Article by Stefanie Payne. First published on The Greatest Road Trip.
“ A lake is a landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature. It is Earth’s eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature. — Henry David Thoreau, Walden
“ Crater Lake must be seen to be appreciated properly. Photographs simply cannot depict the majesty of the lake in its setting, the depth of the blue. — Thomas J. Williams, former Crater Lake NP superintendent, recalling his time at Crater Lake, shortly before his retirement, March 7, 1968.
Lodge by The Lake: Crater Lake National Park
Wizard Island rises from Crater Lake in the national park in southern Oregon.
Typically, our park write-ups are mostly focused on the natural area that inspired the protected parkland to be established in the first place. We wanted to switch it up for this one. Every now and again this year we’ve been struck by stunning features within our national parks built by craftsman to help enhance visitor appreciation… we’re talking about elegant carriage roads made of stone, park entrances carved from tall wooden tree logs, bridges constructed with rocks from mountain river bottoms, and most notably, national park lodges.
A select few of such historic lodges retain the old-time feeling that existed during the days of John Muir and Teddy Roosevelt (his legislation established Crater Lake.) Built in 1915, the Crater Lake Lodge is one hundred and one – one year older than the National Park Service – and it set the standard early on for what all future park lodges should strive to uphold in terms of character. Glimpse for a moment in your imagination what you think a park lodge experience might have looked like at the turn of the 20th century when Crater Lake National Park (the 5th park) was formed – whatever is in your mind, that’s this place! Well-to-do men and women wanting an adventure and also wanting to stay cozy by a fire with drink in hand…it’s pretty much the same today, just add neoprene zip-ups andiThings tethered to the hand. Times have changed, as have the souls, but it’s basically the same deal: accommodations that bring the outside in – the quintessence of a national park lodge.
The entrance pretty well takes your breath away with indigenous trees rising from the floor and rising through the roof of the lobby. In the next room, the Great Hall, a massive stone fireplace crackles warmth into the cozy parlor with sitting areas grouped together as though people are meant to sit together and – gasp – converse. Aside all of that, it is the kind of place that you want to wrap up in a cozy sweater and read a book, play a game, or edit and create National Park content while drinking Oregon wine and craft beer. Good luck wanting to leave, right? Not after you get a load of the lodge’s most impressive feature, the outside deck off of the Great Hall, where rocking chairs overlook the 7-700-year-old collapsed volcano turned lake (called a caldera) holding 4.6 trillion gallons of water. It is extremely still and reflective and impossibly blue.
The Great Hall at the Crater Lake Lodge. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon.
The patio at the Crater Lake Lodge overlooking the gem of the park.
To walk onto the back patio for the first time is sublime. Almost even more wonderful is hearing others’ reactions when they walk out for the first time – the oohs and aahs and “oh my Gods!” – it is one of the finest views anywhere in the world and to be able to see it just steps from your room is simply amazing in this day and age.
The peak season for this park is summer (June-October) when you can get onto the lake, explore areas with lake access, drive the full length of Rim Drive, and hike out on passes that aren’t rendered impassable by slushy melting snow. Even during the summer season you might meet up with some snow as a result of the high altitude (6,178 feet.) During the winter, exploring the area by snow machine, on skis, or on a secluded backcountry hike is pretty much the only way to get into the park and we can only imagine how breathtaking it would be in such a silent state. Regardless of when you plan to visit, look thoughtfully at the official Crater Lake National Park website prior to planning so that you know what areas will be open and ready to greet you upon arrival. Happy trails!
26 parks down, 33 to go!
Quotable Images
Did you know…
Crater Lake is known for it’s perfect reflection, a product of its depth, absence of silt, and also of streams flowing out to the sea. Water level is maintained by precipitation and snowmelt.
Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States, the second deepest in the Western Hemisphere, and the seventh deepest in the world. It contains 4.6 trillion gallons of water.
The water temperature varies between 38° at depth, and 60° on the surface in the summer. People make a point to jump into the lake, but there are only a couple of areas that it can safely be done. Attempt at your own risk!
The Klamath American Indian tribe believed the lake to be so deeply spiritual that only the wise were able to see it.
Crater Lake is designated by the National Park Service Dark Sky Team as one of the top 10 starriest areas in the park system.
A portion of the famed Pacific Crest Trail runs through Crater Lake National Park.
Rim Drive is the most accessible and popular way to explore the park, and is open for a remarkably short amount of time, just June to October.
There is a pumice desert in the park. It was formed by ash that flew with the eruption of Mount Mazama, the event that created the lake.
Remnants of the record snowfall this winter…in the middle of June.
Nature’s Rorschach test — reflection perfection at the deepest lake in the United States.
Looking for dark sky country? Head to Crater Lake!
During the winter 2015/2016 season, there was more snow at Crater Lake than ever before in the history of the National Park (101 years) – measuring 45 feet.
A 30-foot hemlock tree has been bobbing in the lake for over a century. It is called the “Old Man of the Lake.”
The most well-known island in the lake is Wizard Island, a volcano rising up from within the lake, so called for it’s resemblance of a … you guessed it, a wizard!
The last time the lake froze over was in 1949.
Crater Lake National Park has one of the shortest summer seasons of any national park. Located at 6,500’ elevation, snow covers the park for 9 months out of the year, from October to June. Crater Lake National Park Map
