Diamond Lake to Crater Lake & back

Over the 5 days

With a deep and late snow pack around Crater Lake and high temperatures forecasted, my hybrid backpacking / car packing plan became a 5 day car packing adventure – safety first. 3 nights camping at Broken Arrow CG and the last night at Thielsen View CG. Each day started early before sunrise with a short drive to a PCT TH or ‘on ramp’ trailhead – Broken Arrow was chosen for its proximity to Crater Lake.

Over the 5 days, 95 miles and 33 hours of hiking, I went from Diamond Lake via Mt Thielsen trail to PCT to Crater Lake, along the rim and down the south side to Hwy 62 (and back). The section from Red Cone to Crater Lake rim (Devil’s Backbone) was walked a second time. About 1/3 of the “white blaze” PCT around Red Cone was also hiked but abandoned after poor trail conditions. Mt Bailey was not done given remaining snow atop.

If one has not gone to Crater Lake, why not? Combined with Redwoods, … my National Park fix for the year is complete 🙂

Walking up to Crater Lake rim

Walking up to the crater (and back down) on both the south and north sides, I find it easy to prefer the south side – more diverse, more water and steeper – snow and ice mostly on the north, however.

On Crater Lake rim

Wizard Island at different times

Around Diamond Lake

From the scorching hot fire of last year (a lightning strike?) on Mt Thielsen to the deceptive size of Diamond Lake, hiking around this area is never dull – challenging for sure. Disappointment as well at sticking with the safer route and avoiding NOBO PCT past Thielsen.

The bird was a juvenile bald eagle that quickly was ‘escorted’ away by osprey pair.

That Thielsen fire is uniquely horrific.

Detailed Routes

Day 1: Wednesday, July 09

Leaving home around 04:00 put me at North Crater TH right off Hwy 138 by 6:30, and hiking shortly there after on PCT SOBO toward Crater Lake. It’s just a long gradual climb 11 miles or so to the rim (as my biking buddy said, even gradual 2% incline will get ya if long enough) …

Day 2: Thursday, July 10

Drove to the most northern parking lot on Crater Lake Rim and hiked around the Rim intended to go to Garfield. First, had to walk on road around Watchman as it was closed, and then the trail to Garfield was closed too. The Rim trail, priceless.

Day 3: Friday, July 11

Another quick drive before sunrise to Red Cone TH for a long hike on the “white blaze” PCT around Crater Lake – it remains official imho to keep horses off the rim. This trail section was poorly maintained and after talking with a pair NOBO hikers and seeing the extent of blowdowns ahead … I turned around and went back to Crater Lake Rim. Flexibility paid off. However, the park was getting very busy.

Day 4: Saturday, July 12

After a short 10 minute drive to North Crater TH (same as Wed), went NOBO on PCT to Mt. Thielsen. I passed thru hiker who asked about the snow north of Thielsen – risk? I went around the trail junction and tried that higher risk snow section – it was beyond my ‘fun zone’, so I turned around and headed up Mt. Thielsen to the last of the scrub trees and all scree. Went back down same route. (Recorded GaiaGPS track)

Day 5: Sunday, July 13

Drove to Crater Lake Rim village around sunrise and parked. Hiked down to PCT and then down further to Hwy 62. On the return, went down Annie’s Spring tr to the spring for water and then back up to car. A bit of snow to navigate near the rim and only 2 other hikers the entire time. I found the south side more interesting than the north side- the south seems so “cascade-like”. (Recorded GaiaGPS track)

Campgrounds

Broken Arrow

Newest of the three CGs at Diamond Lake. A typical ‘RV’ CG with flush restrooms and plenty of pull-throughs and big sites – not a place to hang out and enjoy the ambiance. The key positive is it’s closest to Crater Lake NP.

Thielsen View

My favorite of the 3 CGs, though this year was an odd and very loud crowd. Many people staying 1-2 weeks and of those they all fished and had paddle boards too (if they were mobile). Skeptical I’d go back there – just no compelling reason unless one could reserve site B10.

The backcountry campgrounds for hikers were also closed and dispersed camping was allowed 1 mile from roads.

Data Geek Cellar

• Shoes: Altra Lone Peak mesh lowers #3
• Pack: Gossamer Gear Kumo Fast 38
• Upper Layers: 2 (Tech short sleeve base layer, Patagonia Capilene)
• Upper shell: none
• Trekking Poles: Gossamer Gear
• Approximate Times: before 06:00 every day but first one
• Carbon ratio: +14.05 hours; YTD = 121.6 hiking hours banked YTD
• Notes:5
  • Photos: medium
  • Speed: medium to slow
  • Difficulty: moderate (snow and heat and distances)

Day 1: Wednesday, July 09 (North Crater TH to Crater Rim and back)

~9 miles is missing from below as I forgot to turn on recording until completed Hwy 138 to Red Cone 1 way.

Day 2: Thursday, July 10 – Crater Lake Rim Trail

part 2 – Mt Thielsen Trail to PCT and back

Day 3: Friday, July 11 (Around Red Cone and then back up to the Rim)

Day 4: Saturday, July 12 (North Crater TH to Mt. Thielsen and up via PCT)

Day 5: Sunday, July 13 (Crater Lake Rim Village to Hwy 62 and back via PCT)