Visiting Crater Lake National Park has been on my bucket list for awhile. Since moving from Washington to the Bay Area in CA, I say outloud everytime we drive between the two places that some day we would visit Crater Lake. FINALLY!! When moving my daughter back to colleget this past fall, we made it happen.

The way there

When I planned the drive, I considered two different routes, 1) cut off at Weed, CA and drive up the central part of the state, and stay in Klamath Falls; or 2) stay on I-5 and stay in Medford. The decision was made based on the price of hotels! First, lodging in the National Park was full, so that option was out. And, I did not have room in the car to take camping equipment, so that option was out. Hotels in Medford were slim pickings, but we found a Best Western in White City, on the highway towards Crater Lake. The hotel included free breakfast, and you know I love free breakfast!! The hotel was basic, nothing exciting.

We got there just in time for dinner and we had multiple people tell us to eat at Kaleidoscope Pizzeria & Pub. They were sure right! Great pizza and fun mocktails (you will quickly learn I do not drink and love me a good mocktail!!).

Crater Lake National Park Logistics

The next morning we drove out to the park. I let my daughter drive, and I think we both regretted that later! It was definitely kinda scary on the narrow two lane road at times. But, this allowed me to take it all in! It was SO beautiful to be out in the woods of the Pacific Northwest again.

When we arrived I debated paying the $80 to get my annual National Park pass. My daughter talked me out of it, and as you will learn, I regret that too! I have since visited two other National Parks (yes, I did eventually get the pass!). I instead paid the $35. We were there on a Thursday, and in mid-September, so it was not very busy and there was no line at the ticket booth.

BEAUTY!!

I think this is one of my favorite National Parks (and I have visited quite a few). The color and stillness of the lake was just beautiful!!

Getting Around

We decided to drive around, mainly because the trolleys were full! There is a trolley that takes you on a two hour trip around the lake. When we were there, parts of the road were closed, so you could not drive a complete loop around the lake. In the summer, you can also do boat tours. Here is more about the Trolley and Boat Tours. On our bucket list, is now visiting Crater Lake again, and taking a boat tour. There is an option to be dropped off at Wizard Island (picture below) to explore!

Hiking and Exploring

After visiting the lodge and visitors centers, we did some driving. We went to the other side of the lake to the Phantom Ship Overlook. The rock formations look like a phantom ship! We saw a small waterfall on the way, then we did a 2 mile hike to Plaikni Falls. The hike was easy, for the first part. The last 1/4 mile was a bit of a climb. The first 3/4 of a mile is also accessible, and I would imagine full of wild flowers in the spring and early summer.

The weather was so perfect, jeans and t-shirts! It has been a little cold up by the like, but then once we were hiking it was perfect. I did end up having to get my daughter some long sleeves!

We will be back

This is most definitely a National Park I will get back to. I love to stay in the lodge or camp and spend more time, without the drive to and from Medford. It is a small park, so just SO beautiful!

**Side note, enjoy the last picture! My daughter is a little more tech savvy then me, and we put the phone on the ground and filmed a video of us being silly. She then cropped pictures out of the video! **