Crater Lake National Park – Unfiltered

On June 24, 2021, we arrived at Crater Lake National Park. It was a pleasant drive with some gorgeous scenery.

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Drove through WEED, CA.

I loved driving alongside Upper Klamath Lake.

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We arrived at Crater Lake National Park. Our plan was to stay at Mazama Village for three nights. This would allow plenty of exploration around the entire rim of the lake as well as multiple hikes.

I went inside to hopefully get a site for us while Barry disconnected the Jeep. The National Park website stated that there would be no reservations taken till July. Till then it was first come, first serve. Arriving on Thursday, we hoped that we were early enough to score a site large enough for us for all three nights.

I heard a lady ask a gentleman about his reservation number. “Reservation”?? Ok–that was regarding a cabin or yurt, that may be different. NOPE. it wasn’t! What the heck? Evidently the concessionaire service that Crater Lake uses to make the reservations started up early either a few days ago or a couple weeks ago. Seriously!?!? I said what the National Park website said, and her reply was, “Oh man, they were supposed to change that.” Who knows maybe they did recently update it, but we didn’t think we had any reason to check it again this last week or so. Evidently, you have to go instead to “travelcraterlake.com”.

Well, luckily there were 3 fifty-foot sites available for one night only! Friday and Saturday the large sites were completely booked. I could keep checking the website or check in the morning for a possible cancellation. We ended up parking in B16 for Thursday night (no hookups). After getting set up we went over to the outside patio at restaurant/gift shop with our laptops for the park WiFI to start checking for alternate options for Friday and Saturday. Nothing was working out, but time was getting away from us. If this was likely to be our only time here, we needed to get moving to check out Crater Lake as much as we can for the remainder of the day. We will check our options early in the morning.

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The site was HUGE! So much privacy. EACH site has a bear-proof container to store food safely outside, a fire ring and a picnic table. Since the roads are one way, it meant that our coach entry door opened opposite the main outdoor living part of the site, but it was still incredible. Sorry we won’t have more time to appreciate and use it.

CRATER LAKE:
We drove and parked at Rim Village where we walked part of the rim . Oh, my! The sapphire blue was truly breathtaking! The royal blue/sapphire blue that you see in pictures is spot on. It is not enhanced. That blue is totally unfiltered. Unfortunately, pictures still don’t do it justice. The grandeur that immerses you as you stand before the lake is illusive in two dimensional photographs.

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Crater Lake is not just a lake! A massive volcanic eruption occurred 7700 years ago. The eruption resulted in a huge hole or basin where that mountain once stood. The rain and snow that followed every year filled the basin, forming the lake we recognize today as Crater Lake. The blue is unmatched in color and clarity. Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the USA.

Facts about Crater Lake:
– 6.1 miles – greatest distance across
– 4.54 miles -shortest distance across
– 1,943 feet deep at deepest point
– Holds 4.9 trillion gallons of water
– Tallest point on the rim is 1,978 feet above the lake
– Lowest point on the rim is 507 feet above the lake

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l learned from the information below how they measure the water clarity.

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