Winter Wonderland-Crater Lake and The Watchman

Crater Lake is the best location that I have visited in the winter, hands down. With the Rim Village at 7100ft, the access to the high country is easy, well plowed and amazing. Also, the route finding is also easy, thanks to the Rim Drive that circles the crater of this once mighty mountain, Mazama. I went with the Meetup group, Willamette Valley Outdoors who organizes well run trips in the Eugene area and in other key areas in the Northwest. Take I-5 South to OR 58 and go southeast, merge onto HWY 97 South to OR-422 and finally onto OR-62 into the Park, about a 5 hour drive. Follow the Rim Drive 2.8 miles, when the Rim Drive hangs left to go around The Watchman, go right cross country to the edge of the Rim where flat camp spots  can be found. Be careful to camp a safe distance from the outcroppings steep base where significant avalanche danger lies. The next day, retrace your steps back to the Road and continue right to the backside of The Watchman (the furthest point from the Rim). Make a right, and follow this bumpy ridge to the summit where there is a lookout cabin. Enjoy the Lake view for as long as you can from this windy, but beautiful vantage point as wind makes mesmerizing patterns on the water’s surface while views of Mt. Shasta to the south and Diamond Peak to the north spark your sense of adventure .