Boondocking at Annie Creek Sno-Park (Fort Klamath) While Visiting Crater Lake National Park – Oregon

We enjoyed a stress-free day of travel along US-97 and arrived at our boondocking spot at Annie Creek Sno-Park within Winema National Forest in Fort Klamath, Oregon.  Though permits are required by the snow bunnies who park here for winter skiing nearby, you can access the area free of charge during the summer months.  We opted to stay on the “upper tier” within the huge, paved parking area, which provides lots of sun for solar.  The upper tier has portable toilets should you need them, too.   There is also a “lower tier” that consists of designated dry-camping spots, some right along Annie Creek.  The tree canopies there furnish tons of shade, but that would hinder our solar intake.  Furthermore, the access road down was just too dicey for a rig our size.  Both levels offer a quiet, safe spot for boondocking, whether for a night or for several days like we did, and the Sno-Park is just 11 miles from the South Gate of Crater Lake National Park.

Annie Creek flowing along the "lower tier" of the Sno-Park.

We headed out along Volcano Legacy Scenic Byway, starting our tour at the Steele Visitor Center.  I asked at the desk for a Junior Ranger book so I could earn my next National Park Ranger badge.  “No can do”—the Park’s supply of books has been depleted.  They are waiting for their replenishment order to arrive next week.  I was told I can do a “scavenger hunt” (how politically incorrect!) instead.  I was handed a piece of paper which instructed me to take photos of 10 items listed.  Sounds good to me.  I turned to leave, enthusiastic to commence my hunt.  “Not so fast”, I was admonished.  “You can’t keep that paper.”  Excuse me?  The Ranger asserted it was the only copy the Steele Visitor Center had, so I must take a photo of it!  You can’t fix stupid!

 

Me showcasing my new Crater Lake Junior Ranger Badge. 

Watching the film, I learned that geologists believe Crater Lake was formed by the volcanic eruption and subsequent implosion of 12,000-foot-tall Mount Mazama some 7,700 years ago.  The ash and lava from the eruption are still visible upon the landscape, and the event killed all life forms for a 30-mile radius.  At nearly 1,950 feet deep, Crater Lake has the distinction of being the deepest lake within the U.S.  Interestingly, the water in the Lake is considered the purest in the world.  No streams or rivers flow in or out of Crater Lake—it consists strictly of rainfall and snowfall (the area receives 44 feet of snow fall, on average, each winter).  The Lake rarely freezes over; in fact, it has not occurred since 1949.

 

We learned that a rock avalanche had prevented commencement of the seasonal boat tours until just last week.  Eager to participate, we were lucky enough to snag the last seats for the Standard 2 Hour Tour the following day ($48/ticket).  Otherwise, the on-line sales were booked right through the end of July.  (The only other option for getting a boat tour is to score 1 of the 2 dozen tickets released early each morning for the same day boat ride.  These must be purchased in person.)

The boat tour is only accessible by hiking the Cleetwood Cove Trail to the water’s edge.  The Trail, consisting of a series of switchbacks, is easy going down.  But the Park rates it as “strenuous” in difficulty due to the 700-foot elevation gain (11% grade) coming back up.  We didn’t have any problems, but someone apparently did the next day—we saw someone being lifted onto a gurney and taken away by ambulance.

Before we hiked down from the Rim, we watched an earlier boat tour navigate the Lake.

Some of the Trail switchbacks.

Watching folks walk back up the trail after their boat tour.

We anticipated encountering quite a bit of road and Trail traffic and a difficult time finding parking because of limited availability.  But we scored a spot right away, only a 1/4 mile from the Trailhead.  Hence, we arrived at the boat dock about 1.5 hours early.  We spent that time enjoying a snack and watching folks swim and fish.  What are they catching?  If the Lake’s water comes from rain/snow, where are the fish coming from?  Well, it seems William G. Steele (after whom the Visitor Center is named) loved Crater Lake.  He wanted to improve the Lake’s recreational value.  He thought fishing would entice more visitors.  In turn, it would bring recognition to Crater Lake and, eventually, preservation (which was achieved by earning National Park status in 1902).  In 1888 Mr. Steele collected 6 different fish species and introduced them to Crater Lake.  Only 2 species survived (Rainbow Trout and Kokanee Salmon).  The National Park Service continued Steele's fish stocking concept for several decades.  But in 1941, stocking fish was deemed a bad idea, and the program was canceled.  So now, if you desire, you can bring your pole and artificial lures, catch and keep as many fish as you like, with no size restrictions, and with no fishing license required!

