Crater Lake

After a long day of driving, we arrived in Crater Lake National Park around 11pm Sept. 1, too late to explore, tired of the truck and ready to sleep. The next day, we visit Crater Lake.

The first looks at the lake, the deepest in the U.S., seem surreal. It's intense, bright blue and so clear that passing clouds cast navy shadows over the pure water. Old-growth trees tower from the volcanic rock that rounds the lake. Wizard Island, a cinder-cone volcano shaped like a sorcerer's hat formed by a later eruption, rises out of the lake near the south shore.

The Rim Drive, a 33-mile road that encircles Crater Lake includes about 30 scenic pullouts and our first stop is Discovery Point with views of Wizard Island to the west and Phantom Ship, a smaller island in the lake that looks like a tiny pirate ship (it's actually as tall as a 16-story building, and at 400,000 years old is the oldest exposed rock in the caldera) to the east.

Next stop: Watchman Overlook, which also provides amazing views of Wizard Island, which erupted out of the lake about 7,300 years ago and is scared by a 90-foot-deep crater in its summit. We want to hike up to Watchman Peak, but no dogs allowed on the trail.

After driving about one-third of the road around the lake, we head out via the north junction, which takes us through the Pumice Desert—rolling plains of volcanic rock, dotted with sage brush—up Highway 97 through Bend, on our way to Hood River.

—Jessica