Crater Lake is the only national park in Oregon state. With the reputation of breathtaking scenery at national parks, it became a destination I had to visit. Crater Lake is about 7 hours south of Seattle but it was the perfect stop and ‘decompression’ from Black Rock City.

Day 1 – Wednesday, September 4, 2019

We checked in our campsite around noon and set up our tent. After lunch, we drove out to see the pinnacles, a group of volcanic pumice spires formed by erosion. After a short flat hike, we were able to see these unique formations from afar. 

Driving along the rim of the lake, we saw our first glimpse of the deepest lake in the US. It looks just like its name, a deep blue lake inside a crater.

We were recommended to see the sunset on top of Watchman Peak. It was a 1.6-mile hike to the lookout tower. At the top, the view was already beautiful but we had to wait another 30 minutes for sundown. I was getting impatient due to hunger and being cold, but I stuck it out and was rewarded with the best sunset I’ve ever seen. The sky was the most vibrant shades of pinks and purples which was reflected in the lake. It was unlike any sunset I had ever seen before… I was amazed.

Starving at this point, we headed to the lodge for dinner which was delicious and a cozy way to end our day. 

Day 2 – Thursday, September 5, 2019

The rain was in the forecast but we were adamant to hike up Mount Scott for panoramic views across the Cascade Range and Crater Lake. This was a strenuous 2.5-mile hike to the top of the highest peak in the park.

With the unpredictable weather, we mostly had the entire hike and viewpoint to ourselves. We enjoyed the view while we had a packed hot lunch.

After the hike, we started to head back to camp as we saw the clouds roll in. We stopped at two overlooks along the way—Pumice Castle and Phantom Ship.

Once we got back to our camp, it started to rain and hail —Chi hated it and his shoes were soaked. It stopped eventually so we were able to enjoy the firepit and burn some of our leftover Burning Man wood.

Day 3 – Friday, September 6, 2019

We packed up and drove around the rim once more to enjoy the scenery. While Crater Lake isn’t a large park, the scenery still is as scenic as the other National Parks. Unfortunately, we were unable to get close to the water since the boat tours ended early this season. I’d love to visit again in a few years but there are other parks to explore!