Crater Lake National Park
June 18, 2018
The deepest lake in the United States, Crater Lake’s waters sink 1,943 feet into a dormant volcanic caldera. Filled only by rain and snowmelt, the Oregon lake is famous for its crystal clear blue waters and forms the heart of 183,224-acre Crater Lake National Park, which includes the remnants of the collapsed Mount Mazama volcano, its surrounding forests, and a “desert” created by the eruption 7,700 years ago.
Annie Falls
While driving on Highway 62 towards the south entrance to Crater Lake National Park you will come across Annie Falls picnic area. This will provide you with a great view of Annie Falls.
The Steel Visitor Center and Park Headquarters greets you four miles south of the southern park entrance and Mazama Village Campground, at the intersection of Mudson Creek Road and East Rim Drive.
Rim Drive
Rim Drive is the 33-mile road that circumnavigates Crater Lake.
The drive can be done in under an hour, but you should budget two to three hours because you’ll want to stop for at least a few of the more than 30 pullouts, overlooks, and picnic areas that offer incredible views of the lake from every angle.
Discovery Point
Discovery Point is the site where John Wesley Hillman first viewed Crater Lake in 1853.
Watchman Overlook
The Watchman Overlook is located 3.7 miles north of Rim Village on West Rim Drive. Start at the parking lot and walk the short paved walkway along the caldera rim for a wonderful view of Wizard Island, the largest island in Crater Lake. Wizard Island is 764 feet high with a crater that is 300 feet wide and 90 feet deep.
The thickest sheet of lava on the walls of Crater Lake forms the imposing cliff known as Llao Rock.
You also can hike a 0.7-mile trail to Watchman Lookout, an old fire tower with more stunning views of Wizard Island and the lake.
Cloudcap Overlook
Cloudcap is the highest point on Rim Drive, and a spur road to an overlook with a sheer dropoff that offers more views of Crater Lake. In addition to Wizard Island to the west, look east to see Mount Scott, the highest peak in the park.
Kerr Notch and Phantom Ship Overlook
Located at the intersection of East Rim Drive and Pinnacle Drive, the Phantom Ship Overlook at Kerr Notch offers great views of the Phantom Ship. The silhouette of this 300-foot-long, 16-foot-high island of jagged rock looks remarkably like an old ship. Depending on the lighting, the island may stand out sharply against the crystal blue water or blend in with the Dutton Cliffs, becoming something of an invisible “phantom.”
Plaikni Falls
The trail head is a few miles up Pinnacles Road from East Rim Drive. This easy 2 mile (round trip) trail winds through old growth fir and hemlock forest and past several rugged bluffs to the base of the falls.
Sun Notch Overlook
Sun Notch Viewpoint, which overlooks Crater Lake, the Phantom Ship, and Dutton Cliffs. The hike begins at 7,000 feet and winds through wildflower fields before topping out at 7,115 feet above sea level, gaining roughly 115 feet over the course of .25 miles. The half-mile round-trip journey takes around 20 minutes.
Vidae Falls
Vidae Falls is a 100-foot, spring-fed waterfall located on the side of East Rim Drive, 3.1 miles east of Park Headquarters. There is a small pullout on the waterfall side of the road as well as a larger pullout and picnic area directly across the street.
*********************************************************************************************
This post contains affiliate links, so I make a small commission if you purchase through my links – that support helps to keep this blog running.
Copyright Foodie Made Simple, LLC. All text, recipes and photographs are copyrighted and may not be published elsewhere without express permission. Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, Tumbler, Google+ and Facebook users, you are welcome to “pin” photos! re-tweet and “share” links all you like, just don’t copy the recipes themselves. Fellow bloggers are welcome to repost my recipes, just write the recipe in your own words, use your own photograph, then link back to the original recipe on rvcookingmadesimple.com
Comments are closed.