Data　gathering　is　a　basic　function　in　wireless　sensor　networks　(WSNs).　With　the　energy　constrained　nature　of　the　wireless　sensor　nodes,　energy-efficient　routing　algorithms　need　to　be　carefully　designed　before　wireless　sensor　networks　are　widely　deployed　for　data　gathering.　This　article　proposed　an　energy-efficient　cluster　routing　algorithm　(ECRA)　for　data　gathering　in　wireless　sensor　networks.　Firstly,　ECRA　divided　the　nodes　in　WSNs　into　clusters.　Secondly,　a　chain　was　formed　in　each　by　an　improved　nearest　neighbor　algorithm.　Finally,　the　multi-hop　was　used　to　transmit　the　gathered　data　from　clusterhead　to　the　base　station.　The　simulation　results　show　that　the　proposed　approach　can　distribute　energy　consumption　uniformly　among　the　sensor　nodes,　and　thus　prolong　the　network　lifetime.