Crater Lake, OR trip

[Brookey_813]

Hello, my husband and I are planning on going up to Oregon the first weekend through the 2nd weekend of July. I want to stop and stay a night near or next to Crater Lake. Does anybody know good spots to camp and or when the best time to go, i.e. during the week or maybe the weekend after the 4th of July. Also, does any Oregon folks on here know any where cool to be on the 4th of July near Redmond?

 

[OatBunch]

Beautiful area all around there! It has been 5 or so years since I was down that way to watch the Perseid meteor shower, but we camped at Mazama Campground just outside of the park. It was only a short drive from there to the rim, and had everything you would need as a base camp. Including a steel bear boxes for each camp site. Mid-week is going to be your best bet to getting a spot. It is a large-ish campground, but is probably already booked out for weekends for the rest of the season.

If you have clear skies, make the drive back up to one of the overlooks after dark. It will be cold, but the view is unmatched.

One last thing to keep in mind is (according to a coworker) as of a few weeks ago only part of the rim road open because of the amount of snow they got this winter, so you couldn't make the full loop. That may have changed, but check conditions!

 

[fourwd1]

Moved to OT.

 

[way out west]

Hello, my husband and I are planning on going up to Oregon the first weekend through the 2nd weekend of July. I want to stop and stay a night near or next to Crater Lake. Does anybody know good spots to camp and or when the best time to go, i.e. during the week or maybe the weekend after the 4th of July. Also, does any Oregon folks on here know any where cool to be on the 4th of July near Redmond?

Funny, we got back from Crater Lake yesterday , and we used to live in Vacaville also.. Shannon Dr. off of Browns Valley, backup up to the airport, loved that house.

Anyways.. as of yesterday, the Rim Rd isn't open yet, both the North and South entrance are open BUT, there is construction if you're trying to go from one end to the other from the Lodge, they are redoing the road, they will sit you at the top and lead you with a pilot truck. OK but just a little bit of a wait. Camping near by is available at Diamond Lake, just down the road, I think they have some spaces that are open on a first come basis.

As for fireworks near Redmond, can't really say, I'd assume there will be some, I'd also assume Bend/Mt. Bachelor would have cool ones, IIRC fire danger is currently showing low-medium out that way.

 

[Brookey_813]

Beautiful area all around there! It has been 5 or so years since I was down that way to watch the Perseid meteor shower, but we camped at Mazama Campground just outside of the park. It was only a short drive from there to the rim, and had everything you would need as a base camp. Including a steel bear boxes for each camp site. Mid-week is going to be your best bet to getting a spot. It is a large-ish campground, but is probably already booked out for weekends for the rest of the season.

If you have clear skies, make the drive back up to one of the overlooks after dark. It will be cold, but the view is unmatched.

One last thing to keep in mind is (according to a coworker) as of a few weeks ago only part of the rim road open because of the amount of snow they got this winter, so you couldn't make the full loop. That may have changed, but check conditions!

Yeah I noticed the road closures on the National Park website and it still shows most of the roads closed due to road conditions and weather. It looks like we may just drive there and do the hike to the lookout point and take some photos.

Funny, we got back from Crater Lake yesterday , and we used to live in Vacaville also.. Shannon Dr. off of Browns Valley, backup up to the airport, loved that house.

Anyways.. as of yesterday, the Rim Rd isn't open yet, both the North and South entrance are open BUT, there is construction if you're trying to go from one end to the other from the Lodge, they are redoing the road, they will sit you at the top and lead you with a pilot truck. OK but just a little bit of a wait. Camping near by is available at Diamond Lake, just down the road, I think they have some spaces that are open on a first come basis.

As for fireworks near Redmond, can't really say, I'd assume there will be some, I'd also assume Bend/Mt. Bachelor would have cool ones, IIRC fire danger is currently showing low-medium out that way.

Thanks for the advice, I have been observing the National Parks website now but we are just going to go to the lookout point and take photos now. Browns Valley is still nice but everything in Vacaville is so expensive. I live with family members out on Midway Rd. Way better than being in town.