Crater Lake National Park, Oregon, United States

5California_momofsix 5:00 PM Oct 27, 2020

Stunning views at sunset
Wow! What a beautiful off the beaten path gem! The drive here is so worth it! We almost didn't take the detour because we were running behind on our roadtrip but I am so glad we made the effort. We arrived right at sunset and the views of the setting sun and rising moon over the lake were magical! Great picture spot. We felt like a million miles away from the ugly reality. We drove in from the north, coming from Bend and driving to Medford. We didn't make the full circle around the rim since the light was fading. Most of the tourist village there was still closed. The website mentioned an entry fee but when we arrived at the North entrance, the gate was open and there was nobody on duty to take our money, so we just kept driving. (Maybe it was free because of the late hour or due to Covid, not sure) We were virtually the only people there in a Saturday in July, so we felt very safe. Lots of room for social distancing. *We did make our trip before the wildfires hit the area and I don't know how much of the beautiful forests between Crater Lake and Medford are now destroyed. On our drive we drove through miles and miles of tall trees and it breaks my heart to think that all that has disappeared.*

5Melaney68 5:00 PM Oct 31, 2022

Dining, Hiking, and Lodging Considerations
I spent a week at Crater Lake and found myself truly falling in love with the entire place because we truly explored the entire perimeter. The entrance to the park had the most affordable restaurant, Annie Creek, with the most choices and a nice gift shop attached. The pizzas were probably the best deal as they were very large. Across the back parking lot you will also find a post office, a gas station, and a general store where you can check in for the Mazama cabins (make reservations early!) or the campground. We stayed in the cabins and they were roomy but did not have a refrigerator or microwave. The cabins closest to the general store had spotty wifi connectivity. The best connectivity was at or near the Annie Creek Restaurant or at the lodge. Once you drive up to the rim you will find another gift shop that has quick bites such as pork sandwiches, salads, and chicken fingers. The prices were a bit high so if you are on a budget bring food with you. There is a third shop that is more of a book store right on the rim. There are often ranger talks held there and there is a water filling station at that location. Trolley Tours were available for a fee and they will take you part of the way around the lake. Be sure to take some time to just sit on the rim and take it all in. It was hard for us to comprehend the incredible beauty of the blue water. Crater Village dead ends at the lodge which makes you feel as though you have gone back in time. I ate breakfast and dinner there for their buffet offerings. The breakfast buffet had the typical breakfast choices and the dinner buffet had prime rib,mac & cheese, a delicious apple, blue cheese, and walnut salad, and an empanda dessert that was excellent. I hiked Watchman's Tower twice and it is a must! You will get great photos from that altitude. I also recommend early morning and sunset pictures from Rim Village. We hiked Pinnacles Trail to the end and back. It actually takes you to the park boundary. The pinnacles were an interesting sight to explore. My favorite, and the most difficult hike, was the trek down to the lake called Cleetwood Cove Trail. (Use the bathrooms located in the parking area before you start the hike and bring hand sanitizer or wipes because there is not running water.) I went twice and highly recommend good shoes because of the incline and uneven ground. Pace yourself on this trail and make sure you have plenty of water. Fishing is an option as long as you only use lures and no bait. There were originally six species of fish introduced into the lake and two remain- the Kokanee Salmon and the Rainbow Trout. We saw the trout and they jumped at our lure but never took it. They were small so next time we would bring smaller lures. You also need to bring a bathing suit because you will want to tell all of your friends that you jumped in Crater Lake, or better yet into a volcano!