diff --git a/stackstac/raster_spec.py b/stackstac/raster_spec.py
index 2a0f190..4fc7f0e 100644
--- a/stackstac/raster_spec.py
+++ b/stackstac/raster_spec.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 from typing import Tuple, Union
 
 import affine
+import pyproj
 
 IntFloat = Union[int, float]
 Bbox = Tuple[IntFloat, IntFloat, IntFloat, IntFloat]
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ def shape(self) -> Tuple[int, int]:
     def vrt_params(self) -> dict:
         height, width = self.shape
         return {
-            "crs": self.epsg,
+            "crs": pyproj.CRS.from_epsg(self.epsg).to_wkt(),
             "transform": self.transform,
             "height": height,
             "width": width,
diff --git a/stackstac/rio_reader.py b/stackstac/rio_reader.py
index 226c455..f75c845 100644
--- a/stackstac/rio_reader.py
+++ b/stackstac/rio_reader.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 import numpy as np
 import rasterio as rio
 from rasterio.vrt import WarpedVRT
+from rasterio.errors import RasterioDeprecationWarning
 
 from .rio_env import LayeredEnv
 from .timer import time
@@ -345,7 +346,7 @@ def _open(self) -> ThreadsafeRioDataset:
 
             # Only make a VRT if the dataset doesn't match the spatial spec we want
             if self.spec.vrt_params != {
-                "crs": ds.crs.to_epsg(),
+                "crs": ds.crs.to_wkt(),
                 "transform": ds.transform,
                 "height": ds.height,
                 "width": ds.width,