One
of the World's Most
Stunning Sights
Crater Lake,
located in Crater Lake
National Park in southern
Oregon stands out as
one of the state's
top visitor destinations.
In a state filled with
beautiful bodies of
water, breathtaking
scenery, rugged landscapes,
and amazing sights,
this is really saying
something! In fact
Crater Lake is often
named as one of the
world's most unique
and stunning places.
Approximately 7,700
years ago, Mount Mazama
a then-active volcano
in the Cascade Mountain
Range, erupted emptying
the magma chamber. Unable
to support the weight
of the volcano, the emptied
chamber collapsed, creating
a six-mile wide caldera.
Rain and snow from the
surrounding walls melted
and filled the depression,
forming Crater Lake.
Crater Lake
National Park
On May 22, 1902, President
Theodore Roosevelt signed
the bill creating Crater
Lake National Park. The
nation's fifth oldest
national park, Crater
Lake encompasses 180,000
acres and is home to
a large variety of wildlife
including Roosevelt elk,
mule deer, black bear,
coyote, bobcat, porcupine,
numerous bird species
and smaller animals.
Two information centers,
a lodge, and two campgrounds
with a variety of services
help visitors get the
most out of their Crater
Lake adventure.
Park Entrance
Fees
Seven-day passes are
available for those wishing
to explore Crater Lake
National Park. The cost
is $10 per vehicle or
$5 for individuals entering
on foot or bike. If you
plan to visit other national
parks, consider purchasing
a $50 annual pass that
is valid in all national
parks. The national parks
system also offers a
$10 lifetime pass for
those 62 years and older.
Blind or disabled visitors
receive free access to
all national parks.
About Crater
Lake
With an average depth
of 1,148 feet and a maximum
depth of 1,943 feet Crater
Lake is the deepest lake
in the United States
and the seventh deepest
in the world. Average
annual snowfalls of 533
inches (45 feet) supply
the lake with a steady
water source. Yet although
the caldera itself is
nearly 4,000 feet deep,
evaporation and seepage
keep the lake from entirely
filling the depression.
The result is stunning
lakeshore walls that
tower steeply several
thousand feet above the
surface of the water.
Because there are no
rivers or other moving
waters that empty into
the lake, it is not clouded
by sediments. The trillions
of gallons of nearly
pure water reflect the
sunlight in a way that
gives it a stunning blue
color. The combination
of unusual water color
and extreme geography
make for a truly breathtaking
sight for firs-time and
returning visitors alike.
Crater Lake is known
for its famous piece
of driftwood named the "Old
Man of the Lake." It
is a full-sized tree
that can be seen bobbing
vertically in the lake
as it moves with wind
and currents. The cold
water of the lake has
helped preserve the wood
for more than a century.
Fishing Is
Welcomed at Crater
Lake
In the late 1800s and
early 1900s, Crater Lake
was stocked with six
different types of fish,
but today only two species,
the rainbow trout and
kokanee salmon, survive.
Populations of both fish
are stable and number
in the hundreds of thousands.
Fishing is encouraged
at Crater Lake, and no
license is required.
There is no limit to
how many fish you may
catch however, only artificial
bait is allowed.
Getting to the lake
for fishing and for other
activities, such as boat
tours is a bit of a challenge
because the only safe
and legal way to get
down to the lake edge
is via the mile long
Cleetwood Cove Trail.
The trail, which usually
opens mid to late June
drops 700 feet from the
East Rim Drive trailhead
to the lakeshore. This
can pose some difficulties
on the return trip, as
the hike is comparable
to climbing 65 flights
of stairs!
Crater Lake
Hiking
Including Cleetwood
Cove Trail, there are
over 90 miles of hiking
trails in Crater Lake
park, including 33 miles
of the Pacific Crest
Trail. Crater Lake hiking
options range from the
easy half-mile Castle
Crest Wildflower Garden
loop trail to the strenuous
Mt. Scott hike that covers
5.0 miles and a 1,500-foot
elevation gain to the
highest peak in park.
Crater Lake
Camping
There are two campgrounds
inside Crater Lake National
Park. Mazama Camprounds
has 200 sites and is
open early Jun through
mid-Oct. Lost Creek Campground,
located in the southeast
corner of the park, has
16 sites for tents only.
It is open from mid July
to mid September. Both
campgrounds operate on
a first come first serve
basis. Additionally,
backcountry camping is
allowed but requires
a free permit.
For more information
about Crater Lake hiking,
camping, and other activities
in Crater Lake National
Park, visit their website.
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