Overview

• Location: Crater Lake National Park, Southern Oregon
• Waterfall Type: Cascade
• Height: ~100 feet (30 m)
• Trail Distance: Short walk from roadside or accessible parking area; approximately 0.1–0.2 miles
• Difficulty: Easy
• Best Time to Visit: July through October (when park roads are open)

History & Background

Duwee Falls is a 100-foot cascade in Crater Lake National Park, located along the park’s Rim Drive and accessible to visitors including those using wheelchairs. The falls drop within the Annie Creek drainage, the same watershed as Annie Falls, on the south side of Crater Lake. Crater Lake National Park was established in 1902, making it Oregon’s only national park and one of the oldest in the United States. The park was created to protect the extraordinary caldera lake formed by the collapse of Mount Mazama approximately 7,700 years ago — an eruption so massive it ejected enough material to fill Lake Michigan. Duwee Falls, fed by snowmelt from the rim above, is one of several small waterfalls within the park accessible without major hiking effort.

Geology

Duwee Falls cascades over layers of volcanic ash and pumice deposited by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Mazama approximately 7,700 years ago. The south side of Crater Lake National Park is dominated by these pyroclastic deposits — thick layers of welded and unwelded tephra that the creek has eroded into steep canyons with dramatic volcanic pinnacle formations. At 6,001 feet elevation, the falls are fed by snowmelt from the park’s significant winter snowpack, which averages over 40 feet annually at Crater Lake. The surrounding forest of mountain hemlock, Shasta red fir, and lodgepole pine reflects the high-elevation subalpine environment.

Directions & Access

• Nearest City: Crater Lake Village (Mazama Village), OR; Klamath Falls, OR (~56 miles south)
• Trail Information:
  • Duwee Falls is accessible via a short, relatively flat path from a parking area along Rim Drive on the south side of Crater Lake National Park; wheelchair accessible path leads to the main viewpoint, however the best views are from the roadside just west of GodfreyGlen trailhead.
  • The falls can be combined with a visit to the Annie Creek Canyon Trail (1.7-mile loop) and Mazama Village amenities nearby; park entrance fee required
• Parking:
  • Roadside or designated parking area along Rim Drive; national park entrance fee required ($35 per vehicle as of 2025 — check nps.gov for current fees)
• Accessibility:
  • Wheelchair accessible path leads to the main viewpoint — one of the more accessible waterfall experiences within Crater Lake National Park

Best Time to Visit

• Spring: Park roads typically closed until late May or June due to snow; falls not accessible until opening
• Summer: July through September is peak season; park is busy — arrive early or visit on weekdays; falls running from snowmelt
• Fall: Quieter season through October; excellent conditions; roads typically close again by November
• Winter: Park interior roads closed; accessible only by cross-country ski or snowshoe from the south entrance

Nearby Attractions

• Crater Lake (deepest lake in the U.S.)
• Annie Creek Canyon Trail
• Mazama Village
• Wizard Island boat tours
• Rim Village and Crater Lake Lodge

References

• Links:
  • NPS – Crater Lake National Park
  • Travel Oregon – Crater Lake
• Books:
  • Oregon Waterfalls by Greg Plumb
  • Waterfall Lover’s Guide: Pacific Northwest