Crater Lake National Park: From Volcanic Destruction to Incredible Beauty.

Towering 12,000 feet above the surrounding landscape, Mount Mazama,"blew its top" 7,700 years ago. The violent explosion that scientists believe lasted just a few days caused the huge stratovolcano to collapse in on itself as the magma chamber quickly emptied. During the following centuries, rain and snow melt filled this resulting caldera to form one of the deepest, clearest, and most beloved lakes in the United States.

And clear skies and calm waters made it the picture-perfect time to visit our 51st national park, Crater Lake.

Located in southern Oregon on the crest of the Cascade Mountains, Crater Lake's clear blue water attracts half a million tourists each year for hiking, biking, and just gazing at its pure beauty. 

 One can spend a few hours or a few days exploring Crater Lake's incredible beauty. Some of our suggestions include ...

Drive (or Bike) Around Rim Drive

This 33 mile road takes you along the caldera rim high above Crater Lake. Stop at the Visitor Center to watch the video of how this natural wonder was created. Take the road to access the many hiking trails and vistas. Or just find a pull out and enjoy the views and colors as the sun sets on the other side of the caldera.

Hike The Cleetwood Cove Trail To Experience Some Cool Beauty

The Crater Lake caldera has steep rock walls that rise an average of 2000 feet from the water's surface. The only way to safely and legally access the water is by taking the Cleetwood Cove Trail. Here, the one mile trail descends about 700 feet down to the water's edge. When we reached the lake, we admired its clarity close-up and were entertained by a group of young people who were brave enough and/or crazy enough to go for a swim in the cool waters. 

Check Out Wizard Island ...

By Boat or From Watchman Overlook

From Cleetwood Cove, there are boat tours that will take you out to Wizard Island, a cinder cone that forms an island on the west end of Crater Lake. Since our "advanced planning skills" are often lacking, we admired views of the island from the top of the Watchman Overlook Trail.

Challenge Yourself and Being Rewarded With Some Amazing Views on the Garfield Peak Trail

The Garfield Peak Trail is often described as the #1 hike to do when in Crater Lake. The 1.8 mile trail starts out right away with an unrelenting climb that leads you up 1000 feet to the summit.

But with a little perseverance, you will be rewarded with incredible views at the summit.

At 1,943 feet, Crater Lake takes the prize for the deepest lake in the United States. With no inlet or outlet, its waters remain some of the clearest and purest. But it's the transformation from volcanic destruction to incredible beauty that makes Crater Lake a national treasure that we are grateful to finally be able to experience in person.

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