Crater Lake National Park is always listed as a must-see for anyone visiting Oregon. This wonder formed out of the caldera of a destroyed volcano, and is the deepest lake in the USA. The lake formed due to precipitation of snow and rain.
As it was only about a 5 hour drive from where we were staying in North California, we made it a priority to visit the park for a day.
We decided to hike the Garfield Peak Trail - a 1.7 mile hike of steep incline to a scenic viewpoint. The hike was a little strenuous due to the elevation, but we were able to complete it within a couple hours. While the view was wonderful, unfortunately the skies were a bit hazy during our visit due to recent fires. We would have loved to spend more time around the lake for better photos under ideal conditions, but we just didn't have that extra time. However we viewed a gorgeous sunset in the evening near our hotel, and also made time to head out towards the lake at night for some star gazing.
If we were to return to Crater Lake, we'd like to do so during winter, as the bright blue of the lake really shines when surrounded by snowy peaks. Otherwise, this was a great day-trip but we didn't feel as though there was much else to see.
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