We only had one full day in Crater Lake National Park, but luckily it’s a good park to appreciate in one day. The main attraction is, of course, the lake. It was formed about 8,000 years ago when Mount Mazama erupted and caused the mountain to shatter and collapse into itself, which formed a massive caldera surrounded by cliffs. The caldera gradually filled with melted snow and rain. The water in the lake is perfectly pure and up to 1,943 feet deep – making it the deepest lake in the United States. It’s also stunning.
We hiked down the steep Cleetwood Cove trail, which is the only access point to the lake. We dipped our legs into the icy cold water. We had a picnic lunch and were joined by some cheeky birds. We had a campfire and made Jiffy Pop. We hiked to Watchman Peak. We loved the stunning views and the cute chipmunks darting around. At the end of the road trip, Crater Lake stood out as one of the most beautiful places we visited.
Here are some photos from our time hiking and camping in this spectacularly beautiful park.
