We had been looking forward to it for so long, and here it is at last! After a 750 km (465 mi) journey through Washington and Oregon, including a visit to the stunning Mount Rainier National Park, we finally arrive at Crater Lake. Totally worth the “little” detour to see this magnificent volcanic lake.
Wednesday, September 7, 2022
Today is all about waterfalls—much to Rémi’s delight! He loves waterfalls 😆. Along the road to Oregon, we discover three of them, each one beautiful and totally unique.
That evening, we camp facing the impressive Mount Hood, another volcano in the Cascade Range like Mount Rainier. We only see it from afar, though, we are planning to continue south tomorrow to reach Crater Lake.
Thursday, September 8
Mount Hood ahead, Mount Hood up close, Mount Hood behind, we will have seen this iconic volcano from every possible angle! Then, other mountains and volcanoes take its place, perfect cones rising in the vast plains of Oregon. For indeed, the thick forests have given way to immense wide-open farmland, dotted with cows, sheep, bulls, horses, and even alpacas.
Since arriving in the U.S., we have had beautiful, hot, and very dry weather. So, what had to happen, happened: forest fires! As we get closer to Crater Lake National Park, the smoke gets thicker, the sky turns gray, and the sun becomes less and less bright. When we settle in for the night, we are surrounded by a smoky haze. The view, which should have been spectacular, is completely blocked. We have driven 750 km (465 mi) from Port Angeles with Crater Lake as our final goal, we’re really hoping we’ll get to see it tomorrow… 🤞
Friday, September 9
The wind blew hard all night, and it turns out that’s a good news, the smoke has cleared! We wake up to clear skies and a fresh, open view. Excited, we take the road to Crater Lake National Park.
The scenic Rim Drive circles the entire crater, with plenty of viewpoints along the way. We stop at the first one we come across, holding our breath and keeping our eyes closed to preserve the suspense. When we open them, wow. An immense, deep crater lies before us, holding a lake so blue it almost doesn’t look real. We’re speechless. It’s massive and absolutely stunning.
We spend the whole morning driving around the rim, admiring the view from every angle. At 592 m (1,943 ft) deep, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and the deepest volcanic lake in the world! It fills the collapsed caldera of an ancient volcano, Mount Mazama, which used to stand 3,600 m (11,800 ft) tall before it erupted and collapsed around 7,700 years ago. The volcano is dormant, but not extinct. It will erupt again someday.
After completing the rim loop, we leave Jeepy behind for a short 3 km (1.9 mi) hike up to a fire lookout. The wildfire smoke has started to return, so it is under the mist that we contemplate the crater and the surrounding mountains.
We enjoy a picnic facing the view. Two heavily loaded hikers stop to ask if we have any water to spare. Of course! We find out they’re hiking the PCT—the Pacific Crest Trail, the famous 4,270 km (2,650 mi) route that stretches from the Mexican border to Canada. It passes right through Crater Lake. We’re in awe. Their journey is just beginning. Maybe someday we will trade in our road trip for a long thru-hike too, it’s definitely one of my dreams.
We are only a few kilometers from the neighboring state: California. However, we will only be there in three months! It’s time to head north again, up through the U.S. toward the Canadian border, and on to another amazing state: Montana. It’s about 1,200 km (750 mi) away—two full days of driving.
Saturday, September 10 & Sunday, September 11
On the road again! These two days of driving take us across four states: Oregon, Washington, a sliver of Idaho, and finally into Montana. We have left the green forests behind and are driving through dry, arid landscapes. It’s a big change!
The evenings are warm and peaceful, We love it and enjoy it all the more, knowing we are driving straight toward cooler weather. We witness gorgeous sunsets and even more beautiful moonrises.
At last, we reach Montana. We take the backroads and even some rugged forest tracks to make our way north. It’s slower and bumpier, but this is our favorite way to explore the U.S.
The Canadian border is just a few kilometers away, and we find the landscapes we love so much: thick forests, bear warning signs, and ever-present wildlife. We are back in the Rockies! After discovering and traveling through the Canadian Rockies for over a month, it’s now time to explore the American side, starting with Glacier National Park.
