Puck Lake Trail

This is not an easy hike, but every step is more than worth it. Unlike Mount Thielsen to the north, this summit requires no scrambling/climbing; it's just a long, steep hike. Mount McLoughlin (named for John McLoughlin of Hudson's Bay Company and Oregon Trail fame) is a lava cone on top of a composite volcano, inactive for tens of thousands of years. Its slopes bear the marks of glaciation, and...

Starting at at elevation of 5250 feet, the trail climbs steadily from the trailhead for approximately 3.3 miles to pass at 6900 feet. From here you will come to a junction where going right will lead to Devils Peak and the PCT and going left (straight) will take down into the basin. If you started early I would choose heading down to Cliff Lake first and setting up camp at one of the beautiful ...

These needle-like formations of rock, called fossil fumaroles, projecting from the Sand Creek Canyon floor, were formed under sheets of volcanic pumice that preceded Mazama's collapse. As the surface of the hot pumice cooled over the years, steam and gases were released by the hot rocks underneath through vents and tubes that were welded into cement hardness by their passage. These ancient vent...

The trailhead is located across Highway 62, on the opposite side of the highway from the Crater Lake National Park entrance at Mazama Village. Look for a road sign indicating parking for the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).Start on the PCT: Highway 140 to Highway 138 (near Cascade Crest), hiking several gentle miles with virtually no elevation gain. Eventually, a fork in the trail with a well-maintai...

Start your adventure behind the Steel Visitor Center, halfway between the Mazama Village entrance of Crater Lake National Park and the lake itself. It won't take long before you stumble upon the mystery that is the Lady of the Woods: a dazzling, intricate sculpted rock that experts are unsure whether it's natural or man-made. Loop your way back to the visitor center through colorful wildflowers...

Pearsony falls, located in the Oregon State Park known as Prospect State Scenic Viewpoint, is about 15 feet tall and cascades picturesquely in two sections underneath a green canopy and between mossy rocks. The falls flow year round, though water levels vary with the season. A trip to Pearsony Falls can easily be combined with other destinations in the area, such as Mill and Barr Creek Falls, t...