A large majority of visitors first reach the rim of the lake at the Rim
Village. This is the focal point of park activities. Here are the lodge,
post office, cafeteria, general store, Sinnott Memorial, a rental cabin
group, auto service, emergency mechanical service, and information
bureau. From the Rim Village a number of the most important trails in
the park take off, including the spectacular trail down the crater wall
to the lake shore, where launches and rowboats are available for
pleasure trips and fishing excursions. This fine trail is 6 foot wide
and on a holding grade of 12 percent, permitting use by people
unaccustomed to much physical effort. Its length of 1½ miles can be
covered on the down trip in 30 minutes, while the return trip requires
approximately 45 minutes. The trail to the summit of Garfield Peak,
directly overlooking the lake and giving a magnificent panorama of the
Cascades, takes off from the Rim Village, as does a 4-mile trail to The
Watchman, a trail to Annie Spring, and to park headquarters.