PCT Day 110 – Crater Lake (1822.4) to PCT Mile 1849.9 via Rim Alternate

July 23, 2026

Total PCT miles: 9.2

Non PCT miles: 11.4

Total: 20.6 miles / 33.2 km

Total elevation gain: 1998 ft

Total elevation loss: 3133 ft

Steps: 47919

Remaining Distance: 805.1 miles

I really enjoyed sleeping in this morning. The restaurant in the park opens at 0700 and I wasn’t planning on missing it. I got up around 7, packed my gear and was patiently waiting for them to open. I met Oscar here and we enjoyed breakfast together. Both of us remarking on how empty the trail is. He’s hiking much faster than me unfortunately But it was nice to just talk with someone for a while.

After breakfast I decided I would hit the easy button and took the shuttle from the campground to rim village. This saved me a few miles and the climb up to the rim. Most PCT hikers take the Rim Alternate trail and not the official PCT through Crater Lake. The reason is simple, if you stay on the PCT you don’t ever get to see Crater Lake and it is definitely something worth seeing.

The best part about the Rim Alternate is that almost none of the regular visitors Venture more than 100 meters from where they park their cars. So you get these beautiful vistas all to yourself. I’m guessing the winds shifted because over the last few days they have had a lot of smoke from the forest fires but not today. I took my time (when not in crowds) and almost felt A little like a tourist myself at times.

Crater Lake really is one of those places that lives up to the hype. Formed nearly 7,700 years ago when the volcano Mount Mazama catastrophically erupted and collapsed in on itself, the lake is now the deepest in the United States at 1,943 feet (592 metres). What struck me most wasn’t its size, though—it was the colour. The water is such an impossibly deep shade of blue that it almost doesn’t look real. With no rivers flowing into it, the lake is fed almost entirely by rain and snow, making it one of the clearest lakes in the world. After weeks of hiking through forests, deserts, and burn scars, standing on the rim and looking out over Crater Lake felt like one of those moments that reminds you exactly why you’re out here.

After leaving Crater Lake the trail leading back to and joining the PCT was some of the flattest trail I think I’ve hiked. Even with the gentle terrane I was not moving anywhere near as fast as I should be able to now. I feel generally weak and tired.

There is no water for an extended period but fortunately there are two water caches after leaving the park. One 5 miles out and another 7 miles after that. Thank you to the trail angles who keep these stocked!