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    Crack In the Ground

    4.8 (13 reviews)

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    Opening to the Crack
    Andre L.

    NOTE: This is not the easiest place to get to. You have to go 8+ miles down VERY rough dirt roads to get here. The road was so rough, I stopped about halfway and got out just to make sure my tires were still intact. Luckily, we drive an SUV that's in good shape and could handle the rough road... But if you have any doubts about YOUR vehicle, I suggest either skipping this stop or seeing if you can get here in someone else's vehicle somehow. Also beware of GPS apps... We used Waze, which tried to be clever and use a couple "shortcuts" to reduce our mileage down the dirt roads. Unfortunately, these "shortcuts" went down even rougher roads. One of them was flooded, so we had to turn around and backtrack. The other, we were able to use, but it involved driving over bushes and bottoming out in spots--definitely not viable for a smaller car at all. ANYWAY, once you get to the parking lot for the trailhead... I was pleasantly surprised to find a bathroom there. Just a basic shack similar to a porto-potty, but better than nothing. The trail to the Crack in the Ground is fairly short and very easy. Once you get to the crack, it's a one-of-kind experience. The trail down into the Crack is not quite as easy as the trail to get there. There are some steep drop-offs to climb down. Small children can manage with a lot of adult assistance. It feels a lot like going down into the Earth itself... Which I guess you kind of are... Aside from the sights, one interesting aspect of the experience is the temperature drops A LOT. It was 100+ degrees at the parking lot, but it dropped down at least into the 60s (if not farther) once we were down in the Crack. Overall, IF you've got a vehicle capable of getting there, I have to recommend stopping here if you're in the area... I don't know if we'll ever be in the area again, as we were passing through on a long road trip, but we may make sure to pass through here again just to have another go at this place.

    Signs
    Dawn G.

    Such a cool experience! Like a slot canyon, but below the earth's surface.... in the middle of nowhere Oregon! Definitely a road trip highlight for us. Some areas are an easy walk within the towering walls - other areas are definitely a scramble. We went early on a June morning and the temperatures in the crack were comfortable, but by the end of our hike up on the surface it was quite warm - dress in layers and bring water. I think we spent about 2 hours exploring but could have easily spent more. I would not miss this if I were in the area - check it out!

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    Ask the Community - Crack In the Ground

    Review Highlights - Crack In the Ground

    Turn left on Crack in the Ground Road and travel about 7 miles on a terrible washboard road.

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    Watchman Peak - Phlox diffusa

    Watchman Peak

    4.9(8 reviews)
    76.0 mi

    2 mi, 423 elevation gain, 56 minutes to complete…read more Small snowfield to cross if you start at watchman overlook. If you come from discovery point it would be longer but you would avoid any of the snow crossings. Totally worth the hike- one of the most amazing views in the park especially at sunrise or sunset! Lots of different wildflowers along the way and panoramic views. There is a cute fire lookout that appears to no longer be in use at the top.

