CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK
I have several vivid memories of my first visit to Crater Lake National Park several years ago. The one that stands out the most was my initial view of the lake itself. As we approached the Rim Village Visitor Center late one afternoon, my anticipation had been growing steadily on finally getting a chance to get a look at the deepest lake in the United States (1,932 feet at its deepest point). Much to my disappointment, when we reached the first overlook, the lake was enveloped in a dense blanket of clouds and I couldn't even make out the shoreline. The lake remained a shrouded mystery for the rest of the day, and after spending the night at the historic Crater Lake Lodge, I awoke with hopeful anticipation the following morning. As I ventured outside under a clear sky, the sun was starting to rise over the surrounding mountains, beginning to illuminate the lake's surface, and changing the color of the water from steel gray to a deep blue. It was a magnificent sight to behold and definitely an experience I'll never forget!
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Crater Lake National Park is located in southern Oregon on the crest of the Cascade Range, 100 miles from the Pacific coast. The park's centerpiece is the six-mile-wide, deep blue lake that lies within the caldera of Mount Mazama, a volcano of the Cascade Range that erupted about 6,850 years ago. The mountain collapsed, forming a caldera. Annual rain and melting snow gradually filled it.
The general area around Crater Lake is thought to have been inhabited as far back as 12,000 years ago, and the lake itself was the basis of much local Native American legend. The establishment of Crater Lake as a national park was due in large part to the efforts of William Gladstone Steel (1854-1934).Born in Ohio, Steel finished high school in Portland, Oregon, and became a postal carrier after short stints as a newspaperman, railroad promoter, and publisher. It was during his first visit to Crater Lake in 1885 in which he became so captivated by its "wonders, mystery and inspiring beauty," that he felt the lake should be preserved as a national park. He spent most of his adult life in pursuit of this mission, writing articles, letters, petitions, and a book to heighten public awareness. After 17 years and a personal appeal to President Theodore Roosevelt, the park was officially established on May 22, 1902.
Visiting the Park
The 183,000-acre park maintains two visitor centers, staffed by park rangers and volunteers. The Steel Information Center is located at Park Headquarters and is open year round. The Rim Visitor Center, located only a few hundred yards from the Crater Lake Lodge, is opened daily from early June through late September. General park information, backcountry camping permits, and educational sales items are available at this location.
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As I quickly discovered during my visit, weather is definitely a major factor at Crater Lake National Park. As a longtime resident of South Florida, seeing icicles hanging from tree branches and being hit with a a snowstorm in July are definitely not everyday experiences for me. Winter at the park lasts for eight months, and brings some of the heaviest snowfall in the country (an average of 533 inches of snow annually). Due to deep snow and ice buildups along the road, the North Entrance to Rim Village is usually closed from mid-October until mid-June and the rest of the Rim Drive (around the north-east-south sides) until late-June to mid-July. Although park facilities are mostly closed during the winter, visitors may still partake in cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Travel Planner:
Crater Cam - includes
fresh images of the lake every 30 minutes
Friends of Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake Company.- an authorized concessionaire of the National park
Service
Maps of Crater Lake National Park
- park map, road map, and three-dimensional map
Maps and Graphics - from the USGS/Cascades Volcano Observatory, Vancouver,
Washington
Oregon Tourism Commission
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (800) 452-5687
Online Highways - an online
guide to travel and recreation
Pacific Crest Trail Association -
protect, preserve and promote the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail
Southern Oregon Visitors Association (English edition)
Southern Oregon Visitors Association
(German edition)
