Crater Lake
The Pacific Northwest is a very beautiful part of our country. We have vacationed in that area several times. Numerous ocean and mountains experiences are close at hand. One of my favorite places that we visited was Crater Lake National Park in the Cascade Mountain Range of Oregon.
Crater Lake lies inside a caldera, or volcanic basin, created when the 12,000 foot high Mount Mazama collapsed following a major eruption. The Klamath Indians and the Umpqua people of the area both have stories with accounts of the eruption. The lake is surrounded by steep rock walls that rise up to 2,000 feet above the surface. The lake itself is 1,943 feet deep at its deepest point. This makes it the deepest lake in the United States and one of the deepest in the world.
The lake is fed almost entirely by snowfall, which averages 528 inches per year. Because of this, it is one of the clearest lakes in the world. There is no outlet from the lake so evaporation and seepage prevent the lake from becoming any deeper.
The fabulous, deep blue color of Crater Lake is the product of its great depth, the purity and clarity of its water, and the way solar radiation interacts with water. The color of the lake can vary from day-to-day depending on wind, cloud cover, and the angle of the sun.
Visitor Centers
We find that the visitor centers are the best place to start a visit to a National Park. Crater Lake has two visitor centers where rangers are available to answer questions and help you plan your time in the park. While there, pick up a park newspaper and visitor guide to discover the current happenings in the park.
The Steel Visitor Center at Park Headquarters has a the 22-minute film that explores the park’s violent past and its present tranquility.
At the Rim Visitor Center, walk down to the Sinnott Memorial Overlook, perched on a rock ledge behind the building. It features an indoor exhibit room and an open area with spectacular lake views. The overlook has a relief model and exhibits on the park’s geology and lake research.
Rim Drive
After stopping at the visitor center, take a drive around the lake on Rim Drive. This 33-mile road, with spectacular views, encircles Crater Lake. Plan on at least 2 to 3 hours to enjoy the many sights at over 30 scenic pullouts.
Cleetwood Cove Trail
If you wish to walk down to the lake, take the Cleetwood Cove Trail. It is the only safe and legal access to the shore of the lake. The steep and strenuous trail is 1.1 miles long, one way, with an 11% grade that drops nearly 700 feet down to the lake shore. Walking back up is equivalent to climbing 65 flights of stairs! The hike is well worth the effort. The views of the lake from this vantage point allow you to experience its enormous size.
Boat Tour
The Cleetwood Cove Trail is also the access to the 2-hour ranger-narrated boat tour that encircles the entire lake. This was the highlight of our time in Crater Lake National Park. The boat tour features much of the volcanic scenery seen on the Rim Drive pullouts. However, the close up views from the lake give you a new perspective. We saw Wizard Island, Phantom Ship, The Pinnacles, The Lady of the Lake and other formations. Some of the tours allow visitors to stop at Wizard Island for a few hours of exploration before catching another boat for the return trip.
Wizard Island
A small volcanic island, Wizard Island, rises 767 feet above the surface of the lake on its west side. Wizard Island is a cinder cone that erupted after Crater Lake began to fill with water.
Phantom Ship
Nestled against the shore, Crater Lake’s “other island” is named Phantom Ship because it resembles a small sailboat. This island appears small but it is as tall as a 16-story building. It’s made of erosion-resistant lava which is the oldest exposed rock within the caldera.
The Pinnacles
The Pinnacles are “fossil fumaroles” where volcanic gases once rose up through a layer of volcanic ash, cementing the ash into solid rock. They were formed during the eruption that created the lake. The colorful spires, which are 100 feet tall, are being eroded from the canyon wall.
Crater Lake Lodge
Crater Lake Lodge provides lodging right on the lake rim. Even if you stay elsewhere, stop by to enjoy the views, check out the history exhibits, relax in the Great Hall, or join a ranger talk at this historic hotel. It does not compare to the huge lodges in other parks such as Yellowstone or Yosemite but it is still worth walking through. You can purchase boat tour tickets here, too.
If you enjoy hiking, boat tours, geology and the beauty of nature then Crater Lake is a place to add to your must-see list.