Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States — 592 metres at its deepest point — and its colour is extraordinary, an almost unreal shade of sapphire blue caused by the water's exceptional clarity and depth. The lake fills the caldera of Mount Mazama, which collapsed in a catastrophic eruption roughly 7,700 years ago.
In summer, the 53-km Rim Drive circles the caldera with stunning viewpoints at every turn. Boat tours reach Wizard Island, a volcanic cinder cone rising from the lake's surface. Hiking trails range from easy rim walks to the steep climb up Mount Scott (2,721 m), the highest point in the park, with views across the entire caldera and far into the Cascades. The historic Crater Lake Lodge on the rim is one of the finest national park lodges in the country.
Winter transforms the park: average snowfall exceeds 13 metres a year, and most roads and facilities close. The rim can still be reached in fair weather, and rangers lead weekend snowshoe hikes.
The closest airports are Klamath Falls (100 km) and Medford (130 km). From the north, Highway 138 reaches the park from Roseburg or Bend; from the south, Highway 62 approaches from Medford or Klamath Falls.