Covered wagon monument

Information stop built as a tribute to the Oregon Trail travelers. We’ve been here before…

Check out the photos from the last time we were here.

Dayville, OR

We have been this way before. In 2015 we stayed in the tiny town of Mitchell Oregon. There was a café that had awesome burgers and even better milkshakes. We passed through again primarily for the milkshakes, but the café was closed. There’s more in the tiny town now than there used to be, but no options for lunch without sitting outside in 105°. We decided to push on and ended up in Dayville at the café. The food was great and we had a delicious peanut butter milkshake. Not quite as showy as Mitchell, but just as good.

Sunset on Diamond Lake

An amazing view to end a day filled with incredible views!

Back at camp

The lake was a bit more choppy today but still felt good after a day of sun and hiking.

Then we spent the evening chilling and making tuna melts for dinner. 

It was warm, but Sam decided we needed a campfire so she built one! And she built a nice one!

Ice Cream

Ice cream has been quite difficult to find on the trip. There is a pizza place and store near our campground. They advertise ice cream and I’m sure it is delicious. Unfortunately, they are closed on Tuesdays. We ended up at the Diamond Lake Lodge for soft serve. In this heat, it has to be in a cup!

Wizard Island

This is the only island in the lake. It’s in most iconic Crater Lake photos. Obviously, we had to take one too! You can just make out the white docks where they store the boats in the winter.

The yellow streaks in the water are pine pollen that washed into the lake. According to the ranger, it will eventually sink.

Snow Stake

This is how they know where to plow in the winter. That’s a lot of snow. 

Lake views from the visitor center overlook

This is from the covered observation platform that hangs off the edge.

Vidae Falls

We needed to cool off on a hot day!

One more view of the phantom ship

The perspective is deceiving- it’s actually about 14 stories tall!

The Pinacles

Rock spires left from fumaroles (vents) in old volcanoes. The rest eroded leaving the 100-foot tall formations. It was a hot walk, but worth seeing.

Until we got the the end and this is all there was. It’s the park boundary, but it looks like they forgot the sign. Very anticlimactic!

The phantom ship

They call the rocks The Phantom Ship. Since many of the signs had no information (just a blank piece of wood) we had to make up our own stories. This one was about unsuccessful pirates whose ship sank.

I had a passenger!

Back to the lake

Mt. Thielson

A rock spire left behind from one of the volcanoes. They say it acts like a lightening rod. Not today!

Sam and Everyone

More Lake Views

Checking out the boats below.

The caldera is surrounded by tall volcanic peaks.

Lake Views

Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the US at over 1900 feet. It was formed by volcanic eruption and has no streams or water coming in. It is filled by rain and snow melt. It’s clear to almost 150 feet because there is no sentiment to muddy the water. There is a turnout every 1/4 mile and we stopped at most of them. It was nice to see a variety of perspectives.

It was a bit breezy.

Crater Lake National Park

Sunset dinner by the lake

Meatball burritos... a favorite camp meal.

Chilling at Diamond Lake, OR

This is home  for the next two nights. A lovely camp spot with our own lake access.

The water project

This wood water pipe ran along the parking area for the falls. Not sure why they used wood- it’s not exactly water right...

It was very refreshing!

Toketee Falls

A beautiful waterfall on the way to Diamond Lake. It was a short hike to the overlook, but at 100+ degrees we were grateful for the shade.

Can you tell they are melting? Several years ago we decided that children spoil at 103. At the 112 we saw today they get downright grumpy!

There was a pool at the bottom that looked just right for swimming. 

Sandy Creek Covered Bridge

A wayside stop along Hwy 42 between the coast and I-5. We really stopped for the potty but the bridge was nice too. We didn’t learn much as there was no informational sign. Not even a plaque to celebrate the bridge’s 100 year birthday.