How to Cool Off

November 1, 2011 By Brian Yaeger

Crater Lake, at 1,943 feet, is the deepest lake in the U.S.—the caldera lake formed when the volcano collapsed almost 8,000 years ago. The beauty of the lake startles first-time visitors once they reach the summit of the rim. “You’d almost think that Crater Lake invented the color blue,” exclaims Dennett, who enjoys snowshoeing there in the winter but prefers hiking in the summer. My friend Daniel, the former ranger, suggests hiking the Watchman Peak Trail for spectacular overlooks and the Cleetwood Cover Trail down to the lake, where Wizard Island seemingly hovers in sapphire waters. He adds, “There are some nice rocks to jump in off and I believe swimsuits are still optional.”