Park 19: Crater Lake National Park, OR:  We made a fun 500 mile detour to visit friends in Ft. Bidwell who ranch the rugged high desert of Surprise Valley in the NE corner of California.  It was a busy weekend helping them prepare for the Volunteer Firemen Annual BBQ on Sunday where they planned to feed 500!  This exposed us to a side of California we had never experienced and we enjoyed catching up with old Navy friends who grew up in this area.  Their lovely hilltop home looks down the entire 60 mile valley!


Surprise Valley in the northeast corner
of California.

The drive to Crater Lake was a mountainous 170 mile trek, following the gravel Applegate Wagon Trail used in the 1840’s.   Once in the valley, we began to see volcanoes in the distance as we crossed into Oregon.  As we entered the park, we began the assent into snow country to reach the crater’s rim where we checked into the historic Crater Lake Lodge built in 1915.   Because of snow, only 1.3 miles of the 33 mile rim road were open.  Still, the view of the lake was spectacular!  Someday we hope to return when we can explore the park without snow but with wildflowers in bloom.   

Odometer: 7,915 miles. 

Crater Lake looking towards east rim

Historic Crater Lake Lodge

Crater Lake and Wizard Island
looking towards west rim