Crater Lake National Park in Oregon offers families one of the most spectacular sights in America - a pristine deep blue lake formed by an ancient volcanic eruption. Kids will be amazed by the crystal-clear waters and towering rim drive views that make this park perfect for young explorers and budding geologists.
Junior Ranger Program at Crater Lake National Park
The Junior Ranger program at Crater Lake focuses on volcanic geology and lake ecosystem education through hands-on activities and exploration. Kids complete age-appropriate workbooks while hiking rim trails, learning about the caldera formation, and discovering how wildlife thrives in this unique high-altitude environment.
- Earning badges while learning about explosive volcanic history
- Spotting wildlife like elk, black bears, and golden eagles around the rim
- Taking photos at the famous Wizard Island overlook viewpoints
Planning Your Visit
Van Life Tip: Arrive early at Mazama Village Campground as it's the only park campground that accommodates larger RVs and fills up quickly during peak season.
Plan Your Stay
Save on park entry with the America the Beautiful Pass — $80 for unlimited access to all 400+ National Park sites for a full year.
Where to Stay
Some of the links above are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Nearby Parks to Earn More Badges
Our Adventures at Crater Lake National Park
Make Big Adventure Goals for Kids with the Junior Ranger Program
December 1, 2021
After visiting 10 National Parks in 2019 and collecting Junior Ranger badges at each one, we have set some future real adventure goals. As there are hundreds of Junior Ranger programs in the National ...
\"Bend, Oregon is Great, Be a Tourist Here\"
March 29, 2021
Bend, Oregon is great, be a tourist here. This post is all about how we lived the locals' life for a ski season, and our takeaways. Completely piggybacking the popular bumper sticker Bend Sucks, Don't...
Magic in the National Parks: The Prolific Green Pacific Northwest
August 24, 2020
The prolific Pacific Northwest is home to the largest temperate rainforest on planet earth. It's pretty magical. Not to mention the spectacular contrasting ecosystems, just take Olympic National Park....
Magic in the National Parks: Serene Southern Oregon
October 20, 2019
This summer we didn't wander far, instead we discovered all the local magic in the National Parks of serene Southern Oregon. Wizard Island at Crater Lake on a clear skies day in Southern Oregon It's t...
See all Junior Ranger badges
Track your family's progress across every National Park Service site
View Badge Tracker