 

Folks were fishing and swimming at the water's edge.

Soon it was time to board the boat.  Jaclyn, our guide, was informative and knowledgeable.  We had excellent weather (high 70F degrees, clear skies) and a fantastic tour!  I am so glad we were able to participate!  For you see, after the September 14, 2025, tour, these boat rides and/or access to the Lake will not be available until the 2029 season.   A new boat dock is to be installed, and Cleetwood Cove Trail will be closed for restoration/repairs.

 

That sand colored spec in the center of the photo is Pumice Castle.

Phantom Ship Formation is 400,000 years old and 500 feet long.

These 2 waterfalls that drain into the Lake can only be seen from the boat tour.

Wizard Island was formed about 4,800 years ago.  Only 2% of it can be seen on the surface! 

The Palisades Formation.  Near this formation, Crater Lake has a leak of 2 million gallons of water per hour!  

Over the course of our 4-day stay we traversed Rim Drive several times, checked out viewpoints at different times of day, and did a considerable amount of hiking.  But, a portion of East Rim Drive was closed due to construction, making some trails and viewpoints inaccessible.  Furthermore, the panoramic Watchman Peak Trail was closed due to snow cover, as was the majority of Garfield Peak Trail.  We were blessed to have done the bulk of our touring BEFORE the smoke from a wildfire in Fort Klamath filled the Crater, impeding visibility.

Well, enough jibber-jabber from me!  Come along for a photo tour!

These photos were taken...

...from East Rim Drive/Hiking Trails.

Vidae Falls has a 100 foot drop.

To me, this photo represented Winter (snow), Spring (flower blooms), and Summer (water)!

Garfield Peak Trail.  Only a portion of it was available for us to hike.

Sunset view from Garfield Trail.

The Historic Lodge...

...has a welcoming ambiance.

Look at these adorable lamps!  I want one--but with a carving of yours truly, the Rambling RV Rat, rather than a ground squirrel!

Scenes from hiking along Lady of the Woods Trail.

The rock formation for whom the Trail is named.  Looks like a lady sitting on a rock and weeping.

Starting our trek down the Annie Creek Trail...

 ...where Spring had just sprung into action with several wildflowers blooming.

Watchman Peak Trail was closed completely due to snow cover.  You can see the once-used fire tower at the top of the mountain.

Scenes from West Rim Drive/Hiking Trails.

That is 1 funky tree!  Seems to be dancing and soaking up the last rays of sunshine!

Itty, bitty, baby pinecones!

The clouds were making some cool shadows in the Lake.

Phantom Ship and Wizard Island in the same photo!

The flat rock protrusion above Wizard Island in this photo is known as Llao Rock, named after the god of the underworld for the Klamath Tribe.  They believe that a great battle between Llao and the sky god Skell resulted in the eruption of Mount Mazama and subsequent creation of Crater Lake and their people.

This rock formation in the foreground is known as Devil's Backbone.  Llao Rock can be seen in the background.

A better photo of Pumice Castle than what we got on the boat tour.

 The smoke from Fort Klamath wildfires entered Crater Lake on our last day.

The smoke certainly affected the quality of our photos!  So glad we didn't encounter this until the last day of our visit.

We saw lots of these ground squirrels, and they were all willing to pose for us!  But I will only bore you with 1 photo.

In addition to avian friends, we did catch glimpses of 1 bear and several deer (no decent photos available, though.  I didn't think you would enjoy looking at animal butts).

The perfect end to our visit to Crater Lake--and to this blog!