Visiting Crater Lake National Park

I have been to Crater Lake numerous times, and with every visit, I am in awe of its beauty.  It is breathtaking!  Crater Lake is Oregon's only National Park, but Oregon does have other amazing national historical sites and monuments that are worth a visit too.  

Crater Lake is the clearest and deepest lake in the United States and the deepest volcanic lake in the world.  The lake's depth reaches 1943 feet.  It is fed strictly by rain and snow.

Wizard Island (a cinder cone) is the biggest of the two islands in the lake. You can only see a portion of Wizard island as only 2% of it is above lake level. There are boat tours to the island in the summertime.

Phantom Ship (a rock pillar) is the smallest island at Crater Lake.  

Birding is always a fun activity. Besides the Raven, and other more common birds, two that you may enjoy seeing is the Canada Jay and Clarks Nutcracker.  The Canada Jay likes the colder weather far north or at high elevations, making them a treat to see!

Canada Jay

Clarks Nutcracker (juvenile) This baby looks so soft!

Clarks Nutcracker

There are many nice hikes in the area and seven are 2 miles or less. Some you can complete in a day; others will take more time. Every hike begins at 4000 feet or higher. There are 16 hikes that are over two miles with the longest one that goes along the Pacific Crest Trail.  This popular 33-mile trail begins and ends from the North and South access points to the park.  It can be a challenging hike, especially when there is still snow on the ground!

Vidae Falls is a short walk from the parking area along the rim drive.

Lady of the Woods is a .7-mile round trip hike located behind Steel visitor center.  The sculpture is chiseled from a boulder decades ago.

The Pinnacles is another short hike at .8 miles round trip.  It is near the Phantom ship along Pinnacles Road.  I love this hike!

The Pinnacles

Castle Rock Waterfall Trail is a .5 loop trail through an abundant number of pretty wildflowers with a peaceful creek for added enjoyment.   Be sure to grab the little guidebook which helps you to identify the many flowers along the way.

I love these little pinecones!

Pretty flowers throughout the park

High Elevation trees

Shasta Red Fir with its big pinecone.  

Crater Lake Lodge was built in 1909 and first opened in 1915.

This side of Crater Lake Lodge has a big porch area for people to sit, relax in rocking chairs, and enjoy the view of the pretty lake.  There is also a restaurant in the lodge.

Administration Building: This is an example of most of the buildings at Crater Lake which were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the mid 1930's. 

My Poodle enjoyed his visit.  Many National Parks are not too dog friendly, but this one is better than most!  The main area with the rock wall is paved.  Dogs can walk along the long wall and enjoy the views too.  The rim drive is an easy one with dogs.  All the pullouts along the way are dog friendly.  There are other dog friendly trails, picnic areas, and campgrounds in the park as well.

Happy Trails!

Oregon Waterfalls

Oregon has amazing waterfalls which are nestled between lush green ferns, moss, plants, and evergreen trees.  These are some of my very favorite waterfalls to hike to. 

Koosah Falls is located along the McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass and West Cascades National Scenic Byways in Oregon.  The waterfall main drop is 64 feet.  You can either park at Koosah Falls or Sahalie Falls parking lot and hike the short half mile Waterfall Loop Trail between the two falls along the rushing McKenzie river.  At Koosah falls the trail picks up to the McKenzie River trail.  To complete the 2.6-mile waterfall loop trail you would need to connect with the McKenzie River Trail.  Many people like parking at Ice Cap day use area to start this hike if Sahalie or Koosah Falls parking lot is too full.  (The official start of this trail is called the McKenzie River National Recreation Trail #3507.) 

Koosah Falls

Sahalie Falls is located along the McKenzie Pass-Santiam Pass and West Cascades National Scenic Byways off Highway 126 in Oregon.  The falls drop 73 feet.  It is a short walk from the parking lot.

Sahalie Falls

Wallowa River, Oregon.  The beautiful section of water is along the 8.1-mile Chief Joseph Mountain Trail, near Joseph Oregon in the Northeastern part of the state.

Wallowa River

Salt Creek Falls is the 2nd tallest waterfall in Oregon with a drop of 286 feet.  From the observation point, you can hike down to the base of the falls.