    I'd like to talk about not just hiking to Watchman Peak, but also the roadside pullover here at…read moreWatchman Overlook. So yes...there are 2 purposes for stopping at this Watchman Area. The Overlook from the rim and hiking the trail to Watchman Peak. This section of Crater Lake is deserving of 5 stars because...when driving around the 33 mile rim encompassing all of Crater Lake (although the views can get quite repetitive and monotonous)...the BEST APPEARANCES OF CRATER LAKE COMES FROM HERE AT WATCHMAN PEAK!!! That's what makes Watchman Overlook so worthwhile. Because the roadside emergence of not just Crater Lake, but the main centerpiece attraction to it all known as Wizard Island is the closest and most prevalent you'll find throughout the park. Watchman Overlook was the best observation viewpoint I can remember from my time spent at Crater Lake. Wizard Island sort of smacked me in the face through my camera lens...I was able to photograph Crater Lake in it's majestic entirety from the viewpoint. Whereas, many of the significantly less roadside Crater Lake stops can just be ordinary especially when you're pulled over far away from Wizard Island. Then the scenery was really a letdown. For instance, when you're on the other side of the lake near Phantom Ship, when I exited my car to look upon Crater Lake, it was like glancing into the abyss of some large sized lake of water, without any focal points (like Wizard Island) and without any meaningful blue coloring to it. I was expecting turquoise blue around the lake and never found it. Even at the main hub of activity in Rim Village featuring Sinnott Overlook, the Crater Lake Lodge, Garfield Peak Trail, and even along Discovery Point Trail....I never received that fulfilling/humbling "wow moment" that completely blew me away in comparison to the sights and scenery I uncovered here at Watchman Overlook and Peak. Regardless...back to what makes Watchman Peak Overlook one of the most worthy of roadside stops at Crater Lake... - I HIGHLY RECOMMEND VISITING HERE IN THE AFTERNOON TIME! Yes this is SO IMPORTANT because from here at Watchman Overlook the sun starts to set from your backside. So...you get the sun reflecting onto Crater Lake and it affords you the most clear and concise perspectives for taking pictures! If you arrive in the morning, the sun will hit you in the opposite (in your face) direction and then you may be stuck with those annoying shadows! - After observing Crater Lake from the rim overlook area....off to the right hand side you'll find the hike to Watchman Lookout Trail. This path will take you to the apex of the rim's edge for uninterrupted views of Crater lake. This Watchman Lookout Trail isn't hard. There'll be a sign/trailhead stating that the Lookout Tower is 0.8 mile to the top. That's 1.6 miles round trip and it's an elevation gain of about 450 feet - I'd say a moderate level of difficulty, but it's overall less than 1 mile. - This Watchman Lookout Trail to the Lookout Tower is certainly recommended because there's not many hikes to even traverse at Crater Lake. I found Crater Lake to be more of just a roadside get out of your car kind of park. So...might as well take advantage of a little hiking opportunity while here...especially since the views around this Watchman Peak area are some of the most scenic in the park! - Along the 0.8 mile...there's not much to view, just switchbacks making your way to the top. From this Watchman Peak Lookout Tower, the appearance of Crater Lake was just as good as the roadside view (there wasn't much difference in my opinion) but still, I'd recommend grabbing a couple of photos from high atop here. - During this summer pandemic of 2020, the Lookout Tower was closed. So, in the end...you just have a small viewpoint to pier down on and admire Crater Lake with of course Wizard Island being so photogenic as well. I truly believe you won't find superior angles/perspectives of Crater Lake and Wizard Island anywhere else in the park other than being here at the rim's Watchman Overlook and at the pinnacle of Watchman Peak Trail Lookout Tower. Capture as many pictures as possible during your time here because the views won't get any better.

    Photos
    Watchman Peak - Watchman Tower

    Watchman Tower

    Watchman Peak - Western pasqueflower

    Western pasqueflower

    Watchman Peak - Inside lookout

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    Inside lookout

    Fort Rock State Park - Headed up the trail!

    Fort Rock State Park

    4.7(20 reviews)
    22.4 mi

    Archeologists discovered 70 pairs of sandals made of sage brush that are 10,000 years old -…read moreuncovered in the rock cave, evidence of early humans in North America. During the Ice Age, Fort Rock was surrounded by water. Before drying up around 10,000 years ago, the lake with its associated wetlands and wildlife was the foundation of life for prehistoric humans. Prairie Falcon, Golden Eagle, Western Medowlark, Rock Wren and Yellow Belly Marmots live here. Raptors are currently nesting and some trails off limits. With binoculars we saw 4 Prairie Falcons perching and two flying as fledglings sang through the high cliff recessions in raptor nest homes. Look for white poop splashes high up cliffs - that is where the raptors perch and nest! Wife and I hiked through lush high desert with lots of sage and pinkish-reddish spiny hops bush, horse bush and desert sage. Many wildflowers in bloom. Wild buckwheat dominating the landscape. Also there was paint bruch, penstemon and larkspur. What a grand day for a hike in the wondrous Oregon outback! Colors in rocks, flowers and sands! Smells fragrant!

