Prospect OHV Dispersed Camping

Our camp cite was backed up to the river. Road was paved through the camp. Each cite was very large and moderately away from other campers. Bathrooms were stocked but were single out houses without water. There is a garbage dumpster to use but I didn’t see water other than the river. It cooled down a lot at night even when daytime temps were near 100*.

When we visited Crater Lake in April, we knew we'd have to find alternative camping because the park campgrounds would be covered in several feet of snow.

We were able to find many options for camping on the way to Crater Lake, before entering the park boundaries. Check the regulations and guidelines before you head out, because there are specific areas where you can pull off and find a place to camp. For us, there were plenty of small unpaved roads where we could find a quiet, flat place for our tent.

Crater Lake is one of the areas in the U.S. that receives the most snowfall each year, so their roads are often unplowed until well into the summer season. In the winter and spring, the park offers free snowshoe tours which offer an overview of the park and great views of the lake.

Even though much of the park is inaccessible during April, we'd still recommend going if you have the chance. The winter views are incredible, too!

You can read much more about our two days in the park on our blog: Switchback Kids (Crater Lake)