Crater Lake National Park

Sinnott Memorial Overlook

Crater Lake National Park is the deepest lake in the USA at 1943 feet. The lake was created when Mount Mazama exploded. They believe that there were numerous fishers that spued ash and lava into the air. These vents formed a circle around the mountain and when the lava below the mountain was gone the mountain collapsed into its self-creating the caldera which then filled with rain and snow. With no way for the water to leave the water is very pure and that helps to account for the deep blue colour. 

Sinnott Memorial Overlook is a great place to start and learn about the creation of the lake and the area. You can find the overlook at the Rim Village behind the Rim Visitor Centre.

You can drive the Rim road or take a trolly car around the lake. If you are driving take your time to stop at the numerous viewpoint to see the lake and geological features. There are a variety of hikes that you can choose to do while exploring the park.

Due to the purity of the lake, the light reflected is a deep blue on a sunny day. Only near the edge of the lake where the water is shallower is the water more of a turquoise colour.

Phantom Ship

Phantom Ship is an island in Crater Lake. It is as tall as a 16 story building. This formation is over 400,000 years old and is made of erosion-resistant lava. This is the oldest exposed rock in the caldera.

Pinnacles were created by volcanic gases escaping through the layers of volcanic ash, cementing the ash into solid rock. Some of the spires are 100 feet or 30 meters tall.

You can still visit the park into October but programs start to shut down mid-September with many facilities closed by October. Remember that the elevation at Crater Lake is high and the temperature in the park along the rim is cooler than the valley below.

Mount Thielsen

Pumice Desert

On the northwest corner of the park, you will find the Pumice Desert. This area is the remains of the ash from the volcano. Very little grows in the area but plants are starting to establish themselves in the desert.

Pumice Castle

Hiking in the National Park. There are several short easily accessible hikes in the park that allow you to have great views of Crater Lake or areas of interest. For people that want a bit more challenge, there are hikes to the top of several mountains in the area.

We did several hikes. Most of the hikes are about 1 hour or less in length: Sun Notch, The Pinnacles, Plaikni Falls, Cleetwood Cove and Watchman Peak.

Plaikni Falls

Plaikni Falls is a very easy trail the ends at the falls. There are benches to rest on going up and several rock chairs when you arrive at the falls.













The only trail down to the lake is Cleetwood Cove due to the steepness of the caldera down from the rim.

Crater Lake at the water's edge

Cleetwood Cove is the area that the boat runs to Wizard Island. The boat ride shuts down the middle of September. 

Wizard Island

Wizard Island in the largest island in Crater Lake and is actually a volcano that started forming below the surface of the lake.

Looking for a great hike to see the sunset. Walk up to Watchman Peak. At the top is an observation tower. There are great views of the lake and the mountains towards the west.

Observation Tower

North view from Watchman Peak

Diamond Lake Resort

Scenic Byway

Driving along highway 138 from Roseburg to Diamond Lake you pass through the Umpqua National Forest area that is known for the number of waterfalls in the area. There are numerous hikes in the area. We did not have time to explore the area but it is a beautiful drive.

Diamond Lake is about 5 miles north of Crater Lake National Park. The area is surrounded by national forest reserves which have numerous hiking and bike trails. You can drive or bike around Diamond Lake on a paved trail.

There are five campgrounds around the lake.

Beach at Diamond Lake Resort

 Diamond Lake Resort is located on the north end of the lake and has a variety of cabins and lodge rooms available. They have a restaurant, sports bar and lounge. There is a boathouse and grocery store on the property. This area would be very busy during the summer months.

The lake is well known for its trout fishing. You can rent a boat spend the day out on the lake or take a half day trip on a pontoon boat. They will supply the rod and tackle for the half day trip.

Lake View

We stayed in a cabin that had a view of the lake. The cabin had a full kitchen, two bedrooms, and a sitting area with a wood stove and TV.  The cabin is very basic and old. The beds need to be replaced as well as the stove and some of the furniture. 

