Crater Lake National Park?

[steveandjil]

Dear all,

We are planning for our summer vacation a bit late. We live in southern Arizona and were thinking ion heading for Crater Lake. We've camped in/near almost 16 national parks, but not this one. It probably comes down to this or back to the Tetons (which I love.) Any comments? We like to do day hikes (6-10 miles or so) and beautiful scenery. Rocky Man NP seems a bit too busy then. Is crater lake worth a 1.5 week summer vacation visit?

Thanks in advance,

Steve

[Lauren]

Yes, a double plus on the logging "museum". Old equipment with booms 4-5 stories high and old machinery, etc. A real plus is a collection of old, original cabins that makes a small village. Very, very interesting as to the different types, etc.

[Drbolasky]

downtheroad wrote:
We think Crater Lake is a must see/visit for an RVer. Once you peek over the rim into the lake, you won't forget it.

My thoughts exactly!! I'll echo what others have said: snow - we visited on July 9 and there was still snow in the woods (stopped for an impromptu snowball battle!) and along the shore of the lake. The motorboat tour on the lake (recommend highly!) had only started less than a week prior. It's a good hike down and back to the marina to get the tour and take PLENTY of bug repellant as the mosquitoes are relentless.

We used Collier Memorial State Park, just south of Crater Lake and north of Klamath Falls. It's a beautiful setting, immaculately clean and bargain-priced - truly one of the nicest state parks we've stayed in anywhere. There is a logging museum adjacent to the park that has a fascinating collection of equipment that spans over a century of logging in the Pacific Northwest. Might sound dry & boring to some but the level of ingenuity used to get timber out of the woods with this machinery is incredible. Enjoy & safe travels.

[profdant139]

Once you get used to the various buttons, it is easy to keep a blog. If you do a lot of traveling, it is a handy way to remind yourself of your favorite places. Plus when I am stuck at home due to work or whatever, the blog lets us enjoy our trips all over again.

Kind of like a photo album in the old days, plus more text.

[ORbiker]

profdant139 wrote:
We really enjoyed Crater Lake -- it is worth two or three days of hiking. But if you like to hike, Rainier is worth about ten days. Feel free to check out this blog post -- scroll down to July 26 for Rainier, and August 11 for Crater Lake:

Blog post about Rainier and Crater Lake -- lots of photos

Very nice pictures on you blog.

I should start doing a blog. I used to do a ride report after or during many of my epic motorcycle rides.

Is it fairly easy to use blogger?

http://www.pashnit.com/forum/showthread.php?35212-Quick-Trip-to-Glacier-National-ParkHERE is a ride report of a quick ride to Glacier from Oregon.

[profdant139]

We really enjoyed Crater Lake -- it is worth two or three days of hiking. But if you like to hike, Rainier is worth about ten days. Feel free to check out this blog post -- scroll down to July 26 for Rainier, and August 11 for Crater Lake:

Blog post about Rainier and Crater Lake -- lots of photos

[steveandjil]

Thanks so much for all the info guys - this weekend we will decide how much we feel like driving.

Steve

[ORbiker]

goducks10 wrote:
2 days would be my max at Crater Lake. If at all possible take the lake boat ride. You like to hike, well it's a pretty good hike down to the boat dock. Way more to see down on the water while cruising around inside the crater.
The Rim drive is a must also.
There's also a really nice hike to the top of Mt Scott. Fantastic 360* view up there.
If you don't mind dry camping for a few days I would try getting a spot at Diamond Lake CG mid week. If not then Broken Arrow has plenty of sites. It's only 15-20 mins to Crater lake entrance from there.

This is great information.

A hike up The Watchman is great too. Right next to the Lake, but another 1000 ft up. I was up there during the winter years ago. WOW

There is also other things to see in route.
Redwoods
Oregon Caves
Rogue River Gorge
Jacksonville

[goducks10]

2 days would be my max at Crater Lake. If at all possible take the lake boat ride. You like to hike, well it's a pretty good hike down to the boat dock. Way more to see down on the water while cruising around inside the crater.
The Rim drive is a must also.
There's also a really nice hike to the top of Mt Scott. Fantastic 360* view up there.
If you don't mind dry camping for a few days I would try getting a spot at Diamond Lake CG mid week. If not then Broken Arrow has plenty of sites. It's only 15-20 mins to Crater lake entrance from there.

[Lauren]

Have stayed at Diamond Lake - eh - and Collier SP --- Collier is one of the greatest parks you will find; highly recommend it.

[bukhrn]

As much as DW & I loved Crater Lake, (it's her favorite),I think 1.5 weeks is pretty over the top.

[TyroneandGladys]

This is what I would do and have done.
Tucson to Banning CA KOA for the night
Banning to Jalama Beach County Park two nights
Moss Landing KOA 2 nights with whale watching the second day
Moss Landing to Willits CA KOA overnight
Willits to Oceanside Beach Front RV Resort Charleston OR two nights
Oceanside to Collier Memorial State Park two nights with Crater Lake on the second day
Collier to Reno NV overnight
Reno to Kingman AZ overnight
Kingman to Tucson
If you have the time add a two nights at Lake Tahoe instead of overnight in Reno.

[downtheroad]

You also mentioned that you like to hike....
Of course, Mt. Rainer is a big time hiker's destination... short or all the way to the summit (which is a major league distance and altitude trek). But, not a lot of good camping options.

or

Mt. St. Helens for hiking also. You can wander around that area on great trails for hours and hours and days. Good camping options.

[padredw]

We stayed at the Diamond Lake RV Park (private, commercial) and enjoyed it.

At least an overnight for a visit to Crater Lake, two night better. We stayed two nights. We drove out the afternoon of arrival and then the next morning all the way around the rim. The water was perfectly still on that morning visit, hence perfect reflections.

[RWjSIM2003]

If you are coming up I-5 we have stayed at Seven Feathers Casino RV park and then Day Trip to Crater and Diamond Lake. that is about a hour and half drive to Crater. We have then driven from Crater to Enumclaw, WA and stayed at the Fair Grounds RV park. Then Day trip from there to Rainer, Seattle and surrounding areas. Beach area I would suggest Florence OR and Lane County Campground Harbor Vista. We have stayed at all of these in a 43' 5er.