Best Vacation Spots in the United States
1- Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake National Park can be found in the Cascade Mountains, southern Oregon. It is best known for its name, Crater Lake. This lake was formed by Mount Mazama, a now-collapsed volcano. Wizard Island is located near the western shore of the lake in a cinder cone. The park’s volcanic formations can be seen from the road Rim Drive. Sun Notch is one of the many trails in the park, which offers views of the Phantom Ship, an island.
One of the most stunning lakes you will ever see
Crater Lake National Park is located in the Cascade Mountains. It’s one of the snowiest places in America. The Crater Lake National Park in the Cascade Mountains hosts a winter challenge for the best snowshoers and skiers. It is a 50-kilometer loop that takes place over three days around the Crater lake rim. You don’t have to be an elite athlete to appreciate the natural beauty of the parks’ slopes, forests & lakes throughout the year. The lake is the cleanest & clearest because it gets no water from creeks or rivers.
Crater Lake National Park is home to one of the most beautiful scenes on Earth. It features a pure, deep lake, sheer cliffs more than 600m high & two picturesque islands. Crater Lake, which is located 592 meters deep, is the ninth deepest lake on the planet and the deepest in America. The lake is located in Oregon’s southwest corner. It was formed by a hole caused by a volcano that collapsed more than 7,500 years ago.
Crater lake is stunning in any season. There are many ways to see it. Winter snowshoe treks with rangers can be enjoyed if there is more than 10m of snow. However, the lake’s depth keeps it from freezing. Explore the trails that run along the cliffs around the lake and Wizard Island. This 2,113-meter-high, cinder cone island rises 230m above the lake’s surface. You can also spend the day fishing or boating on the sparkling blue waters.
Timing your trip to Crater Lake National Park
It all depends on how you spend your time in the park.
- Summer
Crater Lake would be a popular summer destination if you only looked at the visitation figures. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the park receives about 70% of its visitors. Sunny skies & temperatures between 70-80 degrees F are the norms. Summer storms can bring rain, and sometimes snow. However, smoke from wildfires is the main hindrance to the lake’s visibility. Smoke can make it difficult to see the lake’s clear blue waters, even if visibility is reduced to a few yards on the worst days.
- Winter
The park receives an average of 43 feet of snow each year. The lake’s rim rises to between 7000 and 8000 feet. Snow clouds can obscure the lake, sometimes for days. Visitors can still snowshoe, cross-country ski, or snowmobile around the caldera. You can also camp at the rim after the Rim Drive closes for the season, which is usually in mid-October. For information about winter backcountry camping, visit nps.gov
Shoulder season
Which month is the best to visit Crater Lake, and why? We recommend September right after Labor Day. Although the crowds seem to disappear overnight, the weather is still perfect.
The park’s North entrance & West Rim Drive close in mid-October. They don’t reopen at all until either mid-May or the end of June. Mid-June to late July will see the East Rim Drive fully open.
Things to do in Crater Lake National Park
Visitor centers
Two small visitor centers are managed by the National Park Service, one on each side of the lake. The Steel Visitor Center is located in the Park Headquarters to view the 22-minute park film. It provides an overview of the geological and historical history of Crater lake. The visitor center is open during the summer months (May to October) from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. In winter, it is open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Parking is limited for large vehicles.
From May to September, the Rim Visitor Center will be open from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. every day. Rangers are available to answer your questions about the park at both visitor centers. You’ll also find bookstores at every location.
Crater Lake’s interpretive exhibits are not located in the visitor centers like other national parks. Instead, take the stone staircase that runs below the Rim Visitor Center and leads to Sinnott Memorial Overlook. This overlook was built into the caldera wall in the 1930s. It is buried in snow during the winter months.
Rim Drive
Crater Lake was designed to be accessed by car. The 33-mile Rim Drive is the longest paved road in Oregon & you can circumnavigate the lake in less than an hour, excluding the time spent at each viewpoint. The entire loop is usually open from mid-October through late June, depending on the snowmelt. The most popular stops are located (clockwise) at the south entrance.
- Address: 1 Sager Building, Crater Lake, OR 97604, United States
- Hours: Open 24 hours
- Phone: +1 541-594-3000
- Established: 22 May 1902
- Area: 183,224 acres (741.48 km2)
- Management: National Park Service
2- Redwood National and State Parks
Redwood National and State Parks is a chain of protected forests, beaches & grasslands that runs along Northern California’s coastline. Trails through old-growth forests can be found at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. Fern Canyon is located in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, which has high, plant-covered walls. Roosevelt elk frequent Elk Prairie. Redwood National Park’s Lady Bird Johnson Grove is home to giant redwood clusters.
Redwood National Park extends 40 miles along Northern California’s Pacific Coastline. The state’s rugged north coast is home to the massive coastal redwoods (or Sequoia Sempervirens). This area also contains the National Park, as well as numerous state parks like Prairie Creek, Del Norte & Jedediah Smith.
Humboldt Redwoods State Park is a state park that is not usually included with the three. It’s located about 40 minutes from Eureka, CA & boasts some of the most beautiful trails & trees in the region. This park is a must-see!
