On the way to nowhere, you’ll find one of the more unusual national parks.  The park itself isn’t very large, but it contains something very large created by the destruction of something even larger.

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Crater Lake, to my surprise, wasn’t formed from a meteor or comet strike. During the last eruptions of the volcanic Mt. Mazama, the mountain collapsed into the emptied magma chamber lying beneath it, leaving the gaping hole that we see today. One small island, remnants of the collapsed mountain top, can be seen protruding of out the water still today.

What we don’t see today is the bottom of the 400 feet deep lake, despite the exceptionally pure water. The purity is due to the fact that the water is collected only from rainfall and snowmelt; no streams or rivers flow into the crater. The purity is only outmatched by the brilliance of the blue tint. 

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Crater Lake, located in the southern tip of the Cascade Range, is one of the snowiest places in the United States. The park receives over 40 feet of snow per year! Even in early June, the time of my visit, the snow pack yielded not to the sun in any measurable way. The running joke told by rangers is that the park has two seasons – August and winter. Due the snow conditions, many of the roads were still impassable and much of the park was inaccessible. All trails were closed except for those nearest the lodge.

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The small portion of the park that was open provided a great tease to entice a return trip - in August, of course. The 1-2-mile walk along the crater rim provided excellent views of the lake, surrounding forest, and towering mountain peaks. Mt Shasta, California’s fifth tallest mountain, was visible when you had an unobstructed southern view. Animals, except for a few birds, were a rare find though.

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One day is enough to see the heart of the park when the snow pack is thick and most of the park is closed. But you could easily spend several days here if you pack/rent snow shoes or if you come later in the summer when more trails are open.

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The national forests that completely surround the park are deserving of a few days of your time as well. Natural Bridge Park, Diamond Lake, and the North Umpqua River are just a few things you might consider exploring in or around the national forests.

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Whatever you do, do not pass on an opportunity to see this national park.