This trail is accessible by Power Creek Road (north side of Eyak Lake) 1.5 miles from Cordova. The trail is 2.4 miles long. You can go there in the summer and fall. The use of this trail is heavy and it is a difficult trail to hike.

The Crater Lake trail provides the day hiker or backpacker with opportunities to view magnificent scenery that include the West Copper River Delta, the Chugach Mountains to the north, and various islands in the Prince William Sound. Most of this trail climbs a steep grade passing through mature timber stands of Sitka spruce and mountain and western hemlock to where Crater Lake sets in a picturesque alpine bowl. There are numerous switch backs and native log bridges that cross intermittent streams. Also a bench is provided midway up the trail for an excellent view of Eyak Lake.

Joining this trail is a 5.5 mile ridge route that inter-connects with a Power Creek trail and has a shelter built midway. The entire loop from Crater Lake trail head to Power Creek trail head is 12 miles. Also accessible is a short but steep climb up Eyak Peak. No definite trails have been established on the ridge route or to the top of the peak. But the easiest route for the ridge is marked with rock cairns and a relatively simple route to Eyak Peak may be undertaken by following the north ridge located along the west-southwest shore of Crater Lake.

Other recreational opportunities along this trail include fishing for cutthroat trout and ptarmigan hunting.