Weather was great, conditions were perfect, got up and out before the wildfire smoke down the valley took over the views
mattsim - Jun 18, 2020 12:50 am Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2003
Honey Hike
I first climbed over Crater on the way to climb Jack Mountain. On this trip I came back with non-climbing friends, since all the climbers in our earlier party thought this was easy enough for our "honeys" to hike.
4h30m to summit. 8h50m car to car.
Straightforward Class 3 with a bit of exposure.
seano - Jun 22, 2015 4:29 pm Date Climbed: Jun 19, 2015
Trail
Fun alternative hike after bailing on more serious peak-bagging. A pretty impressive lookout site with a great view of Jack and Hozomeen. Trip report.
fjes6 - Aug 7, 2013 10:31 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2013
Solo
A good solo trip, 3h 45m up, 2h 30m down. I saw a Ptarmigan!
breauxtrahn - Dec 8, 2010 10:15 pm Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2009
up early
I should have done this as a day hike. the blow down and melting snow don't make for the best setting to spend an overnight. Views are awesome, lots of old rusted mining equipment.
Route Climbed: Southwest Route Date Climbed: September 14, 2010
With rain in the forecast for this area the past two weeks, I took advantage of the one day that said, on NOAA's weather service, "Mostly Sunny" to climb Crater Mountain as a day hike. It was great - not a single soul did I encounter on the entire path from the trail head to the summit. No one was camped at the lake, and I did a quick jaunt into McMillan Park before the approach. The blueberries right now as delicious and a great treat for both the 2300' ascent and descent from the lake to the summit. Amazing views all around, and I have no idea why some pictures talk about the Class 3 scramble being difficult - anyone was decent rock and route finding abilities can do it in no sweat. There are cairns and yellow paint on the rocks to easily guide you.
gimpilator - Aug 15, 2010 10:59 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2010
A Charmer
Alexei and I did a trailhead bivy the night before. This has got to be one of the better peaks in this area. And there's definitely no better view of Jack Mountain. The scramble was an easy 3 and very enjoyable. I'll probably be back some day.
rialtosol - Mar 3, 2006 4:15 am Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2005
route climbed: SW
Trail most of the way with a small section of some class three as you near the summit. The scramble section had been marked with yellow spray paint in spots. Nice view of Jack. Did not get much of a view of the Jerry lakes because of low visibility.
Route Climbed: SW Face Date Climbed: July 31, 2005
Five of us successfully scrambled Crater as a day trip. Saw only one person at the lake (which is really more like a tarn these days). USFS is rebuilding the bridge near the old (collapsing) guard station, but there is a really great log to cross in the mean time. The rest of the trail is in remarkably good condition.
Route Climbed: SW route Date Climbed: August 17, 2001
Awesome views of all the high, glaciated peaks of North Cascades. A couple of hundred feet of exposed class 3/4 climbing to get to the broad, grassy summit. Did roundtrip of 6,000+ ft in 8 to 10 hours. Great perspective of Jack mountain.
Route Climbed: Scramble from the South-West Face Date Climbed: September 5th 2000
Camped at the waterfall just south of Crater lake, no other parties there, however, there were a couple other partes at the lake. Not a soul on the approach to the summit block and spotted several people coming up over the glacier.
DawnchaserTheAdventurer - Sep 29, 2022 7:14 pm Date Climbed: Sep 24, 2022
eXCELLENT DAYWeather was great, conditions were perfect, got up and out before the wildfire smoke down the valley took over the views
mattsim - Jun 18, 2020 12:50 am Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2003
Honey HikeI first climbed over Crater on the way to climb Jack Mountain. On this trip I came back with non-climbing friends, since all the climbers in our earlier party thought this was easy enough for our "honeys" to hike.
rtgomez90 - Sep 11, 2017 9:23 pm Date Climbed: Sep 11, 2017
Solo in a day4h30m to summit. 8h50m car to car.
Straightforward Class 3 with a bit of exposure.
seano - Jun 22, 2015 4:29 pm Date Climbed: Jun 19, 2015
TrailFun alternative hike after bailing on more serious peak-bagging. A pretty impressive lookout site with a great view of Jack and Hozomeen. Trip report.
fjes6 - Aug 7, 2013 10:31 pm Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2013
SoloA good solo trip, 3h 45m up, 2h 30m down. I saw a Ptarmigan!
breauxtrahn - Dec 8, 2010 10:15 pm Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2009
up earlyI should have done this as a day hike. the blow down and melting snow don't make for the best setting to spend an overnight. Views are awesome, lots of old rusted mining equipment.
SummitQueen - Sep 15, 2010 1:43 pm Date Climbed: Sep 14, 2010
Route Climbed: Southwest Route Date Climbed: September 14, 2010With rain in the forecast for this area the past two weeks, I took advantage of the one day that said, on NOAA's weather service, "Mostly Sunny" to climb Crater Mountain as a day hike. It was great - not a single soul did I encounter on the entire path from the trail head to the summit. No one was camped at the lake, and I did a quick jaunt into McMillan Park before the approach. The blueberries right now as delicious and a great treat for both the 2300' ascent and descent from the lake to the summit. Amazing views all around, and I have no idea why some pictures talk about the Class 3 scramble being difficult - anyone was decent rock and route finding abilities can do it in no sweat. There are cairns and yellow paint on the rocks to easily guide you.
gimpilator - Aug 15, 2010 10:59 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2010
A CharmerAlexei and I did a trailhead bivy the night before. This has got to be one of the better peaks in this area. And there's definitely no better view of Jack Mountain. The scramble was an easy 3 and very enjoyable. I'll probably be back some day.
Pantilat - Jun 20, 2007 2:58 am
SW routeNice view, one of my first N.Cascade summits.
rialtosol - Mar 3, 2006 4:15 am Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2005
route climbed: SWTrail most of the way with a small section of some class three as you near the summit. The scramble section had been marked with yellow spray paint in spots. Nice view of Jack. Did not get much of a view of the Jerry lakes because of low visibility.
setrent - Dec 23, 2005 12:06 am
Route Climbed: North Face Date Climbed: June 2000Climbed Crater after being turned back on Jack because of too much unconsolidated snow.
Outdoorgrrl - Aug 1, 2005 2:36 pm
Route Climbed: SW Face Date Climbed: July 31, 2005Five of us successfully scrambled Crater as a day trip. Saw only one person at the lake (which is really more like a tarn these days). USFS is rebuilding the bridge near the old (collapsing) guard station, but there is a really great log to cross in the mean time. The rest of the trail is in remarkably good condition.
sprosseda - Jul 23, 2003 11:00 am
Route Climbed: SW route Date Climbed: August 17, 2001Awesome views of all the high, glaciated peaks of North Cascades. A couple of hundred feet of exposed class 3/4 climbing to get to the broad, grassy summit. Did roundtrip of 6,000+ ft in 8 to 10 hours. Great perspective of Jack mountain.
Dulton - Nov 12, 2002 10:42 pm
Route Climbed: Scramble from the South-West Face Date Climbed: September 5th 2000Camped at the waterfall just south of Crater lake, no other parties there, however, there were a couple other partes at the lake. Not a soul on the approach to the summit block and spotted several people coming up over the glacier.