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Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake National Park is on the crest of the Cascade Range, 72 miles east of Medford off I-5 to SR 62; or, from Klamath Falls, take US 97 north 21 miles, then west on SR 62 for 29 miles. The park also can be reached from Roseburg by taking I-5 to SR 138E.
The park's centerpiece is Crater Lake, noted for its brilliant blue water. The lake is 6 miles long, 4.5 miles wide and 1,943 feet deep. Its 26-mile shoreline is encircled by lava cliffs that rise 500 to 2,000 feet. For much of the year snow covers the mountains and peaks that encircle the lake.
Until about 7,700 years ago, Mount Mazama, a 12,000-foot volcano, occupied the site of Crater Lake. Eruptions emptied the magma chamber beneath the mountain and caused the mountaintop to collapse, creating the caldera that now contains the lake. As volcanic activity slowed, springs, snow and rain began to fill the caldera, resulting in the formation of the nation's deepest lake.
Embracing three zones of vegetation, the park has about 680 species of plants and a variety of trees, including several types of hemlock, fir, pine and spruce. The park also is known for its wildflowers.
Small game is abundant; among the large mammals are black bears, elk and mule deer. More than 200 species of birds have been identified. It is forbidden to feed, tease or in any way molest bears or other wildlife, as they are potentially dangerous.
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