Primitive camping seemed to be the price we paid for seeing Crater Lake, although my memories of primitive camping are becoming nostalgic again. It is a good thing I did a post on it so when I think I want to do primitive camping I can sharpen up that memory.

Crater Lake was formed around 7,000 – 8,000 years ago when Mount Mazama erupted with a big bang and then collapsed into itself. The lake that formed in the center is 1,949 feet deep (594 m), the deepest lake in the US and the 9th deepest in the world. The crater rim is 1,000 feet above the lake and the drive around the rim provides many places to stop to view the lake and surrounding mountains. Here is a gallery of my favorite photos from this area. I have provided short descriptions of some of them that you can read by clicking on any photo to enter the slide show.

The drive to Crater Lake was through beautiful redwood forest.

Vista on the morning drive.

Looking down at the lake from the rim.

The inside of the rim on the east side of Crater Lake.

This is Wizard Island. It is a volcanic crater rising 764 ft. (233 meters) above the water of Crater Lake. At the summit of Wizard Island is a crater 300 ft (90 meters) across.

Wizard Island

Driving along the southern part of the park, I looked up and this blue patch caught my eye. I realized that it was Crater Lake, with a deep valley between the rim and the mountain I was on. Seeing these trees growing up the side of the rim helped me fully comprehend the nature of this being a lake high up in the crater of a volcano. Amazing!