Did you know that Crater Lake is America’s deepest lake? I had no idea before visiting this spectacular natural wonder. I also didn’t know how incredibly blue the water would be in real life! Crater Lake has been one of the coolest places I have visited in a long time. Between the deep turquoise water that fills the deep bowl, to the steep cliffs that encompass the water making the views from the edge even more breathtaking and dramatic, this national park in the middle of Oregon is unmatched.

This lake is not only offers amazing views, but there is a plethora of activities you can do at the lake as well. If you’re just looking to head to the lake for a day to check it out, then simply driving around the rim road is a great way to see the entirety of the lake from different viewpoints and pullouts along the way. The rim road is 33 miles long and has 30 overlooks! You can easily spend a whole day touring the lake simply from your vehicle.

If you’re feeling more adventurous during your trip to the park there are tons of other activities to do that include:

• Boat tour to Wizard Island

• Trolley tour

• Hiking down to Cleetwood Cove (the only access point to the water, but keep in mind this is a steep trail and definitely challenging on the way back up!)

• Fishing- yes, there are fish in this lake! The park service actually encourages people to fish here because the fish are not native to the lake.

• Swimming- oh boy it’s chilly, but there is something so refreshing about swimming in the crystal blue water.

• Tons of trailheads- visit the visitor center to get maps and talk to rangers about which trails may be best for you.

• Rim Village walking tour

• Scavenger Hunts

• Bicycling

• Pumice Desert

• Backcountry camping – visit https://www.nps.gov/crla/planyourvisit/backcountry_camping.htm for permits and further information.

We highly recommend catching the sunrise or sunset during your stay, but bundle up because it gets cold even in the summertime during the early mornings and evenings.