While we were staying there was a fire ban and we were not to light the wood stove. This made for some very chilly evening and mornings. We did get to have a fire when the ban was lifted and it truly made the stay more comfortable.

One morning the lake was completely covered with fog as it was only 29 F at 8 am.

Fog on the Lake

Wildlife Safari in Oregon

Wildlife Safari near Winston Oregon is a great opportunity to see a variety of animals that roam freely while the vehicles stay on the designated road through the park.

Gemsbok

They have a very successful Cheetah breeding program and the following cats are in cages: Sumatran Tigers, African Lions and Bob Cats.

Ostrich

While driving through the park you may encounter any of the following animals:

Demara Zebra

Girraff

Hippopotamus 

Sika Deer,

Southern White Rion

Guanaco

Watusi Cattle, Common Cape Eland, Scimitar Oryx, White-Bearded Gnu (Wildebeest), Waterbuck, Black Buck, African Elephant, North American Black Bear, Brown Bear, American Bison, Nilgai, Tibetan Yak, White Cheek Gibbons, White Naped Crane, Emu, Rhea

Roosevelt Elk

Aoudad (Barbary Sheep)

Once you have driven through the park make sure that you visit the Safari Village. There are exhibits of native and exotic wildlife from reptiles and fish to cougars, bobcats, and cheetah. There is also an area that you can feed the goats and pat some of the animals.

Just a Pig

Black Swan

Just Waiting

Please Feed Me

Oregon Trip 2018

This trip we decided to fly to Portland and drive south to Crater Lake National Park. The day we arrived in Portland we drove to Salem Oregon. We had a wonderful Korean meal at Happy Bimbap House.

I ordered the Bimbap. It is served in a piping hot stone bowl. When bowl arrives you take your chopsticks and mix the raw egg into the dish so it cooks. Very tasty and filling dish.

Walking to the Game

Oregon Ducks Stadium

The next day we drove to Eugene. Bill really wanted to see a college football game so he had purchased a ticket for the Oregon Ducks. It was crazy the fans going to the game. We walked from Oregon University across the river to the stadium.

I went to The Museum of Natural and Cultural History on the University of Oregon campus. This was a small museum but has several interesting displays. There was information about the sabre tooth salmon. An excellent geology display. The hands-on displays are great for children to learn more about the topics. There were displays about the history of Oregon. Check out their website at http://natural-history.uoregon.edu.

While in Eugene we stayed at the Eugene Whiteaker International Hostel. The hostel is close to the tracks that run through the centre of town. There were about five trains that we heard during the night.

The next day we headed for Diamond Lake Resort in Southern Oregon. On the way, we visited the Wildlife Safari. For more information check out the posts on the Wildlife Park and Crater Lake.

The whole area from Portland to California has a great variety of wineries that can be visited. Depending on the area you can find a winery to visit.  North of Medford, we drove through the Rogue Valley and visited the Kriselle Cellars to check out their wines.

Bill relaxed on the deck in the sunshine while Elaine decided what to buy.

Grapes ready for Harvest

Leaving Diamond Lake we drove north on highway 97 to Bend Oregon. Three miles south of Bend is the High Desert Museum.

Otters

Burrowing Owl

 

The museum has several habitats for birds, snakes, turtles and a few mammals. 

There are excellent dioramas about the history in the area and the local indigenous people. Walking outside you can visit the raptor house, otter house, a working sawmill, and a settler's cabin and farm. When we visited there was staff dressed in period costume. There were numerous talks and demonstrations throughout the day that were free. 

This is a small museum and a great opportunity to learn about the area and some of the animals.

After the museum, we continued towards Mount Hood along highway 97 the highway 26. We had great views of Mount Jefferson as we passed through a deep canyon at Warm Springs. The Butte is a very impressive sight. Once you reach the Mount Hood area there is hiking, camping and skiing in the winter. The drive from Mount Hood to Portland is a scenic byway so be prepared for the drive to be a little slower through the communities.

Back in Portland, it was time to navigate the slow-moving freeways to return the rental car. You need to give yourself extra time as the traffic is gridlocked over an extended rush hour.