Lightning Springs Trail,
Crater Lake National Park
Elevation
The Lightning Springs Trail has a maximum elevation of 7,172 ft., a minimum elevation of 5,892 ft. and an elevation range of 1,280 ft.
Metrics
| [ A to B ] or [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Length 2 | Min Ele 3 | Max Ele 4 | Range 5 |
| 4.2 mi | 5,892 ft | 7,172 ft | 1,280 ft |
| [ A to B ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time 6 | Floors 7 | Gain 8 | Loss 9 |
| 1.6 hrs | 105.8 | 1,270 ft | 0 ft |
| [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Floors | Gain | Loss |
| 1.5 hrs | 0.0 | 0 ft | 1,270 ft |
Calories
The following chart shows the total calories that you may expend on the trail while hiking in both directions. The chart is based on data derived from a statistical model of energy expenditure that relates gross weight, typical speed and trail topography.
Topo Maps
Download the PDF Lightning Springs Trail topo map and the adjoining quads to plan your hike. These are full-sheet, 7.5 Minute (1:24,000 scale) topographic maps.
Adjoining 7.5' Quadrangle Legend
- Northwest Topo Map: Hamaker Butte, OR
- North Topo Map: Pumice Desert West, OR
- Northeast Topo Map: Pumice Desert East, OR
- West Topo Map: Thousand Springs, OR
- Topo Map: Crater Lake West, OR
- East Topo Map: Crater Lake East, OR
- Southwest Topo Map: Red Blanket Mountain, OR
- South Topo Map: Union Peak, OR
- Southeast Topo Map: Maklaks Crater, OR
Difficulty
The following chart illustrates the difficulty of hiking the Lightning Springs Trail compared to two other trails. The x-axis is cumulative elevation gain and the y-axis is maximum elevation. The length of the trail is reflected in the size of the bubble.
FAQ
What is the length of the Lightning Springs Trail?
The length of the trail is 4.2 miles (6.8 km) or 9,051 steps.
How long does it take to hike the Lightning Springs Trail?
A person in good physical health can hike the trail in 1.6 hours in one direction and in 1.5 hours in the opposite direction.
Warnings
Prevent tick bites: Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents with products containing 0.5% permethrin.
(cdc.gov)
- The Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) may be present in this area. The Brown dog tick transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
- The Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni) may be present in this area. The Rocky Mountain wood tick transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Colorado Tick Fever, and Tularemia.
- The Western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus) may be present in this area. The Western blacklegged tick transmits Anaplasmosis and Lyme Disease.
Footnotes
- Steps is a unit of distance equal to the sum of stride lengths that vary with the terrain.
- Length is the distance of the trail between the two trailheads, measured on the trail.
- Min Ele is the minimum elevation on the trail.
- Max Ele is the maximum elevation on the trail.
- Range is the difference between maximum and minimum elevation.
- Time is the typical total time required to hike the trail.
- Floors is the gain divided by twelve feet, the height of one floor.
- Gain (cumulative elevation gain) is the sum of every gain in elevation.
- Loss (cumulative elevation loss) is the sum of every loss in elevation.