Crater Lake National Park, OR

Crater Lake National Park is located in southern Oregon and was established in 1902, thanks to President Theodore Roosevelt. The lake was formed over 7,000 years ago during a massive eruption of Mount Mazama. It is the deepest lake in the USA, and one of the deepest in the world.

There are no rivers running into the lake, but it maintains its depth through rainfall and melting snow. The lack of pollutants keep this lake amazingly clear and blue.

Rim Drive is a 30 mile stretch of road that offers many spots to take in the beautiful scenery. It has access to trailheads and picnic areas. One of the hikes we took was to Watchman Peak, a short, but steep hike that ends at a fire watch tower.

It was a clear day when we hiked this trail and we were rewarded with a stunning view of Mt. Shasta.

In addition to hiking, there are other activities in the park including swimming, biking, fishing, boat tours, and in the winter, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Swimming is restricted to just one location which can be reached via the Cleetwood Cove Trail.

Accommodations in the park include Crater Lake Lodge which was completed in 1915, and offers nice views of the lake, a restaurant, bar and other amenities. There are two campgrounds as well. These fill up quickly, so plan your trip well in advance.

We are fortunate to have an abundance of National Parks and Monuments in our country, and it is important that we protect the animals, plants and natural beauty in the parks. We need to preserve these public places and support conservation efforts to maintain these national treasures.

I hope you enjoyed this post. As always, I would love to hear from you so please leave a comment.

Wishing you grand adventures,

Tricia