Road Trip Day 6: Stevenson to Fort Klamath

The highlight of this day -- and arguably the highlight of this trip -- came at Crater Lake National Park, which took us quite a few hours of driving to reach from Stevenson.

At an elevation of 6,178 feet (or 1,883 m) with a depth of 1,996 feet (or 608 m),, Crater Lake is one of the highest and deepest lake in the world. It is intensely blue under the sunlight, almost surreal.

(Click on each image to see the high-resolution version)

Crater Lake

The most prominent formation within the lake is Wizard's Island which itself is a nearly symmetric volcanic cinder cone.

Wizard's Island

Even though it was already summer, at the high elevation there was still unmelted snow everywhere:

Snow Field near Crater Lake

This day also proved to be a superb birding day. First, as I expected, as soon as I arrived at the park, I saw Clark's Nutcrackers (a new bird for me).

Clark's Nutcracker

Then, just before we left, I caught (in photograph, that is) a few Cassin's Finches, another new bird for me.

Cassin's Finch

Later, just when we arrived at our motel in Fort Klamath, I immediately saw another new bird, a Pine Siskin, at the feeder just outside the office.

Pine Siskin

And later, when I took a stroll along the Wood River just behind the motel, I took picture of a Tricolored Blackbird (a new bird for me) and some Cliff Swallows.

Tricolored Blackbird

Cliff Swallow

Click the following links to go to Previous Day: Road Trip Day 5: Portland to Mt. St. Helens to Stevenson, Washington or Next Day: Road Trip Day 7: Fort Klamath to Redding, California.

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