Crater Lake National Park-Day 2

Breakfast Saturday morning - pancakes and bacon.

On Saturday, we took the hike down to the lakeshore.  There is only one trail that gives access to the lakeshore to Crater Lake.

Cleetwood Cove Trail

Cleetwood Cove Trail

1.1 miles and drops 700 ft. in elevation

Walking back up is equivalent to climbing 65 flights of stairs.

My babies. :)

We hiked down to the lake to fish!  

We got to fish in Crater Lake - so fun!

The hubby fishing.

I enjoyed the cool water on a warm day!

You can't beat those clear mountain lakes!

Sierra fishing on her rock. :)

Summer fishing.

The water of Crater Lake is some of the cleanest water you can find - even out of your faucet!  It is considered to be the cleanest large body of water in the world!  (I drank some!)

  There are no inlets carrying sediment or pollution into Crater Lake.  Clarity readings can surpass 130 ft. on some days.

83% of the water comes from rain or snow falling directly into the lake.  The rest is runoff from precipitation landing on the slopes above the lake.

It was cold but definitely not the frigid water from Glacier!  Refreshing!!

Autumn fishing. :)

Crater Lake had no fish until it was stocked for fishing between 1888 and 1941.  Six species were introduced but only two survived: Rainbow trout and kokanee salmon.

Of course, you always bring a good book to relax with.

The crayfish in the lake!  They did not exist in Crater Lake until 1915 when they were stocked as food for trout and salmon.  They prey on snails and insects that graze on algae and control their growth.

Cleetwood Cove

We were pretty hungry by the time we hiked back up from the lake and fishing.  Of course, the best meals in nature are from the back of your car. :)

We finished the day by traveling all the way around the lake. :)

Called The East Rim Drive and The West Rim Drive.

It is 33-mile road that encircles the lake.  The full loop is typically open from early July to late October.  There are more than 30 scenic pullouts along the route.

Mt. Thielson

Pumice Castle

A layer of orange pumice rock has been eroded into the shape of a medieval castle.  

The Phantom Ship

Crater Lake's other island resembles a small sailboat.  It is as tall as a 16-story building.  It's made of erosion-resistant lava - the oldest exposed rock with the caldera.

Vidae Falls

Spring-fed, roadside waterfall tumbles over a glacier-carved cliff and drops 100 ft. over a series of ledges.

Crater Lake National Park!  

Another national park visited for the Tastet fam!

Crater Lake is 1,934 ft. deep.  

It is the deepest lake in the USA (300 ft. deeper than Lake Tahoe, which ranks 2nd).  

How fun that we have lived close to the two deepest lakes in the US!

It is the 9th deepest lake in the world and the deepest in the world formed by volcanic activity.

The park was established in 1902.  

It is 183,224 acres.  

It has an average of 648,000 visitors a year.  

The width of the lake varies from 4.5 to 6 miles.  

Its highest point is Mount Scott - elevation 8,929 ft.

The lake rests inside a caldera formed when a 12,000 ft. tall volcano collapsed following a major eruption.  Later eruptions formed Wizard Island.  We wanted to take a boat to the island to hike it but they are not running the boats to the island this season. :(

Roasting beef hot dogs and jalapeno cheddar brats for dinner.  And resting with a cup of cocoa after a good day. :)