Crater Lake National Park and the Rogue River: Crown Jewels of Oregon

The Trip

“Few forget their first glimpse of Crater Lake on a clear, summer’s day — 21 square miles of water so intensely blue it looks like ink.” - National Geographic Guide to the National Parks, 7th edition

At an average of 1,500 feet deep, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States. The lake was formed when the top of an ancient volcano, Mt. Mazama, began to collapse under the force of gravity and then exploded about 7,700 years ago, forming an immense basin where the crater of the volcano once was. Over the next thousands of years, rain and snow melt formed and filled the lake.

The small island in the lake, Wizard Island, was created during the initial collapse of the mountain top as the volcano “tried to return to its [original] towering height” by building a cinder cone within the crater. This cinder cone managed to survive the later massive eruption and today rises above the level of the lake 767 feet as Wizard Island. The trip will feature a boat trip to the island, which can then be explored, and will include many hikes around the general lake area.

This trip will also venture into nearby Rogue River National Forest where we will hike along the wild Rogue River. The Rogue River trails will take us past waterfalls, natural bridges, swimming holes and into the Rogue River Gorge, where the river disappears into a 250-foot lava tube and emerges again in a torrent of bubbles.

Day 1: Check in at the lodge between 4:00-4:30 p.m. We'll have our trip orientation meeting at 5:00 p.m. and welcome dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Days 2-6: We will choose from the following activities during these days, depending on the weather and the desires of the group:

• Hike trails in Crater Lake National Park. Possible trails include:
• Castle Creek Wildflower Trail (0.5-mile loop; rated Easy)
• Sun Notch Trail (0.5-mile loop; rated Easy)
• Godfrey Glen Trail (1.1-mile loop; rated Easy)
• Plaikni Falls Trail (2.0 miles round trip; rated Easy to Moderate)
• Fumarole Bay Trail (1.4 miles round trip; rated Easy to Moderate)
• Discovery Point Trail (2.2 miles round trip; rated Easy to Moderate)
• Watchman Peak Trail (1.4 miles round trip; rated Moderate)
• Bert Creek Trail (3.0 miles round trip; rated Moderate)
• Annie Spring Canyon Trail (4.0 miles round trip; rated Moderate) or Annie Creek Cutoff Trail (1.4 mile; rated Easy)
• Segment of the Pacific Crest Trail (4.4 miles round trip; rated Moderate)
• Pumice Flat Trail (5.6 miles round trip; rated Moderate)
• Garfield Peak Trail (3.4 miles round trip; rated Strenuous — 1,000 feet elevation gain)
• Cleetwood Trail (2.2 miles round trip; rated Strenuous — 700 feet elevation gain)
• Take a boat ride to Wizard Island in Crater Lake. Option: Wizard Island Summit Trail (2 miles round trip; rated Moderate to Strenuous)
• Hike trails in Rogue River National Forest. Possible trails include:
• Union Creek Trail (Up to 12 miles — can do part of it; rated Easy to Moderate)
• Natural Bridge Trail (2.4-mile loop; rated Moderate)
• Upper Rogue River Trail (Up to 47 miles — can do part of it; rated Moderate)
• Rogue Gorge Trail (3.5 miles one way — can do part of it; rated Moderate)
• Takelma Gorge (4 miles or 7 miles round trip; rated Moderate)

Day 7: Our trip ends after breakfast. Check out of lodge by 11:00 a.m.

Getting There

The nearest airports are Medford, OR (85 miles to the south west) and Klamath Falls, OR (65 miles to the south). Transportation from the Medford Airport to and from Crater Lake National Park will be provided by the trip leaders. Participants flying to Klamath Falls or driving from their homes will be provided with information on how to form carpools with other participants. (Trip leaders cannot form carpools for the participants.)

Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

We will be staying in the Mazama Village portion of Crater Lake National Park, located about 7 miles from the lake itself. We will eat most meals in the restaurants at Mazama Village or at the Crater Lake Lodge. One dinner may be scheduled in the town of Union Creek, near the Rogue River National Forest.

Trip Difficulty

The trails chosen for possible inclusion in the trip itinerary range from Easy to Strenuous according to the established trail rating system. The rating of trails generally depends on the length and elevation gain, as well as the presence of obstacles, such as boulders or creeks that must be traversed. The needs of the group will dictate exactly which trails are hiked on this outing. However, bear in mind that even trails rated Easy and Moderate can be challenging for those who are not in shape for trail hiking. Easy to Moderate trails will likely be uneven, sometimes rocky, and may have up to 600 feet of elevation gain. Strenuous trails will be more than 5 miles in length and may have up to 1,000 feet of elevation gain. Participants on this trip can expect to be hiking between 4 to 6 hours per day, mostly in the sun. Carrying enough water and wearing adequate sun protection are crucial. We recommend that prospective participants honestly assess their fitness level for this day hiking trip before signing up and that they engage in a fitness program several months prior to the trip. While working out at a gym can help, by far the best physical preparation for a hiking trip is actually getting out and hiking on natural trails well in advance of the trip.

Equipment and Clothing

A detailed equipment and clothing list will be sent to all signed up participants well in advance of the trip.

References

• Guide to National Parks of the United States, Seventh Edition. National Geographic Society, Washington D.C.
• Secrets of the National Parks. National Geographic Society, Washington D.C.

Conservation

The Sierra Club motto is “Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet." The mission of Sierra Club outings is to enable Sierra Club members to “explore and enjoy” some of the most beautiful places on Earth while also learning about what is being done to protect the places visited. Usually Sierra Club outings include guest speakers or other programs aimed at educating the trip participants about conservation efforts in the region. The conservation message of this outing will focus on the role of National Parks in preserving America’s most outstanding landscapes and valuable ecosystems. The year 2016 was the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service and we will continue to celebrate this milestone while also noting the anniversaries of individual parks, some of which predate the establishment of the Park Service.

Crater Lake was established as a National Park on May 22, 1902, some 14 years before the creation of the National Park Service. All National Parks that contain mineral or fossil fuel resources can legally be mined or drilled under leases to industry by the federal government. Generally, most presidents have avoided engaging in industrial exploitation of national parks, however, under the current administration that precedent appears to be in jeopardy. It is the hope of the Sierra Club that outings to national parks will encourage participants to want to help protect them from industrialization.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.