Crater Lake, 29 July 2010, Mill Race River, Good-bye to the Park

Yet another river outside Prospect is Mill Race River. We stopped for supper at Prospect Cafe and headed back to Crater Lake National Park for a few hours sleep before we started our trip home in the pre-dawn hours.
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Crater Lake, 29 July 2010, Annies Creek Canyon Loop Trail

We saw a deer in the campground on our way to the trailhead.
Annie Creek Canyon Loop Trail is a 1.7 mile loop trail with a change in elevation of 200 ft. Two-hundred feet may not sound like much until the first time you peak over the side of the trail and see one of the last switchbacks at the canyon floor.
It is a moderately strenuous trail through a deep, stream cut canyon. The moderately strenuous part comes on the way back up.
Lots of water and wildflowers. The creek provides the park’s drinking water. There are also some springs on hillsides. Don spotted a frog.
The pumice on trail is dusty. I prefer to end a dusty trail with an ice cream sandwich instead of a shot of whiskey that cowboy movies appear to encourage.

Click Crater Lake, 29 July 2010, Annies Creek Canyon Loop Trail for more photos of this trail.

Crater Lake, 29 July 2010, Godfrey Glen Trail

Godfrey Glen Canyon Trail is 1 mile long with a change in elevation of 50 feet. The Visitors Guide characterizes it as an easy stroll through old-growth forest, with some scenic canyon views. This is supposed to be accessible to wheelchairs with assistance. I hope the assistant is strong. There is one sharp turn up an incline that I imagine getting traction in the soft pumice soil might take some effort.
There are views of the fossil fumaroles that are revealed by the erosion of Annies Creek and Munson Creek.

Click Crater Lake, 29 July 2010, Godfrey Glen Trail for more photos.

Crater Lake, 29 July 2010, Castle Crest Trail

Castle Crest Trail is 0.5 mile with change in elevation of 100 feet. The flowers along this trail are nourished by springs emerging from the hillside. The trail is rocky and slippery in places. There are abundant wildflowers.

Click Crater Lake, 29 July 2010, Castle Crest Trail for more photos.

Crater Lake, 29 July 2010, Lady of the Woods Trail

When you travel to national parks, I highly recommend you walk on as many trails as possible to see for yourself how different these places are from where we live. I also recommend you visit the displays and watch the short movies available in the Visitor Center.
Lady of the Woods Trail is a 0.5 mile loop around Park Headquarters with 120 feet change in elevation, The trail's name refers to a sculpture of a woman carved into a boulder along the trail.

Click Crater Lake, 29 July 2010, Lady of the Woods Trail for more photos of the trail.

Crater Lake, 29 July 2010 Wildflowers at Vidae Falls

I took more pictures of the wildflowers at Vidae Falls.
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Crater Lake, 28 July 2010, Watching Phantom Ship and Sunset

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Crater Lake, 27 July 2010, After the rainstorm

If you have ever been on a photo safari with my husband, you will remember times you waited while he pushed some limits in order to get the shot.
Daughter remembers him standing in the middle of the road in Las Vegas while she had to scream, "The traffic light changed."
The rest of us remember many times we remain on the trail while he scurries out to some point or up to some point we don't feel comfortable walking to.

Since we had a free afternoon, after the cancellation of our trip on Wizard's Island, my husband wanted to return to some viewpoints for additional shots closer to the edge. Maybe he will show his photos later.
Click Crater Lake, 27 July 2010, After the rainstorm for more photos.

Crater Lake, 26 July 2010 Sunset photos

Sitting on the wall of this viewpoint was peaceful,quiet enough to hear my own heartbeat.
Breathe in;
breathe out;
enjoy this meditation;
be at peace.
Click Crater Lake, 26 July 2010 Sunset photos for more photos.

Crater Lake, 26 July 2010, Pumice Desert

I found the thought of the Pumice Desert scary. The area now called Pumice Desert was seven miles from Mt. Mazama during the eruption. Even after 7,700 years, very little vegetation grows because the soil lacks vital nutrients. Lack of water is not a problem in this desert as there is plenty of water under ground.
Click Crater Lake, 26 July 2010, Pumice Desert for more photos.

Crater Lake, 25 July 2010, Watchman Peak Trail

Watchman Peak Trail is a moderate 1.4- mile hike round-trip. A trail was cut through the snow. The peak's historic fire lookout was built in 1932, and it is still staffed at times by rangers today.
Click Crater Lake, 25 July 2010, Watchman Peak Trail for more pictures.

Crater Lake, 25 July 2010, Rim Village, Discovery Point

After lunch at Crater Lake Lodge, we walked on a paved trail behind the lodge and then headed the other direction to view Crater Lake from Sinnott Memorial. Many displays of information helped us identify Devil's Backbone, a 1300ft long ribbon of lava. We started our Rim Drive again and stopped at Discovery Point. The bird we later identified as Clark's Nutcracker was large and imposing.
Click Crater Lake, 25 July 2010, Rim Village, Discovery Point to see more photos.

Crater Lake, Kerr Notch

Kerr Notch is the second glacial valley from which Phantom Ship can be viewed. It disappears into the reflection.
Pumice Castle
Cloudcap is the highest elevation on Rim Drive at 7685 ft.
Mt. Scott is the highest mountain in the park.
We ate lunch at Crater Lake Lodge dining room.
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Crater Lake, waterfalls along Rim Drive and Pinnacles Trail

Not all waterfalls along Rim Drive are named. The average snowfall is 530 inches and it provides water for some spectacular waterfalls in midsummer.
Erosion exposed The Pinnacles whose walls were cemented by heat and chemical actions. The Pinnacles Trail went along the edge of the cliff out of the national park and into a National Forest.
Click Crater Lake, waterfalls along Rim Drive and Pinnacles Trail for more pictures.

Crater Lake, July 25, Sun Notch Trail

Sun Notch is one of two glacial valleys of the original Mt. Mazama that were truncated when the volcano exploded about 7,700 years ago. It is a pleasant 0.5 mile up to the rim from where we have a good view of Phantom Ship on Crater Lake.
Click Crater Lake, July 25, Sun Notch Trail for more pictures.

Crater Lake, July 25, Vidae Falls

We began the second day with a plan to tour East Rim Drive with several stops for photos and walks. This was our first stop.
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Crater Lake July 24, 2010

Our vacation began with flights from Dayton to Chicago, to San Francisco and to Medford, Oregon. In Medford we rented the car for the drive to Mazama Village Motor Inn which is inside Crater Lake National Park. We could not wait to take a quick ride on the Rim Drive for quick views from some of the scenic viewpoints. Click Crater Lake July 24, 2010 for more photos.

Crater Lake National Park and Vicinity by Jeffrey P. Schaffer


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I learned the hikes are strenuous and steep, and there are likely to be lots of mosquitos.

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