What a difference a day makes. Yesterday we had a wonderful time at Crater Lake NP. But the skies were clouded over almost completely most of the day. We saw the lake, but little else of the surroundings.
Overnight last night the clouds cleared, and the temps dropped. It got down to 39 degrees overnight. But the day dawned clear and bright, so we woke up early and were headed into the park by 7:00 a.m. again.
To call the weather today “perfect” would still be an understatement. There was literally not a cloud in the sky – all day. As we entered the park and started the climb to the rim, we were fully able to appreciate not only the surroundings in the park but also the rolling hills nearby, and the mountains in the distance. It was a completely different experience.
This morning we chose to head directly to the Crater Lake Lodge area so we could get parking for a hike along the rim. There were few people in the lot when we arrived, and even fewer on the trail. The hike was short, about 2 miles, but it snaked along the crater rim and provided excellent views. We had a lovely time.
After the hike we packed up and made our way further along Rim Drive to the Steel Visitor Center. Unlike the one yesterday, this center sits a few hundred feet below the rim, buried in trees. From this point we hiked two trails, both in heavily wooded areas. The trails were completely empty and beautiful. Such a difference from the first trail of the morning.
Following a quick stop in the visitor center (which was small and surprisingly crowded), we drove along the southern exit route from the park. Our destination was the Mazama Village Campground. There are few visitors who head to the Steel Visitor Center or Mazama Village to hike. None of the trails offer views of the iconic lake. But they offer beauty and solitude that we love.
Parking at the Mazama Campground Store lot, we set off on our last trail of the day, the Annie Creek Canyon Trail. From the main trailhead, the trail dives nearly 300 feet down into a narrow canyon carved out by Annie Creek. Once at the bottom of the descent, the trail runs alongside Annie Creek.
The creek was narrow and fast, and the canyon on both sides was steep nearly to the river’s edge. The trail winds along the water, crossing via footbridges on several occasions. The surroundings were beautiful, alternating between dense forest and open grasslands. And everything was so green!
We spotted deer just off the trail, grazing with their young ones, completely unperturbed by our presence. The constant sound of the creek tumbling at our side was meditative and calming. And we had the trail almost completely to ourselves.
Today was a truly amazing day. For me, Crater Lake was much more than I expected. I had looked forward to this stop, for sure, but my experience outweighed my expectations. It seems like every park we visit is amazing and incredible and unbelievable.
To me, that speaks volumes about the National Park System as a whole. It is one of the greatest things our country has done. Our best experiment. There is a reason these lands have been set aside, and they are important to protect for future generations to enjoy.
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