Crater Lake It is one of the hidden gems of the United States.
There are very few non-North American tourists who know about the existence of this national park for the West Coast, specifically, in the state of Oregon.
Precisely as it is located about 700 kilometers north of San Francisco, places it outside the most common West Coast routes for those of us who travel to that area of the United States.
I will tell you that it is about deepest lake in the United States, which occupies an impressive crater opened about 7.700 years ago, when the volcano Mount Mazama It collapsed after a large eruption.
Now Crater Lake It is a national park and an authentic experience of enjoying nature.
All the information in detail
What to see in Crater Lake
La visit to Crater Lake It's not just about seeing the lake.
It is a visit to which, if possible, it is advisable to dedicate time because once you get there, the landscapes will impress you and you will want to enjoy them in the middle of nature.
If you like hiking and nature walks, it is an ideal place.
From the north, if you want get to Crater Lake from Portland, you will have to travel 375 kilometers.
Access to Crater Lake National Park It is done through an impressive forest of immense redwoods, which at certain times the luxuriance of the flora makes a sunny day dark.
The first thing you have to keep in mind is that the ideal is to visit in the morning so you can enjoy it peacefully, since the park can only be visited in daylight.
Therefore, it is advisable to sleep in a nearby accommodation.
Where to sleep in Crater Lake
And as a tip, it is advisable to arrive at the accommodation when there is still sunlight.
These places are made up of a huge, almost virgin forest, and the road that runs through it has no lighting, so the only light you will see will be that of your vehicle and that of the moon.
Furthermore, the forest is full of deer, and if you go at night, as was my case, you will have to go very slowly because they come out onto the road and you may have a problem if one crosses the path.
DON'T FORGET YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE
A previous tip for your trip to the United States is that you should not forget take out your travel insurance, essential to have the necessary support in case of incidents during the trip.
I tell you that for our trips we have annual insurance. IATI Insurance, a company that offers various modalities that will adapt to your requirements.
Inside the national park and almost on the edge of the crater, you find the cabin complex Mazama Village, a dream place but not always affordable for all budgets.
Being a large natural area, there are no towns for many kilometers.
But near the south entrance of the park there is another area of much more affordable cabins (Union Creek Resort), which is the most recommended accommodation for most visitors.
Of course, you have to book in advance because the complex only has 30 cabins.
They are beautiful cabins in the middle of the forest, a small store and a small restaurant where you can have dinner and breakfast.
ORGANIZE your TRIP
- Don't forget your TRAVEL INSURANCE with a 5% discount
- Book the HOTEL for your trip
- RENT a CAR for your trip
- The best TOURS and EXCURSIONS in Spanish
- NO-LINE TICKETS for museums and monuments
- Best FREE TOURS around the world
- Book your TRANSFER from the airport
- eSIM card with INTERNET at the best price
The price in August for two rooms for five people was 140 euros.
Since it is an area with hardly any accommodations that are also in high demand during the holiday season, you can make an advance reservation for your hotel in Crater Lake with the search engine booking.com.
Once you have secured your accommodation, I will tell you that there are three entrances to the national park, and already inside there is a road that borders the crater, as well as countless trails and paths.
Inside the crater you will see there is a small island with trees; If you want to see it up close, it is best to access it through the south entrance.
Through this access, which is the most spectacular, you reach the Mazama Village Visitor Center where you can hire, if you are interested, a boat trip through the crater, which includes surrounding the island.
There is also another visitor center, Kidney, which is not open from October to May as there are some areas of the national park that are closed to visitors in winter due to winter conditions.
Continuing along the circular road you will find a multitude of viewpoints where there is audiovisual information explaining how this wonder of nature was created, as well as many other curiosities.
From the edge of the crater there is a large drop with ravines to the water. You will also find that there are several trails that take you to the shore.
But the really interesting thing is not descending, but quite the opposite, ascending the hills from where you will have impressive views.
Crater Lake Hours and Tickets
As the national park can only be visited during the day, the Crater Lake Visiting Hours They vary depending on the time of year, depending on the amount of sunlight.
The Crater Lake ticket prices They are, for a car with all its occupants, 10 dollars, and the pass gives you access to the park for seven days.
If you travel by motorcycle, the price is $5 per person.
In summary, in Crater Lake You will be able to enjoy the beautiful landscapes both inside the crater and outside of it, with immense redwood forests, without counting on the pure air that you will be able to breathe.
A highly recommended, unforgettable visit.
In 1998 I worked at Crater Lake Lodge. The park hotel, located on the edge of the Crater. This summer (2015) I went to celebrate my birthday at the hotel and stayed there.
The room can be around €200 and dinner from €50 depending on the drinks.
If you have the opportunity, don't hesitate. The food is very good and you can vary your American diet which will be based on calorie-laden dishes. I recommend the salmon.
Although possibly the best thing about dinner is having coffee on the hotel's viewing terrace while you enjoy an evening with colors that you will never forget sitting in a wooden rocking chair.
You don't have to stay at the hotel to have dinner or have coffee on the terrace, because they have bar service, but Crater Lake Lodge is a must-see. This summer he turned 100 years old.
If you sleep there, when you wake up in the morning, as you leave the hotel you can turn left to take a path that goes up for about an hour to one of the peaks of the park where you can be alone enjoying both the views of the lake and to the forest.
I woke up at 5.00:10 to see the sunrise, it is impressive and there were about XNUMX people in absolute silence enjoying the moment and taking incredible photos.
It is striking how when someone goes out to the terrace to enjoy the lake, they simply remain silent with their gaze fixed. It's magic.
It is difficult to include Crater Lake in a tour of the USA, but there are options to do so and it is worth it.