Cleetwood
Trail is found along Rim Drive, at mile 10.7, with a
steep, one-mile descent and a strenuous one-mile climb
back to the rim. The trail leads to the water's edge, to
the landing for the hourly boat tour which includes a
visit to Wizard Island.
Wizard
Island Summit Trail offers a short climb, especially
valuable to those who want to climb a mountain without
spending too much time, or expending much effort. It
begins at the island dock and leads through the hemlock
and fir forest, rising to the subalpine wildflower level,
and then to superb lake and rim views from the top.
You'll find whitebark pines at the summit.
Annie
Creek Trail begins behind the amphitheater at Mazama
Campground, and leads along a loop that is less than two
miles long. It runs through wildflower meadows, to the
bottom of a canyon, and ascends to the trailhead.
The
Mount Scott Trail is found at mile 17 along Rim
Drive. The one-way hike is 2.5 miles long, climbing to
the highest point in the park. The peak has an elevation
of 8,926 feet. It provides a view of the south shore of
the lake, and a vast panorama of most of southern Oregon.
On a clear day, Mount Shasta is in full view, across the
California border. You should also be able to see, near
the western edge of the park, an isolated bog of spaghnum
moss, which has its own closed ecosystem, including four
species of insect-eating plants: two sundews and two
bladderworts. You'll also see the headwaters of the Rogue
River, at Boundary Springs.
Garfield
Peak Trail starts behind Crater Lake Lodge, and
climbs to the peak's summit, a climb of about 1,700 feet.
This summit also offers views of Mount Shasta and park
landmarks.
The
Castle Crest Trail Wildflower Trail provides a
half-mile loop walk through a vividly colored meadow, and
leads up a nearby hillside. It begins with a short walk
through the fir and hemlock forest, and then enters the
meadows, which are ribbed with several streams, nurturing
the water-loving plants which include monkeyflower,
larkspur, violet, and corn lily. The hillside is dryer,
with another set of plants, including paintbrushes,
penstemon, phlox, and gilia.
Pacific
Crest Trail
Access:
To
hike the entire Crater Lake National Park section of the
trail, a 33-mile excursion of several days, you have to
start outside the park. At the north, the trail crosses
State Route 138 (the road from Bend and U.S. Highway 97),
at a point east of the North Entrance Station, on the
park boundary. From the south, it is necessary to link up
with the trail in the Winema National Forest. See the
Forest Service for precise instructions on how to drive
to the trail.
The
Trail:
From
north to south, the trail enters the park and leads for
ten miles through a desert area, with thick pumice and
ash deposits. The trail crosses the north entrance road
about two miles from the lake, and heads east, past
Red Cone, with an intersection with the
backcountry trail to Boundary Spring, the
headwaters of the Rogue River.
From
the junction, the Pacific Crest Trail heads south, over a
series of hills, and through several creek valleys,
linking with the Lightening Springs Trail, leading for
another five miles to meet the trail from Rim Village.
The main trail snakes southward to Annie Spring, crossing
State Route 62, and continuing south. A spur trail leads
west to Union Peak (el. 7,698).
The
main trail continues to meet two more spur trails: to
Bald Top (el. 7,698), and another at Pumice Flat, which
connects with the south entrance road. This connecting
trail is about three miles long. The park boundary with
the national forest is about 1.5 miles south of the
junction with the two spur trails.
There
are three park spur trails that connect Rim Drive with
the Pacific Crest Trail. The Annie Spring Cutoff
Trail (0.6 mile) leads from the Annie Spring entrance
station area. Dutton Creek Trail is a 2.4-mile
spur trail that leads from Rim Village.
Lightning
Springs Trail (4 miles) leads from Rim Drive near The
Watchman. There are two park locations where roads cross
the Pacific Crest route. In the south part of the park,
the trail intersects State Route 62, west of the Annie
Spring Entrance Station. The north entrance road also
connects with the trail, north of the junction with Rim
Drive. From here, you can hike in a counter-clockwise
direction, coming out at Annie Springs, or using one of
the three spur trails to reach Rim Drive.