Salt Creek Falls

Many people driving on Hwy. 58 make a quick stop just to look at Salt Creek Falls even if they've seen it many times before. The falls can be viewed fairly close to the parking lot.  Most don't take the three-mile round trip trek which follows the canyon rims of Salt Creek and Diamond Creek, and eventually leads to Diamond Creek falls.  My photos of Diamond Creek Falls shown were both taken on a sunny July day.  Our group didn't see any other people on the trail, or anyone lingering at these amazing falls.  

Diamond Creek Falls has a drop of 100 feet.   It is breathtaking!

Diamond Creek Falls

Silver Falls is another of my favorites.  So much, that I did an earlier post about it!  It has the famous Trail of Ten Falls, an 8.7-mile loop. The park is located near Silverton and is the largest State Park in Oregon. 

Milddle North Falls along Trail of Ten Falls at Silver Falls State Park

Upper North Falls - Silver Falls State Park

South Falls, Silver Falls State Park

Silver Falls State Park

I have attached the link below to my earlier post "Silver Falls State Park" with more photographs of this lovely park.  Spring is the best time to go if you want to see more water rushing over each of the ten falls.

Silver Falls State Park

Upper and Lower Proxy falls are located off the McKenzie Scenic Byway (Hwy 242). It is an easy two-mile loop trail in some beautiful old growth trees, in the Three Sisters Wilderness.  

Lower Proxy Falls

Upper Proxy Falls

Tumalo Falls is located outside of Bend in the Deschutes National Forest and is spectacular!  It is fed by Tumalo creek and has a 97-foot drop. It eventually feeds into the Deschutes River.  It's a short walk from the parking lot to the viewpoint to see this stunning waterfall.  There are longer hikes at this site as well.

Tumalo Falls

Another fabulous double waterfall with a short hike to get to is Paulina Falls.  Both twins have a drop of 80-feet over volcanic cliffs.  Be sure to take both the lower (1/4 mile) and upper trail (1/2 mile) Paulina Falls Trail. The upper trail will take you past the falls and if you like you can continue on all the way to Paulina Lake.  Paulina Falls is located near Lapine Oregon and is part of the Newberry Crater National Monument.

Paulina Falls (Double Falls #1)

Paulina Falls (Double Falls #2)

The most famous waterfall in Oregon is Multnomah Falls (not pictured).  It is also the most photographed of all the waterfalls in Oregon.  It's located near Portland, on the Columbia Gorge.  With a drop of 620 feet, it is the tallest waterfall in Oregon.

Oregon is full of magnificent waterfalls. I hope you hike to some on your next visit to Oregon.  It's so much fun!

Happy Trails!

Big Snow of 2019

I'm from Eugene, Oregon and snowfall is something we don't see much of in my hometown, until last month when we received the 5th deepest snow recorded.  

The number one biggest snow ever documented here in Eugene was in January 1969 when I was just a kid.  47.1 inches adorned our eclectic college town.  I don't remember much about the difficulties it caused, I only remember playing in it. 

Last month the official recording was 19.1 inches.  And since I wasn't alive for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th deepest snow, you can imagine how excited I was to get out and enjoy the white stuff.

Lincoln Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

My Poodle having a taste.

Varied Thrush hunkered down and American Robin flying away.

Song Sparrow

Western Blue Bird

American Pelicans

American Pelicans with their heads in the water

Ruddy Duck (Winter visitor)

Red-shouldered Hawk (see his red shoulder!)

That's Wilson birding with me in the snow (when it's starting to melt).  He spots something!

Wilson sure had fun!

Silver Falls State Park

Silver Falls, the largest State park in Oregon, is spectacular!  I went in early September, and even though several of the falls were nothing more than a trickle, the rest were jaw dropping.

There are a total of ten waterfalls which can be seen from the "Trail of Ten Falls", an 8.7 Mile loop that includes the Canyon Trail, Rim Trail, Winter Trail and Maple Ridge Trail. 

South Falls - 177 Feet

Lower South Falls - 93 Feet

North Falls - 136 Feet

Upper North Falls - 65 Feet

Lower North Falls - 30 Feet

Middle North Falls - 106 feet

 

I love this picture my husband captured, walking behind the

Another look at the beautiful Middle North Falls

I've pictured six of the ten falls.  Double, Drake, Winter and Twin just didn't have enough water to warrant an image this time, but I'm hoping to return in the Spring,when the water is rushing, and the Spring flowers are in bloom.

Happy Trails!