Trifter

Crater Lake is a special place. Maybe because I love the color blue, and Crater Lake boasts a fabulous color of blue second to none, or maybe because it is the deepest lake in the United States of America, a whopping 1943 feet deep. Either way, it is a place with mind-boggling beauty because of mind-boggling geographical features.

Image via Wikipedia

We drove first to Cleetwood Cove, on the north side of the crater, where we took a trail to a dock at the bottom. What a hike! Because the banks of the crater are steep, the long hiking trail went back and forth like a zigzag all the way down for about a mile. Thankfully, there were a few places to stop and catch our breath. We enjoyed the hike very much, but I want to warn you, especially if you have kids, that it can be tiring and hot.

As we neared the bottom, the blue became more and more vibrant through the trees. No other lake I have seen even comes close to the color of blue that shimmered in the water below. It wasn’t one solid color, but a mixture. It was, maybe, a bit closer to some of the ocean blues I have seen in the South Pacific, where the turquoise and midnight blue are like a transparent liquid jewel.

We were heading to the dock, since we had signed up in advance for a boat ride out to a small piece of land named Wizard Island, a unique place of its own in the middle of the deep blue. Once on the island, our plan was to hike another couple miles to the top of the island, which is itself a small volcanic crater. Unfortunately, after boarding and getting part way there, the boat had engine trouble and we were forced to turn around without ever setting foot on the island. Well, maybe someday we can try again.

WIZARD ISLAND:

Image via Wikipedia

Besides Wizard Island, there is another tiny island in Crater Lake called “Phantom Ship.” It is pretty cool looking since it is quite sharp and narrow.

Image via Wikipedia

While driving around the lake, we met a snow plow with fresh white snow on it’s blade. As we drove further, snow banks appeared on either side of the car, taller than me. Why was this strange? Because it was the middle of July!

The National Park Service manages Crater Lake National Park. One piece of advice is to check their site for information regarding road closures. Due to the geography, snow is common even in what we would call summer, and not just a couple inches of snow, but lots and lots of it. According to the National Park Service, the park gets an average of 533 inches a year! No kidding! The melted snow is one of the sources of water that fills the crater.

Image via Wikipedia

The scenery was truly magnificent. The mesmerizing blue surrounded by a rugged rim of stone and trees was exquisite. I am writing this and realizing there is really no way to communicate to you just how unique that clear blue water is. All the adjectives in the world don’t do it justice. You’ll just have to go and see it for yourself.

Other Amazing Places to Visit:

• The World’s Largest Aquarium
• Cape Canaverl National Seashore
• Duluth’s Aerial Lift Bridge