Imagine catching the moment the sun rises over the peak of a dormant volcano/caldera. The hues of purple transform to gold right before your eyes as you catch sight of Wizard Island for the first time. You’re witnessing sunrise at Oregon’s only national park: Crater Lake.
After an adventure around the rim, we set off for lunch at a local inn retreat and waterfall hunting. Catch the mist of waterfalls cascading down 272 feet from the top, surrounded by lush green cliffsides. Don’t worry about hiking strain; if you can hike a half mile, you’re golden.
Are you ready to feel like the only two people on the planet? Next, I’ll take you up, up, up to the top of the Cascade Mountain Range, where you’ll have a 360-degree view to take in the sunset, as well as spot nearby mountains like Mt. Bachelor, Diamond Peak, Mt. Thielsen, Mt. Bailey, and even Mt. McLoughlin and Mt. Shasta in the distance. These locations aren’t found on AllTrails, so you’re almost guaranteed to have the mountain (and neighboring mountains) to yourself. As you stand perfectly still, you can hear the light wind and absolute silence all around you.
As we take in the last rays of light, we’ll break out lanterns to light our way back to the cars as you take in everything turning a deep blue hue. Back at the car and driving down the mountain to your forested lodgings, you’ll realize there’s more adventure to be had: you’re heading to a hot springs soak and even more waterfalls the very next day.
