The Magic and Beauty of Crater Lake

Are you planning a vacation, but haven't quite decided where to go? Do you like the outdoors? Beautiful scenery? Look no further! You can find it all at Crater Lake National Park! We'll begin our trip with a visit to the park's most famous attraction: Crater Lake!

Crater Lake was formed when Mount Mazama erupted about 7,700 years ago creating a caldera which then filled with water over the years. The lake has a depth of 1943 feet, is the seventh deepest lake in the world and the deepest in the United States. It has no inlets or outlets and is supplied by the large amounts of snow that the park gets every year (an average of over forty-four feet.) The weather at the park can be cool even in the middle of summer(the lake's elevation is over six-thousand feet) so prepare by bringing warmer clothing.

Crater Lake is a natural wonder that has captured the hearts and imaginations of generations starting with settlers looking for gold that was soon forgotten; Captain Clarence Dutton, who led a geological survey that first measured the depth of the lake. William Gladstone Steel, also called the father of Crater Lake, was the man responsible for the establishment of Crater Lake National Park. He had read about the lake in a newspaper when he was a boy in Kansas and soon after moved to Oregon. His hard work, over forty-nine years worth, paid off in 1909 when he convinced the then president Theodore Roosevelt to make the area into a national park.

The Crater Lake National Park area covers over a hundred-eighty-thousand acres! There are meadows to explore and mountain bike riding is very popular. There is a path that leads around the rim of the volcano, but if you take this route, be careful! The rim has a tendency to shift and people have been known to fall off the edge by getting too close. For those of you who want to take to the trails, the park has several hiking trails which will be a real treat since the area abounds with wildlife! Another activity that some may find intriguing is scuba diving in the lake. Permits, however, are required for those who are skilled enough to dive in the deepest lake in the US. There are so many things to do that you won't be bored. There's even a JR Ranger program for kids!

Lodging at Crater Lake, as the locals call the park, has two campgrounds and two lodging facilities. Crater Lake Lodge has seventy-one rooms and Mazama Village Motor Inn has forty. The accommodations fill up fast so reservations are strongly recommended. The park is open year around, but many of the events and activities are seasonal.

It doesn't matter when you plan your trip to Crater Lake. When you see the mist rolling in over the lake, or stand on top of one of the nearby mountains from where you can see for miles; you will be awestruck by the breath-taking, panoramic views and perhaps you will feel a little of the magic that is Crater Lake.