Staying
In the Park
Crater
Lake Lodge and Mazama Village Motor Inn
Summer:
P.O. Box 128, Crater Lake OR 97604, (541) 830-8700
Off-Season:
P.O. Box 2704, White City OR 97503, (541) 830-8700
Crater
Lake Lodge, one of the finest of the old national
park hotels, has been completely rebuilt and re-opened in
1995. It features comfortable rooms and dining
facilities, open from early June to mid-September.
Mazama
Village Motor Inn has standard motel-style units and
a restaurant, adjacent to the Mazama Campground, on Rim
Drive. This motel-style facility is open from mid-May to
early October.
Crater
Lake Camping
Mazama
Campground, the main camping facility in the park, is
open from mid-June to mid-September, with sites for
tents, trailers and RVs. The campground, near the Annie
Springs Entrance Station, has a store, showers, and
laundry.
Lost
Creek Campground, with sites for tents only, is open
from early July to late August.
Near
the Park
Diamond
Lake Resort, Diamond Lake Recreation Area
Diamond OR 97731, (541) 793-3333
This
sizable resort has rooms, including some with
kitchenettes, in a scenic area located about five miles
from the north entrance to Crater Lake National Park, off
Highway 138 (from Roseburg). You can also get there by
taking Highway 230. To use this route, start in Medford
or Klamath Falls by taking State Route 62, then turning
north onto State Route 230. There is a restaurant on-site
($ to $$).
Fort
Creek Resort, P.O. Box 457, Ft. Klamath OR 97626,
(541) 381-2349 (seasonal)
This
operation is open May through September. It includes
cabins, including some with kitchenettes, and a swimming
pool ($).
Spring
Creek Ranch Motel, H.C. 63, P.O. Box 440
Chiloquin OR 97624, (541) 783-2775
Chiloquin
is a tiny community, situated southeast of Crater Lake
National Park, a few miles southeast of Ft. Klamath,
reached by taking a sideroad from either U.S. 97 (from
Klamath Falls), or State Route 62, which links Medford
with the Park and U.S. 97. This small motel has standard
rooms and units with kitchenettes, and the kind of very
resonable rates you would expect from a small motel in a
tiny village ($).
Union
Creek Resort, Prospect OR 97536, (541)
560-3565
All
of the tourist accommodations near Crater Lake are small
outfits, with rustic or semi-rustic cabins and rooms.
This place has more cabins than most, including several
with kitchenettes, and rooms with shared baths. The
resort operates a restaurant. Prospect is located between
Grants Pass and Crater Lake, on State Route 62. ($ to
$$).
Wood
River Motel, P.O. Box 468, Ft. Klamath OR 97626
(541) 381-2321
This
small motel is located 20 miles southeast of the south
entrance to Crater Lake National Park. It has standard
units, several with kitchenettes ($).
Camping
Outside Crater Lake Park
The
U.S. Forest Service has campgrounds surrounding Crater
Lake National Park, in its national forests.
Farewell
Bend and Union Creek Campgrounds are located
just off State Route 62, southwest of the park. Union
Creek is found near the junction of State Route 62 and
State Route 230. Farewell bend is located a few miles
south of Union Creek.
There
is a state park and a forest service campground off U.S
97, southeast of the national park, just north of
Chiloquin.
Collier
State Park has a large campground, to the west of the
highway, with water, RV hookups, showers, dump station,
and hiking trails.
Williamson
River Campground (Forest Service) is a small, more
basic operation, with drinking water and hiking trails in
the Klamath National Forest.
There
are three Forest Service campgrounds at Diamond Lake,
located about four miles due north of the park.
Theilsen
View Campground (the farthest north of the three
facilities) has drinking water, hiking trails and a boat
ramp. This is a small facility.
Diamond
Lake Campground is a huge operation, also on the
lake, with upgraded services, including water, showers,
dump station, hiking trails, and boat ramp.
Broken
Arrow Campground, at the junction of State Routes 230
and 138, is another large campground, with water,
showers, dump station, trails, and boat ramp.
The
U.S. Forest Service has published a campground directory
that provides details on these and other campgrounds.
Send a check for $4.95 to U.S. Forest Service, 333 S.W.
First Avenue, Portland OR 97204. To obtain other
information on USFS campgrounds, call (503)
326-2877.
Return
to Page 1
