Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake welcomed me with wind and clouds. I couldn’t even see the lake when I first arrived. For that reason I always recommend planning your trip for at least a few days, otherwise you can miss the lake completely.

The Rim drive coming from the North and going counterclockwise was crazy 🥵 most of the way I was on the outside next to a steep drop with NO shoulder and very narrow lane. The following day the Park Ranger I spoke with advised I should ride clockwise to prevent being on the out/drop side. Thank goodness for her advice. There is a lot of information visitors can gain from Visitor Center announcements posted or by speaking with a Park Ranger.

Next day the weather was somewhat more pleasant with less wind, but still rainy and somewhat cloudy.

The day after finally the sun came out, cleared the majority of the lake and revealed the beautiful blue waters of the lake.

This is the exact same spot as in the cloudy video at the top.

While the clouds were clearing the temps were dropping.
The least favorite part of my visit was the drastic swing in temperatures.  It was down to 30’s at night and I had to get my extra warm down comforter out and sleep in a hat.

Getting out from under the cozy blanket into a 52° room was no fun.

But nonetheless it was a beautiful day and it was time to get going.

Since like in most National Parks dogs are not welcome anywhere other than parking lots, campgrounds and roads…  we decided to take a short dayhike on the Pacific Crest Trail also known as the PCT.

Hiking the PCT is my absolute dream and I plan on doing it one day in the future. It’s a continuous footpath from Mexican border (southern terminus in California) going north through Oregon and Washington ending 2650 miles later on Canadian border (northern terminus).
I already have all of the ultra light backpacking gear, I just need courage.

Here are a few pictures from around the park and Mazama campground.

It was nice to have a store, couple of restaurants, showers and laundry facilities at the campground.  I was able to wash my blanket after Aesop puked all over it.

One last thing I would like to mention is PHANTOM SHIP.  It’s a small island that can be seen on the east side of the lake. To make sure you don’t miss anything, take a drive around the lake, just remember, clockwise.

There are boat rides available plus swimming and fishing available to anyone who can walk down to the boat dock and then BACK UP. Cleetwood Cove Trail is the only legal access to the shore of Crater Lake and is a 1.1 miles (2.2 round trip) steep and strenuous hike with 700′ elevation gain. Walking up the trail is comparable to climbing 65 flights of stairs.

The water is very cold majority of the year.  Fishing isn’t easy either since there is no beach. You have to balance yourself on the rocks. 

Interesting facts:

• Crater Lake is fed only by rain and snow-melt.  It’s one of the cleanest and clearest lakes in the world.
• Crater lake is the deepest lake in the US and 7th deepest in the world – 1943
• Surface elevation 6,173′ above sea level

Next: Harris Beach State Park, Brookings, OR