Lost Creek Campground
The Quick Take
Lost Creek is Crater Lake's secret back door -- a tiny, tent-only campground tucked along Pinnacles Road on the park's quieter eastern flank. With just a handful of sites and virtually no amenities beyond bear boxes, this is about as stripped-down as car camping gets. There are no flush toilets, no running water, and no generators allowed, which means the nights here are genuinely quiet. The trade-off for that solitude is real: you are a solid twelve miles from park headquarters and even farther from the main village services at Mazama. But you are also steps from the Pinnacles, those bizarre volcanic spires most visitors never bother to see, and the five-dollar nightly fee is almost comically cheap. Choose Lost Creek if you want a quiet base camp for exploring the east rim without the parking-lot-at-dusk energy of Mazama Campground.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
16 sites, first-come first-served.
What You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. No electrical hookups. Generators permitted during designated hours.
Accessibility
Some of the portable toilets at Lost Creek are accessible but no campsite is designated accessible or specifically known to be manageable by wheelchair or other mobility assists. Picnic tables are not designed to accommodate a wheelchair. There are accessible sites designated at the Mazama Campground. Unpaved Roads - All vehicles OK in good weather
Rules to Know
- Generators:Generators are prohibited.
- Bear Safety:FOOD STORAGE When not in use, all of your food, garbage, cooking equipment, storage containers (e.g.
- Checkout:Check-out time is 12 pm.
- Occupancy:MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY The maximum number of people per campsite is 8.
- Stay Limit:Camping in the park is limited to 30 days per calendar year, with no more than 14 consecutive days in any campground.
Pro Tips
There are no reservations here -- it is strictly first-come, first-served. Sites fill by mid-afternoon in peak season, so plan to arrive before noon, especially on weekends between mid-July and Labor Day. If you roll in late and strike out, Mazama is your fallback.
The Pinnacles trailhead is practically next door and sees a fraction of the foot traffic compared to the rim trails. Walk out in early morning light when the volcanic spires cast long shadows -- it is one of the most photogenic spots in the park that nobody talks about.
Bring every drop of water you need. There is no potable water at Lost Creek, and the nearest fill station is back at Mazama Village. Pack at least two gallons per person per day, plus extra for cooking. A collapsible water jug you can stash in the bear locker saves repeated trunk trips.
Photos
NPS photo
NPS photo/Mimi Gorman
NPS photo/Mimi GormanGetting There
Directions
CLOSED ALL YEAR 2025. Lost Creek Campground is located three miles off of East Rim Drive on Pinnacles Road. From park headquarters travel 9 miles on East Rim Drive, turn right onto Pinnacles Road (near Phantom Ship Overlook). Drive 3 miles on Pinnacles Road. Lost Creek Campground is on the right.
Get directions