Take a Hike! To Crater Lake in Oregon
Visiting this 7,700-year-old breathtaking beauty
A massive, impossibly blue expanse of water, writes Nick Thomas of Crater Lake in Oregon. He offers tips for getting the best views of this striking body of water as well as two hiking options.
Viewing Oregon’s Crater Lake for the first time caught me off guard – a massive, impossibly blue expanse of water trapped within the shattered rim of an ancient volcano.
There was no hint of what lay ahead, driving scenic Hwy 62 toward the Crater Lake National Park western entrance, some 60 miles northeast of Medford. Even after pulling into the car park, along with hundreds of other cars, the lake remained largely hidden until we walked to the edge of the parking lot.
And there it was – huge, deep, still, and oh so blue, on a scale that was hard to grasp. Still ringed with layers of pristine winter snow, it was especially striking in early June.
Normally, I would avoid popular national parks from late spring to early fall between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. because of the crowds – and at Crater Lake they can be stifling – but I made an exception for this vibrant aquatic beauty. Early morning and late afternoon shade can creep over the lake, creating distracting shadows. So we arrived at noon, waiting in line for over 45 minutes to gain park entry. Of course, the view is gorgeous anytime of the day or year, but with the full sun beating down midday to illuminate the water, it’s just all that more spectacular.
The easiest hike, or walk, really, with great lake views follows the stone wall adjacent to the car park around to the right. Every few steps you’ll want to pause and absorb the view from a slightly different angle. The path is paved but may have snowy patches, as it did when we visited. After the path dips down, you can then backtrack. Or, if you’re up for a challenge, continue on as the trail rises into a wooded area that begins an 800+ foot climb towards the rim.
While the gradient is not extreme, it can be a little strenuous since the climb is unrelenting. The path is also rocky in patches and can be heart-stoppingly narrow in a few places where the drop off is several hundred feet. However, the views of the lake from the higher elevation are worth the effort. In fact, you don’t have to climb all the way to the rim, because the partial lake views on the way up are still stunning.
Despite its name, Crater Lake was not formed from an extraterrestrial impact but from a volcano that collapsed some 7,700 years ago. Although it receives more precipitation than it loses through evaporation, the lake level remains constant since some water seeps out through porous rock. The water is replaced only from rain or snow melt – no river flows in or out of the lake. This water purity contributes to its clarity and color. And with a maximum depth of almost 2,000 feet, it’s the deepest lake in the U.S.
The photo accompanying this article (top) is the first I took, moments after seeing the lake for the first time. It’s not the best of the hundreds I captured, but it will forever remind me of that stunning initial impression.
Check out the Crater Lake National Park (U.S. National Park Service) web site for complete visitor information.
Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery in Alabama and has written features, columns, and interviews for many newspapers and magazines, including Boomer. His “Take a Hike!” column describes short trails, hikes, and walks from around the country that older adults might enjoy while traveling. See ItsAWonderfulHike.com.
