | |
| Brown Bullhead | |
| Smallmouth Bass |
Reptiles
| Crater Lake National Park | Voyageurs National Park |
|---|---|
| Western Terestrial Garter Snake | |
| Racer | |
| Sagebrush Lizard | |
| Common Garter Snake | |
| Rubber Boa | |
| Western Skink | |
| Western Fence Lizard |
Amphibians
| Crater Lake National Park | Voyageurs National Park |
|---|---|
| Bullfrog | Northern Leopard Frog |
| Wood Frog |
Insects
| Crater Lake National Park | Voyageurs National Park |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulphur | |
| Painted Lady | |
| Red Admiral | |
| Honey Bee | |
| Purplish Copper | |
| Anise Swallowtail |
Beautiful Landscapes in Crater Lake National Park and Voyageurs National Park
Crater Lake NP is famous for its deep blue caldera lake formed by a volcanic eruption. Highlights incl. Rim Drive, boat tours, hiking trails, & scenic drives.
Voyageurs NP is known for interconnected lakes, waterways, & forests. Features incl. Rainy, Kabetogama, Namakan, & Sand Point lakes, canoe routes, winter sports.
Things To-Do and Activities in Crater Lake National Park and Voyageurs National Park
Crater Lake and Voyageurs National Parks offer different activities for visitors. Crater Lake is famous for its blue water, scenic drive, boating, fishing, and trails. Voyageurs is a water-based park, offering canoeing, kayaking, motor boating, fishing, hiking, camping, and stargazing. Both parks have ranger-led programs and educational opportunities. Crater Lake highlights geology, while Voyageurs showcases diverse wildlife like beavers, moose, and bald eagles.
Best Time to Visit Crater Lake National Park and Voyageurs National Park
Crater Lake National Park in Oregon has cold, snowy winters and mild summers, with over 44 inches of snowfall per year and snow cover from Nov-June. The best time to visit is in July-Aug, when the weather is mild and snow has melted, allowing for park access. Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota has moderate weather with warm summers and cold winters, with less snow (30 inches/year). The best time to visit is in June-Sep, when the weather is warm and lakes and waterways are accessible for boating and fishing.
Family Friendliness of Crater Lake National Park and Voyageurs National Park
Crater Lake and Voyageurs both have family-friendly activities, but Crater Lake is more oriented towards kids. It offers junior ranger program, ranger-led walks, trolley tour, hiking, camping, and boating. Voyageurs is more suited for families who enjoy water activities such as kayaking, canoeing and scenic boat tours, as it has interconnected waterways. If traveling with kids, Crater Lake may be a better choice.