Little Crater Lake

After visiting Trillium Lake and White River, I drove south on the Skyline Road to the turnoff for the Little Crater Lake access road. To my surprise, the huge potholes in the access road had been repaired.

Mid-November is an excellent time to visit the area. The mornings are crisp, and the tamarack trees’ needles have turned golden.

I parked at the edge of a large sub-alpine meadow about 15 miles south of Mt. Hood. In a short distance, I reached the lake, which is 100 feet wide and 45 feet deep, and crystal blue to its very bottom, where an artesian spring feeds the lake.

Pacific Crest Trail

After visiting the lake, I hiked over to the Pacific Coast Trail. Turning left, there was a footbridge to cross, and I was on my way to Timothy Lake. Many times in the past, I have made the 12-mile loop hike around the lake. Instead, this day, I took a short bushwhack to a large meadow by a creek. It made a pleasant place to grab a snack before returning to the lake.

Is there a nicer place to visit in the fall?