Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake National Park, established in 1902, is the fifth oldest national park in the United States and the only one in the state of Oregon.  The park encompasses the caldera of Crater Lake, a remnant of a destroyed volcano, Mount Mazama, and the surrounding hills and forests. The lake is 1,943 ft. deep at its deepest point,  which makes it the deepest lake in the United States, the second deepest in North America and the ninth deepest in the world.  The caldera rim ranges in elevation from 7,000 to 8,000 feet with the lake surface at 6,178 ft. Crater Lake has no streams flowing into or out of it. All water that enters the lake is eventually lost from evaporation or subsurface seepage. The lake's water commonly has a striking blue hue, and the lake is re-filled entirely from direct precipitation in the form of snow and rain.

Crater Lake Lodge was opened in 1915 

View of the lake from the Lodge porch.

Wizard Island 

We drove partly around the lake, section of the road was closed for repair. The following pictures show some of the spectacular views!

Vidae Falls, about 2 miles south of the lake on the rim road.

View of Phantom Ship Island

Trying to capture steep grade of the surface between the rim and lake surface, 1000 ft+

Crater on Wizard Island

Grouse Hill north of the Lake

These guys were having a great time, of course they were looking for handouts

We decided the best way to see and learn more about the lake was to take a Ranger lead boat tour.  In order to reach the dock you had to hike down to Cleetwood Cove, 1.1 miles with 700 ft. elevation change.  Of course you need to return up the same trail!

Can't believe this rock didn't take out these trees!

Approaching the cove the colors of the water becomes more defined.

Our tour boat!

Just spectacular views from the boat. 

Blue water!!!!

The brown / tan area is pumice, a fine stilt, from the volcano.  Because of the nature of this pumice vegetation finds it difficult to grow.   

This thin plate stands about 150 ft. tall and 20 ft. wide 

This is a museum located on the cliff adjacent to the lodge. 

This is device used to measure visibly depth of the water.

Snow is still melting up high and feeding the lake with water.

Approaching Phantom Ship Island

There is a rock shelf which is about 50 ft. deep.

Pumice Castle sets mid-way up the east side of the lake's border.  

Upward climb from the tour, just a few more steps!

A few views from Watchman Peak, 8,013 ft.

Looking southwest from the Lake into the valley

Looking northwest, see how the pumice has prevented vegetation growth

Original device (1886) used to measure the depth of the lake at 1,996 feet , the modern official depth of 1,932 feet  was made in 1953 by sonar.