    Such a cool place to visit! About 70 miles southeast of Bend. There's a small gravel parking lot,…read morerestrooms with flush toilets, covered picnic area and a kiosk with information about the site. There are hiking options for everyone. It was pretty hot during out visit and no shade in the hiking area, so we only walked up to the base of the ring. It was still really cool to see. It's an old tuff ring set in what was a shallow sea in prehistoric times. The ring is about 4,460 feet in diameter and stands about 200 feet high above the surrounding plain. Sandals found in a nearby cave are the oldest ever discovered, dating back around 9,000-13,000 years. We really enjoyed our time here and the beautiful drive to the Oregon Outback. Would highly recommend.

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    Fort Rock State Park
    Fort Rock State Park
    Fort Rock State Park - Cave tours!

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    Cave tours!

    Cleetwood Cove Trail - Boat tour tickets

    Cleetwood Cove Trail

    4.3(10 reviews)
    74.0 mi

    Crater lake is a far drive from Bend where we were staying. It is well worth it especially if you…read moredrive down early and get there before the parking lot fills up. When we were leaving at 2 pm it was packed so 10 am is perfect for getting parking. There is only two bathrooms at the parking lot, and supposedly one at the bottom of the hike but I didn't see it. We hiked down with kids, my 4 and 8 year old were able to do it. The 4 year old needed some carrying at the end but I was able to carry her up. I am not sure where people see "easy" for this hike. I would consider it medium because it's gradual and not straight up. Yes it's a gravel sand mixture but not slippery, especially on a dry day. The dusty trail got us all covered by a layer by the end. There is some points where you are in full sun and others with full shade. We jumped in the water and it was 61 degrees according to the Apple Watch. It helped the bottom up was in sun and helped keep me warm and drier. When we got to the shade it was a bit cold. The water is rocky so there isn't an easy place to get in but the kids were able to do it. They have boat rides on to the lake at the bottom but we didn't partake in it. The walk up was not difficult because of the switch backs. Had it been stairs straight down I would say that would be difficult. The path allows for people to rest and is wide enough for 3 people wide. They also have benches on the trail which is lovely. The view from the trail is much better than the lookouts from the road.

    2.2 mi, 604 elevation gain, 1 hr to complete…read more Trail is well maintained though it appears there is high risk for rock slides. It is very highly traveled and probably one of the busiest trails in the park. There were several people swimming at the bottom. Heading back up there are many benches along the way to take a breather and have a sip of water. It was pretty smokey today so it was difficult to see Wizard island and the other side of the lake from the trail. Though, looking down you can see the bright blue water and boats anchored waiting to take passengers to wizard island and on tours of the lake.

