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Crater Lake

Northwest,  USA

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Walkopedia rating87
(Top 100)
Beauty
35
Natural interest
 18
Human interest
 3
Charisma
 35
Negative points
 (4)
Total rating
 87
Note: Negs: popularity, some crowding

 Vital statistics

Length:
Some 35 km/day or less
Maximum Altitude: 2,440m
Level of Difficulty: Variable

Key information: Crater Lake

  • Extraordinary circular lake under deep cliffs, inside a crater left by a massive volcanic explosion.
  • The day walk (or less) around the crater rim is high in the mountains of Oregon, with magnificent views all around.
  • Beautiful changing colours of the lake far below you.


Walk summary

As with many of the world's best walks, Crater Lake is a bit freaky. A huge volcano, Mt Mazama, exploded catastrophically 7,700 years ago. Nothing especially unusual about that, but get this: it left a perfect crater rim, up to 9.7 km across, varying less than 300m in height in its entirety. Inside, beneath its cliffs, is a huge and very blue caldera lake, containing a new little ash cone. At 1,943 feet (592 meters) deep, Crater Lake is the seventh deepest lake in the world and the deepest in the United States.

 

Initially christened "Deep Blue Lake" by John Wesley Hillman, the first European American to lay eyes on it in 1853, Crater Lake has long been sacred to the Klamath tribe of Native Americans, who may have witnessed the explosion of Mount Mazama and the development of Crater Lake.

 

Due to several unique factors, most notably that it has no tributaries or inlets, the waters of Crater Lake are some of the purest in North America.

 

At 2,440m (8,000 ft), Crater Lake is the highest point for mile around; look one way and see the serried uplands of Oregons Cascade range; turn around and you are gazing across this wonder of nature.

 

You can walk round the lake in a day, enjoying the changing light and new angles; or make shorter expeditions if you prefer: the choice is yours.  There are many places to walk, depending on how you feel; the paths tend to wind through the pine forest of the outer slopes, emerging regularly to breathtaking views on the crater rim.  One of the best of the shorter walks is the one hour round trip from the Crater Lake Lodge to the peak to its south, the highest point of the rim, to discover the areas best views.

 

The air is thinning here, so be prepared to be a bit breathless. 

 

Up to 500,000 people come here each year.  High times can be crowded.

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Practical information for walking in Northwest, USA, Crater Lake

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Responsible travel matters, a lot. How you travel will make a real difference - for better or worse. PLEASE consider this when making plans. Read more