Crater Lake

Just under 2 hours northeast of Medford is Crater Lake. It's part of the National Park System and entry is $10/car, which is good for 7 days. It was formed when Mount Mazama erupted 7700 years ago, causing the mountain to collapse. Centuries of rain and snow filled the caldera, creating the lake. It's the deepest lake in the US with a depth of 1943 feet and it is amazingly blue. The park's north entrance is closed in the winter.

 

The rim drive circles the lake. From the west entrance at Annie Spring, drive north to the Steel Visitor Center, where you can view an informative video about the park. This is the view from Discovery Point on the west side of the lake.

 

From Discovery Point, look to the right to find Phantom Ship, one of 2 islands in the lake. (It's the tiny jagged island.)

 

The other island is Wizard Island. It's a volcanic cinder cone that can be accessed by boat tours

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