December · OR

Crater Lake National Park in December.

By Nicholas Major · Last updated

Crater Lake National Park in December suits a flexible winter outing if the roads and forecast fit your plans. Headquarters averages a 33°F (0°C) high and 19°F (-7°C) low. Plan for snow and limited access; clear skies alone do not guarantee the road to the lake is open.

These normals describe park headquarters, not the lake surface or every rim location. Weather varies with elevation and exposure. Check road and trail conditions separately from these climate averages.

In short

December averages 6,748 recreation visits, 4% of July's peak. That monthly count cannot predict Christmas-week crowds. Check road status, service hours and your overnight arrangements directly.

Check before you go

Use this pageShare or cite this guide
Add as a preferred source on Google

National Sites Guide

Share this page

Cite this page

Copy a citation

Match the outing to both roads and weather

Winter normally closes Rim Drive and the North Entrance to cars. The road from headquarters to Rim Village is kept open when possible, but heavy snow can close it for days or weeks.

Even after skies clear, a previous storm or ice can delay opening the gate to Rim Village. Check official conditions as well as the forecast and webcams linked from the NPS winter guide. Clouds often hide the lake, so keep a view-dependent plan flexible.

Choose a snow-play spot carefully

Crater Lake has no designated sled hills or snow-play areas. NPS advises a gentle slope without trees or other obstacles, ending in a flat landing. Assess the location before anyone starts sliding.

Sledding, tubing and tobogganing are prohibited inside the caldera, on roads where vehicles may travel, and in parking lots. Review the official winter-safety guidance linked on that page before choosing an area.

Make holiday arrangements separately

Confirm any lodging, meals or guided activities with the provider. A low park-wide visit average does not establish which services operate at Christmas, whether a room is available, or what a particular day will be like.

Pack for the 19°F (-7°C) normal low and use the local forecast for your visit. These headquarters averages do not describe every elevation around the rim.

Questions about December

Can I see Crater Lake in December?

It depends on visibility and road access. Clouds often obscure the lake, and the road to Rim Village can stay closed after a storm even when skies clear. Check both the webcam and official road status before setting out.

Is Crater Lake quiet during Christmas week?

December's whole-month average is 6,748 recreation visits, but the dataset does not isolate Christmas week. Confirm services and overnight availability directly rather than relying on the monthly count.

Sources and limits

NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals: CRATER LAKE NPS HQ, OR US (USC00351946), 6,485 feet. Normal high: 32.7°F (0.4°C); normal low: 19.1°F (-7.2°C). These are long-term averages, not a forecast.

NPS Visitor Use Statistics Data Package, 2025: 2021–2025 average recreation visits for Crater Lake National Park (CRLA). The December 2025 count is 4,640. Counts measure visits, not unique people or a day's parking pressure.

Compare your dates

Independence

Independent site. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service. Data comes from the official NPS Visitor Use Statistics Data Package, 2025; editorial analysis is ours. The NPS Arrowhead and other NPS marks are not used.

Last updated · 2026-10-15