Five Days in Oregon

Cannon Beach, Columbia River Gorge, and Crater Lake National Park 

After Olympic National Park we headed south into Oregon, our 45th visited state!  We stayed in Warrenton, Oregon, just over the border from Washington.  The KOA we stayed at was a huge resort that had both indoor and outdoor pools, lots of family friendly activities, and a live band on the night we arrived, which Dunovan and Brodey really enjoyed.  

Cannon Beach

Just a short 30 min drive from the campground is Cannon Beach, an adorable sea side town full of shops, restaurants, and a fabulous beach.  You may know it best for the back drop in such movies as The Goonies, Point Break, and Twilight!  We were all very happy, including Bucky, to visit a sandy, warm, sunny beach.  We had a great beach day! 

Bucky loves digging in the sand! 

Pelicans

Brodey decided to go visit the pelicans.  They were not happy with his visit, lol. 

Fort Stevens State Park

Once a military fort used to guard the mouth of the Columbia River, it is now one of the largest State Park Campgrounds. It is also home to the wreckage of Peter Iredale, a steel barge that ran ashore October 25, 1906.   

Peter Iredale

Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area 

We got our first view of Mt. Hood during our travels 

Two and a half hours east of Warrenton, we visited the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.  We also experienced our first 105 F day of the trip.  Whew! It was hot!  So, instead of doing a hike, we booked a boat cruise down the Columbia River.  

Sailing club practicing for an upcoming competition 

Oregon on the left, Washington on the right of the river 

Bridge of the Gods

Originally there was a natural bridge here that collapsed about 1,000 years ago. 

Bonneville Lock and Dam 

Prior to the creation of the dam, the Columbia River in this area was full of rapids.  The dam was created in 1938 to improve the navigation of the Columbia River and to provide power to the Pacific Northwest.  

Double Crested Cormorants

Native American Fishing docks.  They fish for salmon from these docks.  

Multnomah Falls 

Multnomah Falls is a very popular area and requires a timed entry between 9 AM and 6 PM.  I had this vision that we would have to hike to these falls but they are actually right off the highway and a short walk from the parking lot.  Doug and Brodey continued to the top of the falls, about a mile one-way from the bridge.   Dunovan and I had other plans while they hiked to the top. 

Doug and Brodey's views from the top of the waterfall 

Much better than hiking!  Dunovan was drinking a Huckleberry Lemon Drop 

Somewhere in Oregon on our way to Crater Lake.... 

Another view of Mt. Hood 

This photo shows the rain shadow of the lower Cascade Mountain Range of Oregon 

Lemolo Lake in the Umpqua National Forest 

We stayed at the KOA on Lemolo Lake for our visit to Crater Lake.  This was the most remote KOA we have ever stayed in, found in the Umpqua National Forest, operated by the National Forest Service.   It was a short drive from here to the entrance to Crater Lake National Park, which is found in a remote area of Oregon.  

Crater Lake National Park, Est. 1902

Mount Mazama erupted 7,700 years ago and left a giant crater in the Pacific Northwest.  It is the 2nd deepest lake in North America, at 594 meters (1,949 feet), the deepest is in Canada.  There are no rivers or streams that flow in or out of the Crater Lake but is filled solely due to precipitation and snow melt.  It is extremely clear to a depth of 40 meters (130 feet). 

The Crater was originally called "Witches Cauldron," and the center of Crater lake is "Wizard Island," named by William Gladstone Steel in 1885.  Wizard Island was formed by a volcanic vent after the initial eruption of Mount Mazama.  Only 2% of the island is above the water line.  

Wizard Island is actually a volcano inside a volcano that erupted about 4,800 years ago.  There is a Crater at the top of the island. 

To visit the shoreline and take a boat trip around the lake you first have to hike Cleetwood Cove Trail 1 mile, with a descent of 700 feet to the lake shore.  Yes, this means at the end of the day you have to hike the 700 feet ascent, 1 mile back to the parking lot, which we did.  Of course, Brodey had to take a dip in the lake, the water was about 55-60 degrees F, it never gets warmer than this in the summer.  Needless to say he didn't last long! Doug and I just dipped our feet in. 

Brodey jumped in, of course! 

Yes, the water is actually this blue.  The boat we were on was painted the same color to match the water. 

That is still snow at the shoreline.  The Park Ranger told us the side of the cauldron was covered with snow up to about 2 weeks ago.  The heat wave this week melted most of it.   

Just couldn't get over the color of the water! 

Wizard Island 

Snow melt water fall 

Phantom Ship Island 

Rim Drive 

We left Crater Lake and made our way to Boise, ID.  The boys flew home from here and Doug and I took 4 nights to rest, clean the camper, shop, and meal prep.  We are ready for the next leg of our journey!  

Total miles driven: 6475

Total Campgrounds: 19

Total Miles Hiked: 84