This is a National Park we had been wanting to visit for years. It is a bit off the beaten path, buth when in Oregon, we felt it was a must and worth the drive. It did not disappoint. We know so many people that visited and could not see the lake due to the weather and fog. We got lucky and had 2 perfect days.
Crater Lake National Park, located in southern Oregon, is a stunning natural wonder known for its deep blue lake, formed in the caldera of a collapsed volcano.
- Depth: At 1,943 feet, it is the deepest lake in the United States.
- Color: Famous for its intense blue color, a result of its depth and clarity.
- Rim Drive: A 33-mile loop around the lake with over 30 overlooks offering spectacular views.
- West Rim and East Rim Drives: Provide access to various trailheads and viewpoints.
- We also hiked a good portion of the Rim trail and met someone hiking the entire PCT or Pacific Crest Trail. He took a slight detour to see the lake and park.
- Cleetwood Cove Trail: The only trail that leads to the lake’s shore, where you can swim or take a boat tour. We did swim and take the boat tour. The hike is steep, 1 mile each way and not really easy. The boat ride was nice, but in my opinion too long. The tour was 2 hours and we would have been fine with 1 hour, but the lake is beautiful and the water a bit cold. The sun was so strong, we had to stay covered on the boat.
The water was also very difficult to get into. There are large sharp rocks all over.
We stayed just outside the park, about a 30 minute drive in the Union Creek Resort cabins. That was fun and would do that again, as it is always hard to get rooms inside the park and we didn’t want to camp out.
