
Watch it draw itself · tap to replay
How to Draw a Crater Lake
Draw a crater lake in 13 easy steps, about 10 minutes. Free, with a printable worksheet.
Each picture adds one red line. Draw that line, then scroll to the next picture. Rub out any dashed helper lines at the end. First up: the mountain.
Step 1: The mountain
Draw a volcano: from bottom left, slope up, over a wide low arch, and down to bottom right.
Tip A crater lake fills the bowl of an old volcano. Let the slopes spread out at the bottom.
Step 2: The bowl
Start at the left shoulder. Curve down and across below the top arch, and stop at the right shoulder.
Tip Now the top of the mountain is a big oval opening.
Step 3: The lake
Inside the oval, draw a second oval a little smaller, leaving a band of rocky rim all round.
Step 4: An island
In the middle of the lake, draw a small lumpy island.
Step 5: Ripples
Draw 3 short curved ripple lines on the lake, here and there, not in a row.
Step 6: Ridges
On each slope, start below the rim and draw a gentle curve down, stopping well above the bottom.
Step 7: Pine trees
Near the bottom of each slope, draw a pine tree: 3 pointy layers and a short trunk.
Step 8: Ground line
Start left of the mountain. Draw a flat ground line under it and the trees, out past the right foot.
Step 9: Sun and birds
Add a small sun with short rays at the top right, and 2 little birds at the top left.
Step 10: Yellow sun
Colour the sun yellow.
Step 11: Stone rim, grey mountain
Colour the band between the 2 ovals pale stone grey, then the mountain grey, around the rim and trees.
Step 12: Deep blue lake
Colour the lake deep blue, going round the island.
Step 13: Green island and pines
Colour the island and the pine trees green. Go over your lines and your crater lake is done!

Your finished drawing
Follow the steps above and this is where you end up: a crater lake, drawn by you.
Every step in one picture
