Steven and Betty RV Adventures

DIAMOND LAKE, OR. Sunday the 2nd. After I delivered my final Sunday morning devotional, we drove to the Diamond Lake RV Park near Crater Lake National Park. Of all times to be going to a popular national park, we traveled here on Labor Day weekend. This afternoon we drove as well as we could the very crowded west rim of the crater. Every parking slot was taken, with overflow vehicles illegally parked along shoulders about 18 inches wide that dropped off hundreds of feet. We did manage a few amazing photos of the lake before the smog got too thick. We then tried the east rim and took a few shots in the even thicker smog. The smoke from forest fires continues to frustrate us.

Betty on West Rim of Crater Lake

Crater Lake from West Rim

Crater Lake from East Rim

Deer Along East Rim

Hazy View from East Rim of Phantom Ship Island

Pumice Castle from East Rim

Monday the 3rd (Labor Day). Today we visited five of the many falls in the area. We were pleasantly surprised to find very few people in the area of the falls, even though it was a popular holiday.

Warm Springs Falls was hard to locate, mostly due to inaccurate directions in the brochure about the area falls. When we finally found the trail head, after driving many miles along back roads, we came upon an opening with a tree around which was wrapped white duct tape upon which was written by hand with a black marker, "WARM SPRINGS FALLS." The effort was worth it, since the trail led through what seemed like an enchanted forest of magnificent trees, with sunlight streaming down through the branches. The trail ended at an overlook high above the falls. The brochure said that there was no way to get closer. We searched around for any way down but found nothing. We took photos from the overlook.

Walk Through Enchanted Woods to Warm Springs Falls

Hard to Capture the Enchantment of That Forest

Warm Springs Falls

Clear Water Falls was the next falls we visited. The trail was short and simple but led to the close presence of the falls. This falls must be magnificent in the spring when the water flow is full. In September the flow was not as impressive but the segmented pattern is complex and interesting even in late summer. There was a second trail over a bridge that led up behind the falls to allow another angle of view.

Betty On Trail to Clear Water Falls

Clear Water Falls

Downstream from Clear Water Falls

Watson Falls is the highest falls in Southwest Oregon, plunging 293 feet altogether. It actually has two levels in late summer, with an easily reached lower falls and a thinner falls at the top which can be reached after a serious climb to the top.

Watson Falls Trail Had Many Long Demanding Stretches

With a Few Log Jams Along the Way

Finally the Lower Falls

If You Continue Up to the Top: the Upper Falls

Susan Creek Falls flows over moss-covered rocks into a pool below.

Susan Creek Falls

The fifth falls, Deadline Falls, is virtually a farce this time of year. Even though the brochure says that Steelhead and Salmon can be seen jumping the dam into October, there were no fish to be seen, and the trail leading to view the falls never affords a good view.

Tuesday the 4th. Today we got up early to drive into the park to hike down a very long and steep switch-back trail from the rim of the caldera to Crater Lake below for a boat ride and interpretive talk by a park ranger. It was two hours of interesting educational instruction as well as a joy to photograph, since the smoke was thin inside the caldera. After the boat ride, we had to hike back up the switch-back trail to the rim and the parking lot. Quite an exercise. The ranger said the trail is one mile down and ten miles up. It took less than half an hour down and less than an hour coming up. That included stopping to take some breath-taking photos. After that we drove to the Crater Lake Lodge for lunch, then drove to the west rim to see if it was any clearer. Since school started back up today, the crowds were greatly thinned out but the smoke was worse. No more photos would be possible.