Home  •   Field Guide  •   Forums  •    Unread Posts  •   Maps  •   Find a Hike!
| Page | Discussion | View source | History | Print Friendly and PDF

Difference between revisions of "Little Crater Lake"

From Oregon Hikers Field Guide

m (Little stuff)
(Revise hike ring)
 
(13 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Category:Mount Hood Area]]
+
[[Category:Clackamas River Area]]
 
[[Category:Northwest Oregon]]
 
[[Category:Northwest Oregon]]
[[Category:Viewpoints]]
+
[[Category:Mt Hood National Forest]]
[[Image:TimothyCL1.JPG|thumb|400px|Little Crater Lake ''(Jerry Adams)'']]
+
[[Category:Geologic Features]]
 +
[[Category:Lakes]]
 +
[[Category:Springs]]
 +
[[Category:Destinations]]
 +
 
 +
[[Image:At Little Crater Lake.jpg|thumb|400px|At Little Crater Lake ''(bobcat)'']]
 +
[[Image:View into Little Crater Lake.jpg|thumb|250px|View into Little Crater Lake ''(bobcat)'']]
 
[[Image:TimothyCL2.JPG|thumb|250px|Boardwalk across meadow leading to Little Crater Lake ''(Jerry Adams)'']]
 
[[Image:TimothyCL2.JPG|thumb|250px|Boardwalk across meadow leading to Little Crater Lake ''(Jerry Adams)'']]
  
 
* Hikes to this location:
 
* Hikes to this location:
** {{Hike ring|trailhead=Timothy Lake Dam Trailhead|hike=Timothy Lake Hike|log=Timothy Lake Hike/Log|previous=Pacific Crest-Timothy Lake North Trail Junction|next=Timothy Lake-Meditation Point Trail Junction}}
+
** {{Hike ring|trailhead=Little Crater Lake Trailhead|hike=Little Crater Lake Hike|log=Little Crater Lake Hike/Log|previous=Little Crater Lake Trailhead|next=Pacific Crest-Little Crater Lake Trail Junction}}
{{maplinkinfo|latitude=45.1472|longitude=-121.7507}}
+
** {{Hike ring|trailhead=Frog Lake Sno-Park|hike=Wapinitia Pass to Little Crater Lake Hike|log=Wapinitia Pass to Little Crater Lake Hike/Log|previous=Pacific Crest-Little Crater Lake Trail Junction|next=Little Crater Lake}}
* Elevation: 3230'
+
** {{Hike ring|trailhead=Timothy Lake Dam Trailhead|hike=Timothy Lake Loop Hike|log=Timothy Lake Loop Hike/Log|previous=Pacific Crest-Little Crater Lake Trail Junction|next=Pacific Crest-Little Crater Lake Trail Junction}}
 +
** {{Hike ring|trailhead=Pacific Crest Skyline Road Trailhead|hike=Clackamas Lake-Timothy Lake Loop Hike|log=Clackamas Lake-Timothy Lake Loop Hike/Log|previous=Pacific Crest-Little Crater Lake Trail Junction|next=Pacific Crest-Little Crater Lake Trail Junction}}
 +
 
 +
{{maplinkinfo|latitude=45.1483|longitude=-121.7509}}
 +
* Elevation: 3230 feet
  
 
=== Description ===
 
=== Description ===
Although this is off the Timothy Lake Hike, it's only a 1/4 mile sidetrip and worth seeing.
+
Little Crater Lake is a beautiful artesian spring surrounded by lush meadows. The lake was formed by dissolving siltstone when water from the aquifer below was forced up through a fault line. The spring has enlarged the opening and worn through the layer of siltstone to a gravel layer 45 feet below. The water temperature here is cold - a constant 34 degrees throughout the year.  
  
Little Crater Lake is little. Probably not a worthy destination by itself, but the surrounding meadow area is quite scenic. Look for wildlife. Be prepared for mosquitoes especially early in the summer, because the area is quite wet.
+
The Little Crater Lake Geological Area is fenced to keep cattle out. Be prepared for mosquitoes, especially early in the summer. You can inspect the surrounding Little Crater Meadows for wildflowers in the early summer and look for huckleberries in August.
  
The lake was formed by dissolving limestone, not of volcanic origin, as it's name might lead you to believe.
+
Little Crater Lake is less than a quarter of a mile from the [[Pacific Crest-Little Crater Lake Trail Junction]] and 250 yards from the [[Little Crater Lake Trailhead]] and Campground.  The campground is fairly primitive, with toilets but no drinking water.  
  
It's about 1/4 mile from the [[Pacific Crest-Timothy Lake South Trail Junction]], and 100 yards from the Little Crater Lake Campground.   
+
=== More Links ===
 +
* [http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mthood/recarea/?recid=53410  Little Crater Lake Campground (USFS)]
 +
* [http://www.recreation.gov/camping/little-crater-lake/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=71658  Little Crater Lake, OR (Recreation.gov)]
 +
* [http://blog.oregonlive.com/terryrichard/2009/09/little_crater_lake_near_mount.html "Little Crater Lake near Mount Hood is nearly as blue as its big brother in southern Oregon" (Oregon Live)]
  
The campground is fairly primitive with no drinking water and gravel road access for cars. It probably fills up on summer weekends, but it's not as crowded as Timothy Lake campgrounds. To get there, turn right off the Skyline Road about 6 miles before the Timothy Lake Road turnoff. I think there's a sign saying "Little Crater Lake".
 
 
{{TripReports|{{PAGENAME}}}}
 
* (Click [http://portlandhikers.com/forums/AddPost.aspx?ForumID=8 here] to add your own)
 
 
{{RelatedDiscussions|{{PAGENAME}}}}
 
* (Click [http://portlandhikers.com/forums/AddPost.aspx?ForumID=141 here] to ask a question or start a conversation)
 
 
=== Guidebooks that cover this destination ===
 
 
=== More Links ===
 
  
 
=== Contributors ===
 
=== Contributors ===
 
* [[User:retiredjerry]] (creator)
 
* [[User:retiredjerry]] (creator)

Latest revision as of 23:57, 22 October 2020

At Little Crater Lake (bobcat)
View into Little Crater Lake (bobcat)
Boardwalk across meadow leading to Little Crater Lake (Jerry Adams)

Description

Little Crater Lake is a beautiful artesian spring surrounded by lush meadows. The lake was formed by dissolving siltstone when water from the aquifer below was forced up through a fault line. The spring has enlarged the opening and worn through the layer of siltstone to a gravel layer 45 feet below. The water temperature here is cold - a constant 34 degrees throughout the year.

The Little Crater Lake Geological Area is fenced to keep cattle out. Be prepared for mosquitoes, especially early in the summer. You can inspect the surrounding Little Crater Meadows for wildflowers in the early summer and look for huckleberries in August.

Little Crater Lake is less than a quarter of a mile from the Pacific Crest-Little Crater Lake Trail Junction and 250 yards from the Little Crater Lake Trailhead and Campground. The campground is fairly primitive, with toilets but no drinking water.

More Links


Contributors

Oregon Hikers Field Guide is built as a collaborative effort by its user community. While we make every effort to fact-check, information found here should be considered anecdotal. You should cross-check against other references before planning a hike. Trail routing and conditions are subject to change. Please contact us if you notice errors on this page.

Hiking is a potentially risky activity, and the entire risk for users of this field guide is assumed by the user, and in no event shall Trailkeepers of Oregon be liable for any injury or damages suffered as a result of relying on content in this field guide. All content posted on the field guide becomes the property of Trailkeepers of Oregon, and may not be used without permission.