Contact Information
P.O. Box 7
Crater Lake, OR 97604
541-594-2211
Each year some 500,000 visitors marvel at the impossibly blue waters of Crater Lake from lookouts along its Rim Drive. It's the deepest lake in the United States and the seventh-deepest in the world, and its reputation as a spot of overwhelming, sublime natural beauty - the Gem of the Cascades - extends around the globe.Crater Lake's peaceful appearance belies its violent creation. Approximately 7,700 years ago, 12,000-foot Mount Mazama erupted and collapsed on itself, forming a large, bowl-shape caldera. Remaining lava flows sealed the bottom and, after a long period of cooling, the caldera filled with rain and snow creating the sapphire-blue lake. For too many people, a glimpse of the lake is all they take away from a visit to this national park. Their loss is your gain, for there's much more to do in the park, and there are few crowds away from the Rim Drive. The High Cascades of southern Oregon are a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. A mountain wonderland raised by volcanism and carved by glaciers, the southern Oregon Cascades offer some of the best biking, hiking, snowshoeing, and skiing in the country.
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