Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake National Park's foremost attraction is Crater Lake. Crater Lake was formed when Mount Mazama was destroyed by a volcanic eruption 7,700 years ago. It is estimated that this eruption was 42 times stronger then the blast from Mount Saint Helen's eruption. The result was a caldera which filled with water and became Crater Lake. The entire Mount Mazama lies within the boundaries of the park.

Crater Lake, at a depth of 1,943 feet, is the deepest lake in the United States and the seventh deepest lake in the world. The water in Crater Lake is very blue and this is due to the fact that it is exceptionally pure water. The average temperature is about 38 degrees but the lake has been known to warm up to as high as 56 degrees in the summertime.

There are two types of fish in the lake but neither are native. Rainbow Trout and Kokanee Salmon can both be fished in the lake. Crater Lake was stocked with fish in the late 1880's but these are the only two species that continue to survive in the lake. No fish are native to the lake.

While the park is open every day, all year, some roads and facilities may be closed in the winter due to the weather. http://www.nps.gov/crla/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm

Steel Visitor Center - Opens daily all year. It is located at park headquarters and provides exhibits and the 18 minute film entitled, "Crater Lake, The Mirror of Heaven".

Rim Visitor Center - Opens daily June through September. It is located at Rim Village and it also has exhibits available.

Mazama and Lost Creek Campground - Open from the middle of June through October as long as the weather permits. Lost Creek has 16 tent sites, water, flush toilets, picnic tables and firerings . Mazama Campground with 200 RV and tent sites provide running water, flush toilets, showers, laundry, picnic tables and more. Rates run between $10.00 to $16.00. http://www.crater.lake.national-park.com/camping.htm

Rim Drive - Open late June through October, weather permitting. A beautiful 33 mile driving with stunning views of Crater Lake. There are many overlooks along with interpretive signs. Two noteworthy overlooks are Kerr Notch and Sun Notch Viewpoints with scenes stretching to Phantom Rock and Wizard Island.

Other activities include: Day hikes, bicycling, scuba diving, ski trails, snowmobiling and backcountry.

Stories of the eruption of Mount Mazama still circulate among the native peoples in the area. Although it does not seem the area was a home to any one native tribe, it was a camping area as people passed through it. The native people did not share the stories of the vividly blue Crater Lake with Europeans as it was considered a holy place for them. So it wasn't until 1853, that some miners came across it and started telling of the "Deep Blue Lake". In 1893, William Steele saw the lake for the first time. He loved the beauty of the lake so much, he was moved to begin what would be the seventeen year task of seeing Crater Lake become a National Park. Crater Lake became one of the first National Parks on May 22, 1902.