My trip to Crater Lake National Park (and more)
Written: Aug 03 '00
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Pros: Accessible, beautiful, clean, remarkable terrain, good camping
Cons: None
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| Beauregard's Full Review: Crater Lake National Park |
My wife and I moved from Boston to Portland, OR 3.5 years ago and have forever since been talking about traveling to Crater Lake National Park. Finally, earlier this summer, we made the 5 hour drive south to the Park and with baited breath walked to the rim from the first viewing area we came upon.
As we crested the hill and took in the achingly beautiful blue water, sharp cliffs, dark green pine trees and the impossible Wizard Island straining above the lake's 2,000 foot depths, we realized we were very lucky to have this treasure within driving distance from our house. If you're interested in some of the pictures we took there, email me at rlbjr71@hotmail.com.
There is Rim Drive that you can drive around and take in every angle of the beautiful lake. Along the way are spots to pull over and get out, a grand Crater Lake Lodge, trails down to the water and just general natural beauty you usually only dream of seeing. Although we were there on a hot Saturday in July, we never felt like we were surrounded by tourists. It's not the type of park where you'll run into tour buses or screaming children. The scenery simply demands one's respect.
We camped at Mazama Campground, 4 miles south of the Lake. (There is no camping on the water allowed.) The Campground was great. Quiet, nice views, tent-only sections, clean water, hot showers and a quaint general store that sold food and supplies. It is a first-come, first-served system, but we had no problem finding a gorgeous camp site at 3:00 on Saturday. We were told it never fills except on 4th of July weekends. It costs $9 for a tent and car each night. There are bears in the area, so the campground provides tips and bear-proof trash cans. We saw several deer and loads of chipmunks too.
The area has very ashy soil, as a result of Mt. Mazama erupting thousands of years ago, so the creeks and rivers in the area (Rogue River and Deschutes River) cut enormous gorges in the landscape. As a result, Crater Lake National Park boasts some of the most unusual landscapes I've ever seen.
After our one night at Crater Lake, we drove 70 miles south on Route 62, following the Rogue River, to the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, OR. Ashland is just 20 miles north of the California border. The Shakespeare Festival has been running since the early 1900s and just received a $6 million donation from Paul Allen. That should keep it going for another hundred years. We saw Taming of the Shrew in the outdoor Elizabethan Theater and thoroughly enjoyed it. I highly recommend the Peerless Hotel in Ashland too. It was renovate 5 years ago and is a great brick building with unique rooms. Very romantic. The Peerless is within walking distance to the theater district.
All in all, this 3 day trip was short but chock full of wonderful experiences that only Oregon can provide.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Beauregard
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 - Top 500 |
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Location: Portland, Oregon
Reviews written: 129
Trusted by: 129 members
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