Rivaling the beauty of the Oregon coast is the breathtaking Crater Lake National Park. I had seen countless photos of this remarkable place—the deepest lake in America, plunging nearly 2,000 feet—but nothing could have prepared me for seeing it in person.
I had imagined the lake’s rich purple-blue waters surrounded by dramatic cliffs, but even with all the photos, you can’t believe the color is real until you’re standing in front of it. It’s a blue so deep and vibrant, it almost looks surreal—like a child emptied an entire box of blue and purple crayons onto the landscape.
Crater Lake was formed more than 7,000 years ago by the violent eruption and collapse of Mount Mazama, creating a caldera that slowly filled with pure rainwater and melted snow over millennia. No rivers or streams flow in or out, which makes the water incredibly still, clear, and pristine.
As we drove and hiked around the rim, we kept stopping to take in the views from every possible angle. The color of the water changed subtly with the light, but it was always mesmerizing. I truly could have stared at that lake all day—it’s nature’s masterpiece in sapphire.