Crater Lake National Park and Yosemite are two of the most iconic and stunning parks in the U.S. They both offer a chance to escape into nature and marvel at its grandeur. Crater Lake boasts a deep blue lake surrounded by towering cliffs, while Yosemite is known for its towering cliffs, thundering waterfalls and ancient sequoia trees. Whether you prefer to take a leisurely stroll or a challenging hike, these parks provide endless opportunities to explore and connect with the great outdoors. So, come along as we compare these two natural wonders and discover which one is right for your next adventure!
Hiking Trails in Crater Lake National Park and Yosemite National Park
Crater Lake National Park and Yosemite National Park are two popular hiking destinations in the US. Crater Lake has a blue lake surrounded by cliffs, while Yosemite is known for its granite cliffs and waterfalls. Both parks offer a diverse set of trails from easy to difficult.
At Crater Lake, easier hikes include Rim Trail (2.5 miles), offering views of the lake, and Garfield Peak Trail (3.4 miles), with views of the park and surrounding area. Yosemite offers Four-Mile Trail (4.8 miles) to Glacier Point, and Lower Yosemite Falls Trail (1.6 miles) to the base of Yosemite Falls.
For more challenging hikes, Crater Lake has Watchman Peak Trail (7.0 miles) to a peak with park and surrounding views, and Cleetwood Cove Trail (2.2 miles) to the lake shore. Yosemite offers the strenuous Half Dome Trail (16 miles) to the top of Half Dome, and Clouds Rest Trail (14.4 miles) to a ridge with views of Yosemite Valley.
In summary, both parks offer a range of hiking trails for all levels, from easy hikes with picturesque views to strenuous hikes to peaks and ridges.
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 Yosemite National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vernal and Nevada Falls via the Mist Trail | 10299.776 | 667.8168 | Moderate | loop | 5 |
| Upper Yosemite Falls Trail | 11587.248 | 967.74 | Very Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Half Dome Trail | 23818.232 | 1573.9872 | Very Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Lower Yosemite Falls Trail | 1609.34 | 15.8496 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Clouds Rest Trail via Tenaya Lake | 19794.882 | 948.8424 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Four Mile Trail | 12070.05 | 998.8296 | Very Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Sentinel Dome Trail | 3379.614 | 138.9888 | Easy | out and back | 5 |
| Glacier Point Trail | 965.604 | 71.9328 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Vernal Falls | 5954.558 | 406.908 | Moderate | out and back | 5 |
| Mirror Lake via Valley Loop Trail | 9012.304 | 101.8032 | Easy | loop | 4 |
Wildlife in Crater Lake National Park and Yosemite National Park
Crater Lake NP: black bears, river otters, deer, bald eagle, osprey, common raven. Diverse habitats incl. forests, meadows, wetlands, plant species.
Yosemite NP: black bears, coyotes, mule deer, Steller’s Jay, American Dipper, Mountain Bluebird. Diverse habitats from high-elevation forests to sagebrush-covered foothills support giant sequoias, manzanitas, wildflowers.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Crater Lake National Park and Yosemite National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Crater Lake National Park | Yosemite 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 | Yosemite National Park |
|---|---|
| Coyote | Coyote |
| American Beaver | American Beaver |
| 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 | Long-Tailed Weasel |
| Red Fox | House Mouse |
| Long-Tailed Weasel | Mountain Lion |
| House Mouse | Mule Deer |
| Mountain Lion | Gray Fox |
| Mink | Wolf |
| Mule Deer Or Black-Tailed Deer | Long-Legged Myotis |
| Gray Fox | Long-Eared Myotis |
| Wolf | Badger |
| Long-Legged Myotis | Ermine |
| Long-Eared Myotis | California Myotis |
| American Badger | River Otter |
| Ermine | Fringed Myotis |
Fish
| Crater Lake National Park | Yosemite National Park |
|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | Rainbow Trout |
| Brook Trout | Brook Trout |
| Brown Trout | Brown Trout |
| Lake Trout | Smallmouth Bass |
| Silver Salmon | |
| Kokanee Salmon | |
| Cutthroat Trout |
Reptiles
| Crater Lake National Park | Yosemite National Park |
|---|---|
| Western Terestrial Garter Snake | Ring-Necked Snake |
| Racer | Sagebrush Lizard |
| Sagebrush Lizard | Northern Rubber Boa |
| Common Garter Snake | Western Skink |
| Rubber Boa | Western Fence Lizard |
| Western Skink | |
| Western Fence Lizard |
Amphibians
| Crater Lake National Park | Yosemite National Park |
|---|---|
| Bullfrog |
Insects
| Crater Lake National Park | Yosemite National Park |
|---|---|
| Orange Sulphur | |
| Painted Lady | |
| Red Admiral | |
| Honey Bee | |
| Purplish Copper | |
| Anise Swallowtail |
Beautiful Landscapes in Crater Lake National Park and Yosemite National Park
Crater Lake NP in Oregon is known for its deep blue lake, created by a collapsed volcanic caldera, and offers scenic views from Mount Scott. Visitors can hike the Cleetwood Cove Trail to reach the lake shore.
Yosemite NP in California boasts iconic granite cliffs (El Capitan, Half Dome) and waterfalls (Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Fall). It attracts rock climbers and hikers, and offers scenic drives, including the Tioga Road with views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Things To-Do and Activities in Crater Lake National Park and Yosemite National Park
Crater Lake NP offers breathtaking lake views, scenic drives, boat tours, camping, fishing, and hiking. Yosemite NP is famous for its towering cliffs, diverse landscapes, rock climbing, camping, scenic drives, and winter sports. Both parks offer activities for nature lovers, photographers, and adventurers, but Yosemite also caters to climbers with its challenging granite cliffs.
Best Time to Visit Crater Lake National Park and Yosemite National Park
Crater Lake NP in Oregon and Yosemite NP in California have distinct weather patterns. Crater Lake has cold, snowy winters and mild, dry summers, with avg. high temps of 40°F to 70°F. Yosemite has hot, dry summers and cold, wet winters, with avg. high temps of mid-50s°F to mid-80s°F. This variation affects visitor patterns: Crater Lake is popular in summer/fall, Yosemite all year, esp. spring/summer. Both parks offer activities like snowshoeing/skiing at Crater Lake and rock climbing/hiking at Yosemite.
Family Friendliness of Crater Lake National Park and Yosemite National Park
Both Crater Lake and Yosemite National Parks offer family-friendly activities and amenities, but Yosemite has a wider range of options. Yosemite has developed facilities with camping, dining, and educational opportunities for children, as well as iconic granite cliffs, waterfalls and diverse hiking options. Crater Lake is known for its crystal-clear blue lake and scenic drives, and is more remote, peaceful, and less crowded. The best park for families will depend on their personal preferences for scenery, activities and facilities.