    Photos
    Cleetwood Cove Trail - In line for the boat tour

    In line for the boat tour

    Cleetwood Cove Trail - At the bottom

    At the bottom

    Cleetwood Cove Trail - View from the trail

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    View from the trail

    Paulina Lake Hot Springs

    Paulina Lake Hot Springs

    4.0(4 reviews)
    43.5 mi

    Let me start by saying we've been coming to Little Crater as a family for 30 years…read more Our recent reservation was for 2 spots in a cluster for 9 nights and 2 bordering spots for 4 nights. On our 2nd day there, we bought & displayed an extra vehicle tag. Most of our family was scheduled to arrive for the final 4 nights. Every day we took our boat to the lake, where we parked at the ramp, proudly displaying our yearly Parks Forest Pass, for which we paid a $30 fee to get. Every time the boat was taken to the lake, the extra vehicle was moved in our spot to allow passage. 1.  Every day, the camp host harrased us (sometimes multiple times) about the extra vehicle, clearly displaying the pass on the dash. "Oh I guess I did ask you about that car this morning." 2. On our 5th night, the host came to us and said, "I see you have spot 43 reserved tomorrow. It's been abandoned so hurry up and pay for it. I'll make note that we spoke."  So we paid for it and set up tents for our kids. A couple of hours later, the person who "abandoned it" returned. Her tent was up the hill out of sight. Luckily for us, she allowed our kids to remain in the spot. 3. On our 6th day, our truck at the boat ramp was "ticketed" by the host telling us we needed to park at camp since we weren't displaying a forest pass. We advised her that we had a pass displaying in the truck and why suddenlywas it an issue after 6 days? She advised us that didn't matter because the Forest service wanted the ramp for locals. 4. On the 7th day, we received a "2nd notice" on the truck when we parked at the ramp. The host told us she "wasn't going to argue" and would "call the Forest service" on us. 5. On the 7th day, our father arrived for the day. He bought a day pass at the park entrance. The host advised my nephew to have him move his truck and boat trailer from the parking lot since "he was with us and needed to park at camp." My nephew advised her he was a legitimate "Day User" and would park at the ramp, period. This is the day the restroom near our camps stopped being cleaned. Toilet paper was filled, but urine that was splashed around the room by hikers wasn't cleaned. It fell upon us to get bleach and a bucket of water to make the room bearable. 6. On the 7th day, in the evening, Forest service "supervisor" Carol came to camp. She advised us that we were "well within our rights to park on the ramp" if we wanted to, but to keep in mind that the "locals weren't able to make reservations and were having trouble parking on the ramp." Ladies and gentlemen,  the locals are perfectly capable of making reservations.  I seriously doubt they're driving past Paulina Lake ramp, which has double the parking and flush toilets, to park here at Little Crater. During this conversation with "supervisor" Carol, she pointed at the Forest Service Pass hanging from our mirror and told us " technically I could write you up right now since your pass isn't valid. See right there? It says it is invalid without a signature." It wasn't until the next day that we discovered this isn't true. There is NO PLACE on the pass that says it isn't valid without a signature.  We're so disgusted with the aggressiveness, incompetence, harrassment & unmitigated campaign to ruin our vacation by these hosts, that we packed up and left camp a day early.  We couldn't leave this place soon enough for all the stress and anxiety these people have caused. At this point, after two years in a row with the increasing ineffective hosting we've experienced, we don't even know if we'll bother next year.

    So much fun! We hiked about 8 miles round trip from our campground. It's a mostly flat hole that…read morefollows the beautiful shoreline. The hot springs are right on the shoreline and you can control the heat by digging into the sand and allowing lake water the flow in. What's better than sitting in a hot spring on the edge of a gorgeous lake!

    Photos
    Paulina Lake Hot Springs
    Paulina Lake Hot Springs
    Paulina Lake Hot Springs

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    Clear Lake - Drinks and fishing stuff

    Clear Lake

    4.5(12 reviews)
    84.2 mi

    Here is my review of clear lake for row boat use!…read more We got here at 930 am. Found the pay box at the entrance $9, no cash. There is an option to pay at the bottom which we should have done because they take the national park passes there (see picture). We were able to find parking in the main lot and there were a few people there. We weren't sure how the process of renting the boats or availability of life jackets. There is a shop that sells food, snacks, drinks, ice cream , and desserts. They also have a selection of fishing items, shirts, jackets. We paid for the boat - $60 for the large boat all day. The life jackets were plentiful and available. My husband rowed most of the time because I am not a good rower. We made it from the dock to the start of the river that you can't go past which is good since you could hear the rapids. The way to the left was a lot calmer and clear. We had a blast out on the lake. You could see down near the shallows but not in the middle of the lake. Make sure to bring sunscreen because there isn't much shade. The facilities are great!! Two bathrooms in the shop. Large tables to sit and enjoy a hot cooked meal or ice cream. I am so glad we were able to make a morning on the lake super easy and stress free! Next time I'm thinking of renting a kayak or a stand up paddle board. That would be fun! If you are in the area make sure to stop by early. As we were leaving, the parking lot was filled up so make sure to get there early! I hope my review and pictures help you plan for a successful visit to Clear Lake!

    A beautiful setting for the perfect romantic getaway or family weekend escape. The cabins are…read morecozy with gas stoves and heaters and the boat rentals are very affordable is you want to connect with the water. We enjoyed a wonderful hike around the lake which took us through forests, lava fields, and springs with wooden bridges. The views were amazing!

    Photos
    Clear Lake - Coffee and tea bar

    Coffee and tea bar

    Clear Lake - Bathroom

    Bathroom

    Clear Lake - View of the boat dock

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    View of the boat dock

    Crack In the Ground - hiking - Updated July 2026

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