Crater Lake is a caldera. It was formed when Mount Mazama erupted over 7000 years ago and collapsed, creating a huge caldera. Over time the caldera filled with rain and snowmelt forming the deepest lake in the United States and the 7th deepest in the world. Crater Lake is also known for its clarity and deep blue color. You have to see it to believe it, it looks unreal. There are no inlets or tributaries to introduce pollutants. The water level is maintained by a balance of precipitation and evaporation.

We stayed two nights at the Crater Lake Lodge in celebration of our 6 year anniversary in May. It just so happens that it is the 100 year anniversary of the lodge, which is pretty cool. It is a beautiful lodge with huge fireplaces and a patio with an amazing view. About half of the park was still closed as well as most of the trails due to snow. This year Crater Lake only received about one third of the “normal” amount of snowfall. It still seemed like a lot of snow to us! In the summer you can take a boat tour of the lake.  I would love to visit again this summer to camp, hike, and take the boat tour. Crater Lake is less than 2 hours northeast of Grants Pass.