Experiencing Crater Lake in Oregon: Podcast Show Notes

 

Welcome to Experiences you should Have. Your how-to guide for amazing experiences. Today we are journeying to a very special place called Crater Lake.

 

 

My First Visit to Crater Lake

I live in Bend, Oregon, which is in central Oregon and I have made an annual trip to Crater Lake the last 9 years. The first time I went to Crater Lake, I had my friend Ben drive, so I could be the one looking out the window, plus he had seen it before.

 

It took about 2 hours to get there from Bend (99 miles) and after we checked into the gate (and paid our $10), we drove a little further and then we stopped at a lookout at the top of the hill. I got out of the car and there in front of me was the deepest most amazing blue I have ever seen in my entire life.

 

The vastness of Crater Lake and the deep blue I saw in front of me took my breath away. The wind started to pick up and then a chipmunk appeared below my feet and started to scurry around looking for food. But that moment, being in front of this deep blue caldera, changed me. It made me appreciate Oregon in a new way.

 

You may or may not know what a Caldera is, but a caldera is a crater left behind after a volcanic eruption. Water filled this giant caldera after Mt. Mazama erupted in 2290 BC. When I stood at the top of Crater Lake and scanned across and looked at the perimeter and realized the power and intense eruption that must have happened.

 

What Caused Crater Lake?

 

A giant, earth-shattering eruption of Mt. Mazama created what know as Crater Lake today. The eruption happened 7,700 years ago and it began from a single vent on the northeast side of Mt. Mazama. When the eruption hit, it was a true eruption that you might think of in your head. Ash and pumice burst into the air, reaching as high as 30 miles above the ground. Mazama ash has been found in Oregon, California, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, Utah, and even in multiple Canadian provinces (Wikipedia).

 

Why Should You Visit Crater Lake?

 

There’s something about looking at the deep blue water of Crater Lake (which is the deepest lake in the United States and 9th deepest in the world), that makes you realize how powerful nature is, and calming at the same time. Here this beautiful tranquil deep blue lake with a depth of 594 ft came from a mighty eruption more than 7,000 years ago. To stand there at the edge of the Caldera brings a new perspective on life and the power of mother nature.

 

 

When is the best time to go to Crater Lake?

The lake is open year-round, however not all the entrances are open year-round and you can only drive completely around the lake starting around early July through September and sometimes early October. I would recommend visiting Crater Lake in mid to late July because fire season starts in Oregon in mid to late August and goes through September. You can check the latest road and entrance conditions here.

 

You will want to plan your trip on a sunny day and on a day where the clouds are higher than the top of Crater Lake. We’ve gone to Crater Lake where clouds have covered the entire Caldera and had to wait more than a day for the clouds to clear (check out the video below). Crater Lake is around 6,000-foot elevation, so you want the clouds to be higher than 6,000 feet, so plan accordingly.

 

Can you Camp at Crater Lake?

Yes and no.