National Parks Passport Part - 7 : Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake Visit was supposed to be a family visit scheduled back in 2020 Memorial Day Weekend. But the whole world faced unprecedented times and got stranded in the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic we ever thought of that squeezed the whole world gradually in it's arms. We had to cancel our scheduled visit and the booking with AirB&B. It took us exactly a year to reschedule the same visit with a little hesitation and fear at the back of our minds to step out of our home. As the restrictions were loosened and the doors opened for the fully vaccinated people, we dared to take a step forward and drove down to Mount Shasta as our base location to cover Crater Lake National Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park and the tourist spots around Mt. Shasta. 

We booked a Air B & B at McCloud (City of 1000 just 9 miles away for Mt. Shashta). Unfortunately the weather was not supportive because of a severe heat wave in North-West and just few minutes back when we arrived at Mt. Shashta the wild fires begun. We could see the fire blow from Lake Siskiyou beach area. The fire was named as Lava Fire as the smoke patten coming out resembled to the smoke when Lava Erupts. The wild fires were because of excessive heat. 

Lava Fire

Lake Siskiyou is a scenic lake and has various vista points, including the one known as "Mirror Lake" where one can see Mount Shashta image in the lake. There is a designated campsite with the electric hookups, cabins around the waterfront, boating activities. There is an entrance fee to enter Lake Siskiyou beach area and same entrance serves as an entrance to the campsite. 

https://lakesiskiyouresort.com/

Mt. Shashta from Lake Siskiyou 

There few more to dos around Mt. Shasta area:

Upper Falls and Lower Falls which are around Mc Cloud area. Mc Cloud is located at a convenient location with the local grocery shops and restaurants just at the Shashta foothills. So great gateway to the ski park. We could locate Mt. Shasta easily even when we stepped out of our Air B & B. 

Mt. Shashta

Burney Falls:

McArthur Burney Falls State Park is another must visit within a half an hours drive enroute Lassen National Forest. The state park has $10 entrance fee. This is another cascade that soothens the rocketing temperatures as you reach closer and closer. There is a sudden drop in the temperature once we reach down the actual falls. The cascade water is deep green, crystal clear. It's a great relief and relaxing feel to have cascade water sprinkles on you. 

McArthur Burney Falls

Crater Lake:

https://www.nps.gov/crla/planyourvisit/directions.htm

Here is a short background behind Crater Lake formation:

Half a million years ago, a volcano began to grow here and each eruption created new layer of lava and ash to the surface ending up into an outcome of "Mount Mazama". Around 7700 years ago Mt. Mazama had the biggest eruption ever which led to a big hole beneath the volcano where all the lava was. The top of the Mt. Mazama fell right down into the hole and the mountain disappeared! Rain and snow began to fill up the empty crater and the depth pf the water reached 2000 ft! Exactly same time small eruption formed Wizard Island. 

Crater Lake in Oregon State is located at around a 3 hrs drive from Mc cloud This National Park is a one day visit unless one needs to do more hiking trails and explore the park at own pace. There is a $30 entrance fee during summer for the private vehicles which can be booked online. If you are national park passholder then the pass covers the park fees. 

https://www.recreation.gov/sitepass/2647

The park is open year round but during winter the rim roads (East Rim and West Rim) are closed due to the snow. The Rim Village Visitor Center is right across the lake view and few more scenic view points. The east and west rims are generally opened by the end of June subject to the snow conditions and the snow on the trails. The Watchman Post Lookout Point is the best watch point to have an overall lake view in one go. It's a one stop shop. The trail is little steep (1.6miles round trip) and it's suggested to carry water as there is no water fountain enroute. 

Watchman Post Lookout on the top of the mountain

Wizard Island from Watchman Post Lookout Point

Cleetwood Clove is the only legal access to the lake shore. It's a steep and strenuous hike of 1.1miles with a drop of 700ft. in elevation. The boating and fairy activities are halted due to COVID-19 Pandemic and also with the biological scientist experiments going around in the lake. The boat tours are available during July-October. 

There are two more scenic lookouts right across the Rim Village Visitors Center. The Sinnott memorial Overlook is one of them. 

View from Sinnott Memorial Overlook

For the Junior Rangers there is a special program designed by the National Park rangers. It's designed for the ages 6-12. Kids can participate in the program and complete atleast 8 pages in the activity book to get the Crater Lake Junior Rangers Badge. It's a great way to introduce our kids to the National Parks and get mingled. That way they can get closer to the nature and also understand the urge behind conservation of ecosystem and our national parks. After completing the activity book, kids need to submit it with the park ranger at teh visitors center office (At present at the entrance to Sinnott Lookout Point) and answer the questions asked by the park ranger. The badge is awarded after the oath ceremony. 

Crater Lake is a real deep blue and the purest, untouched, preserved form of water. The beauty differs by the season. Oregon is really blessed with a Sapphire bounty in it's heart!