Crater Lake in a Day
Confession: I’m a sucker for bus tours. In fact, I was once called “The Concierge’s Dream” while on vacation. I earned this name after booking two tours in one day while on vacation in Hawaii. So, when I was invited by my colleagues at Travel Lane County to tag along on the inaugural run of the Oregon Skyway – Crater Lake National Park Scenic Bus Tour, I was thrilled.
The tour left from the Hult Center in Eugene – from there we went straingt to Salt Creek Falls. Salt Creek Falls is Oregon’s second tallest waterfall (Multnomah Falls is the tallest). The falls are gorgeous, and the park has several viewing platforms for different vantage points – many of which are wheelchair accessible.
From Salt Creek Falls, we hopped back on the bus and headed to Willamette Pass where we were handed box lunches and then sent to board the Gondolas. I’ll admit – I was a little bit scared to ride the gondola. But, once I saw the view on the way up, I was less focused on how high off the ground we were and more focused on all the beautiful landmarks I could see.
We ate our lunches high atop Eagle Peak, which sits at 6,666 feet! From our picnic tables, we could see Odell Lake, as well as the mountain biking trails that Willamette Pass offers in the summer.
After lunch, it was finally time to go to Crater Lake! The last time I visited Crater Lake was close to 20 years ago (EEK!), I remember thinking that the lake was pretty, but I was far too embarrassed at that time to be seen with my family, so I refused to enjoy myself. This time, sans my pre-teen attitude, I was ready to soak it all in.
I was amazed at the amount of snow still on the ground – in June! We were given some time to explore the lodge and relax in the giant rocking chairs on the lodge’s patio. After about an hour, it was time to head back home, but I was glad to discover Crater Lake again as an adult! On the way back into Eugene, we stopped at Shelter Cove Resort to stretch our legs and as if they had been cued, two eagles swooped down from the sky to grab a fish from the lake. It was the perfect ending to a fantastic day.
The Oregon Skyway – Crater Lake Scenic Bus Tour runs each Friday through the end of August. For more information, visit http://www.willamettepass.com/
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Jennifer
You can ride the Oregon Skyway gondolas on Saturdays and Sundays. Hike or bike down. Or just play disc golf. Or just take in the views.