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