Location: Hwy 62 off Hwy 97; 57 miles north of Klamath Falls; 128 miles south of Bend; the North entrance is often closed until June. There are two visitor centers in the Park.
One of the deepest and bluest lakes in the world, Crater Lake is surrounded by 2000-foot caldera cliffs at what is left of the summit of Mount Mazama, which once stood at over 12,000 feet before collapsing violently 7,700 years ago. The 33-mile Rim Drive circling the lake is a favorite of cyclists and motorists, while cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are popular in winter. Visitors can also hike down to the water for a boat trip. The Crater Lake Marathon is an annual late summer event, run at elevations up to nearly 8000 feet.