Redwood National Park in Northern California will make you feel small or young. The forest is home to a staggering number of 500-700-year-old trees, some of which can reach 267 feet/ 81m high (the highest in the world), and others that are over 20 feet/ 6m in width (second only to neighboring sequoias). It’s hard to describe what it feels like to be in the middle of the largest forest in the world. There are many nuances that you should take the time to appreciate, whether you’re hiking, driving through, enjoying the coast, or camping among these majestic trees.
Start at the top in Jedediah Smith State Park
The National Park Service has been doing remarkable work in preserving and protecting our nation’s natural wonders since its inception over 100 years ago. Redwoods are a rare exception. However, state parks have a better claim to the land being protected. Jedediah Smith State Park is one of three nearby state parks that jointly manage this area with the federal Park. This park is about an hour north of the National Park on U.S. Route 199. It offers a great introduction to the forests.
Cruise among giants on Howland Hill Road
Jedediah is the ideal place to go if you want to be in the middle of the woods. This 5.6-mile (9 km) stretch of dirt road is truly one of the most beautiful drives in America if it’s not the world. You can almost touch the redwoods from your car’s open window, even if you are driving a two-wheeler. You’ll want to drive in both directions because of the amazing sights and smells.
Hike the Stout Grove and Boy Scout trails
You’ll also find the park’s highest-rated walks, Stout Grove & Boy Scout, along Howland Hill Road. These two trails are among the most beautiful and well-maintained of the four redwood parks. Stout Grove, which is less than a one-mile round-trip, packs a punch. You can also walk alongside the trees here. Two miles south of Holland Hill Road, you will find the five-mile Boy Scout Trail. This is a longer hike & more remote. These hikes, like the park, are the most undeveloped and least visited. However, they give you the best access to the fauna & trees, including red-flowering currant carpets (pictured), which can only be found in this area of the world.
Sleep under the canopy at one of two ideal campsites
The Redwoods are so beautiful that you will want to stay as long as you can. You can extend your stay by renting a cabin, tent, or RV at Jedediah Smith Campground on U.S. Route 199, or Mill Creek Campground (pictured), both located in Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park. They are just off Redwood Highway (also known as U.S. Route 101). Both come highly recommended, usually have surprisingly availability, and accept reservations (do it far in advance–Californians love their camping) at reservecalifornia.com.
Trace the Pacific Coast for epic trees and seascapes
You’ll be amazed at how dense and sun-shaded this conglomeration of giant redwoods is as you drive south from Jedediah Smith or Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park along scenic U.S. 101. You can enjoy even more scenery and a closer view of the Pacific Ocean by turning west after Klamath onto Coastal Drive (pictured). As you descend into Prairie Creek State Park, you will see more of the Pacific Ocean. You can enjoy the tranquility of the six-mile dirt road, which is also accessible by car.
Hike Prairie Creek State Park
Prairie Creek has the most well-rated long hiking trails of all the redwood parks. Fern Canyon, a top-rated hike that runs one mile through 50-foot-tall fern-covered walls & ends at a creek and waterfall is a short loop. Cathedral Tree Trail is another short hike, covering three miles. You can also try the longer James Irvine Trail (10 mi) or the more difficult Miner’s Ridge Trail (12 mi), which connects to Fern Canyon & finishes at the beach.
Drive the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway
The last of our recommended redwood drives is Newton B. Drury Parkway. This 10-mile stretch of two-lane road is located near Orick, Prairie Creek State Park. It may be the most covered in trees in the area. It’s shaded & covered with ferns and surrounded by trees. This road takes you through the mystic forest to reach the larger national park.
Walk Redwoods National Park’s two iconic groves
Redwoods National Park is the place to be. You can see the oldest trees in the park, which are over 500 years old. It’s beautiful, in either misty fog or slanting lighting. You can make the most of the park’s dramatic lighting by visiting it in the orange hues at night or morning (the park is accessible from sunrise to sunset).
The colossal redwoods will be the main attraction, but there are also two other beaches that are worth exploring while you’re in the area. Pebble Beach is located in Crescent City to the north. This is not the Pebble Beach that you will find further south, near Carmel-By-the-Sea. You’ll be able to enjoy the sand-free beaches & Oregon-like views. You’ll find a beautiful cove with trees at Trinidad State Beach to the south of Redwoods National Park (30 minutes by car). Despite the frigid water temperatures, it’s unlikely you’ll want to stay in the water for too long. However, both sights are stunning.
The National Park Service states that “Where can you drive through a tree?” is the most common question visitors ask. The four giant trees are now protected by the National Park Service. However, tourists can drive through one of three privately-owned trees for a fee. These include the Tour Thru Tree (at 430 CA169 in Klamath), the Shrine Tree at 13708 Avenue of the Giants (in Myers Flat), or the Chandelier Drive-Thru Tree (at 67402 Drive Thru Tree Rd. in Leggett). Although the trees are still quite impressively alive, they were all severely damaged in order to make the passages possible. These tourist attractions are fun, but they are not the reason we had to create these parks.
- Address: California, United States
- Hours: Open 24 hours
- Phone: +1 707-464-6101
- Established: 2 October 1968
- Management: National Park Service, California State Parks
- Area: 138,999 acres (562.51 km2)
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