Prospect, OR Crater Lale

Crescent City, CA - Prospect, OR
5/22/24 - 5/54/24

Miles Traveled  171
Trip Total         4438
Travel Time      4:11

States visited: FL, GA, AL, MS, LA, TX, NM, AZ, UT, NV, CA, Oregon 

Leaving Crescent City, and California our plan was to make it to Oregon before we got fuel, as California's fuel prices have been the highest we have seen.  The average price in Crescent City was was $5.69 and we needed around sixty gallons. While exploring Crescent City we found a gas station adjacent to the Indian Casino where gas was only $4.50!  It was well worth going out of our way to fill up there.

The route to Prospect was up Highway 199, yet another mountain road.  This one was not anywhere near as bad as Highway 36, but than again no roads we drive on should be that bad. Overall it was a pleasant and beautiful drive.  The highway started out by taking us through Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park and followed the Smith River to the Oregon border. Following the river gave the road several sharp turns and very steep cliffs dropping off to the river.  Once we passed the Oregon border the roads were very different, they were a little wider, a bigger shoulder, and more guardrails.

While we were checking in, the camp hoist gave us a map of local must see locations.  Several of them were right in Prospect.  Prospect is riddled with streams, rivers, gorges and waterfalls.   We spent Thursday afternoon exploring them.  

We started hiking to the closest falls, which also happened to be the smallest.  As we continued on to Pearsoney Falls a 12 foot waterfall.  At our second stop we had a choice between hikes, the first was to Boulder Field which was a "challenging hike" or the second was to Barr Falls and Mill Creek Falls which was a "moderate hike" 1.5 mile round trip hike..  I do not know who determined it "moderate hike" but they need to read a dictionary!!  You know the trail is steep when you come upon switchback after switchback.   Several of the switchbacks had shortcuts, that were even steeper than the main trail.   On the way down we took the shortcuts but there was no way we were taking them on the way out.  The 174 foot Mills Creek Falls was impressive and alone that would have been worth the hike, but shortly past that was the 240 foot Barr Falls.  Wow is all I can say.  Once again words and pictures can not begin to describe the falls and surrounding gorge.  Both falls feed the Rogue River.    The rivers and gorges were formed by the eruptions of Mount Mazama 7000 years ago.  On our hike out we came across a kayaker hiking down the trail. His plan was to kayak 3 miles down the Rogue River.   We are not sure how he gets to the water, but he said he does it all the time.

Our last stop of the day was the Rogue River Gorge overlook. Standing on the bridge you can look up and down the Gorge. Looking down in the Gorge there were two ladies doing ariel stunts with fabric ropes suspended from the bridge.  CRAZY!  The views of the gorge and river were just as impressive as the falls.

Thursday we drove up to Crater Lake.  Once again we were off season, While Memorial Day is the start of the summer season in New Jersey it is much later in Crater Lake.  There is a 33 mile Rim Route driver around the lake with overlooks where you can stop and view the lake, and one area where you can rent paddle boards and kayaks to explore the lake.  The only problem is the road does not open until late June or early July.  Crater Lake receives 44 feet of snow annually, and to takes them that long to clear the road.  They also had three of their snow blower trucks down for most of the season.  When we asked how much snow they received this year, we were told the snow season does not end until June so they have not released the total yet.   The administration building still had snow drifts up to the roof, and the restrooms had tunnel ways built out to the roadway, that were covered in snow.  

We were able to visit the South Road Visitor Center and Lodge, as well as one of the over looks.  This weekend is the season opening of the lodge, and even with most of the roads closed they were fully booked for the weekend.  As we walked around we saw several people with cross country skis heading out to explore.  

Crater Lake was form 7000 years ago when Mount Mazama erupted and blew the top of the mountain off, leaving a perfect crater in place of the mountain top.  Crater Lake is over 2000 feet deep, and has no rivers that flow in or out of the lake.  The water that evaporates out of the lake is replaced by snowfall and rain.  Because there is no "outside" influence in the lake, the lake water is 99.9% pure.

On our return trip to the campground we stopped at one more to view the Rogue River.  This section of the river flows through a collapsed lava tub.  At the narrowest section the river is less than 50 wide, and over 600,000 gallons of water rush through every minute.  This could fill an olympic sized swimming pool every minute.  It was only a quarter mile long section but the amount of water rushing through it was incredible.

After Crater Lake our next stop is going to be Coos Bay, Oregon.  We had planned to stop at an Elks Lodge for the night, but after looking at Google Earth, and reading the reviews we found out that they are really only setup for RV's less than 30 feet.  Our second choice stop is Mills Casino and RV Park so we headed there.