Several years ago, our family stood at the rim of Crater Lake, amazed at the astonishing blue body of water, beautifully ringed by steep pitched mountains. Along with the larger Wizard Island formation in the center,

This summer will be the last chance to swim or boat in the icy waters of Crater Lake until at least 2029, as the National Park Service prepares to begin a major renovation of the park’s single lake access point.

As a result of the construction at the Cleetwood Cove Trail and its closure, there will also be no public boat tours on the lake for the summer seasons of 2026, 2027 and 2028, according to the National Park Service. This means boat tours to visit Wizard Island will also be unavailable during that time.