Crater Lake National Park

Oregon, United States of America

Have you ever wanted to visit the deepest lake in the U.S.? How about the clearest lake IN THE WORLD? How about a lake that is so blue that the color is called “Crater Lake Blue”?

Welcome to Crater Lake, our nation’s fifth national park! Given park status in 1902 by Teddy Roosevelt, Crater Lake! I got to camp out in this beautiful park this past August with my family before going off to college!

Despite its name, Crater Lake is not actually a crater! This misnomer indicates that it was created by a meteor, but it actually formed during volcanic activity and is technically a caldera!

The water is so clear because it is only fed by snow and rain. There are no water resources that go into the lake from the cliffside or surrounding Cascade Mountains!

(Courtesy of the National Parks Service)

Lodging: Mazama Campground

Hikes:

Watchman Peak:

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• Distance: 1.6 Miles
• What’s at the Top :
  • Views of the entire lake from Wizard Island Side
  • Historic fire lookout
  • Great views of Cascade Mountain Range
  • Ideal hike for sunset, but also a beautiful sunrise view
• Notes:
  • Hard to get clear pictures at sunrise
  • Mostly steep switchbacks but easy trail
  • Extremely cold in the morning, BUNDLE UP!

Cleetwood Cove:

My favorite experience I had a Crater Lake was cliff jumping! The water is FREEZING, even in July, but this daredevil activity was my favorite part! The adrenaline that rushes through you as you plummet off of a 17ft rock into 200ft deep water is indescribable!

• Distance: 2.2 miles

• What’s at the BOTTOM:
  • Direct access to Crater Lake
  • Swimming and Cliff Jumping areas
  • Pit toilets
  • Boat access for tours
• Notes:
  • Very Steep switchbacks
  • Only trail with access to the lake
  • Cliff jumping is not endorsed by the park but it is SUPER FUN
  • When jumping, put your hands at your sides to avoid arm injury

Wizard Summit:

• Distance: 2.2 miles
• What’s at the top:
  • “The Witch’s Cauldron” of dead trees killed by mistletoe
  • Great views of the lake
  • Easy to see depth changes
• Notes:
  • Green/lighter Water= shallower
  • Dark Blue Water= deeper
  • Very dusty
  • Narrow trails so it’s hard to pass other hikers
  • Only accessible on reserved boat tour
  • Hikers can elect to follow the ranger
  • Given 3 hours on the island

Castle Crest:

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• Distance: 0.5 miles
• What’s along the way:
  • Wildflowers in July
  • Wooden bridge
•  Notes:
  • Lots of bugs so bring bug spray
  • Some construction

Another awesome part of Crater Lake is the boat rides! Make sure you book in advance! There are two tourist boats that run from Cleetwood Cove to Wizard Island and give tours of the lake! These boats were dropped in the lake via helicopter and the Park Rangers on the boats educate you about the geology and the issues with invasive crayfish! You also learn about Secchi tubes which measure the clarity of lakes.

My brother Matthew, center, was crying because he is under 13 and had to wear a lifejacket. Stay Safe kids

Crater Lake is a beautiful National Park with multiple hikes for great views of the lake! Whether you’re looking for steep inclines, flat flower meadows, or a jump off of a cliff, Crater Lake is an ideal vacation spot!