When Mount Mazama, the mountain in which Crater Lake is embedded, erupted, it collapsed in on itself, and over time, filled with rainwater and snow runoff. The resulting hue of the lake is a deep ...

Over the centuries, snowmelt and rainwater filled the yawing crater to create a lake that's impossibly blue, nearly 2,000-feet deep in spots, and ringed by a ragged circle of toothy, often snow ...

Cash is not accepted. People can visit Crater Lake any time as the park is open 24 hours a day, year-round. However, some areas are closed seasonally due to snow. Visitors should check for ...