Crater Lake National Park Braces For Busy Summer

Above, Crater Lake's Wizard Island is seen through a smoky haze in 2017. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Part of my Great American Eclipse trip of 2017 included a visit to Crater Lake National Park. That was my third visit there. The only thing that kind of spoiled it were the fires near the crater. The smoke from them settled inside the crater. At least this year (so far), there's no fires.

Crater Lake National Park in Oregon is bracing for another busy summer season.

Record numbers showed up last year despite the coronavirus and park officials are expecting much the same this year.

Oregon Live (from The Oregonian) tells readers what to expect.

They begin with:

Crater Lake National Park officials are bracing for possibly record-breaking visitation this summer as COVID restrictions ease and Americans once again head out on vacation.

“All indications are this summer’s visitation is going to be very, very high,” said Superintendent Craig Ackerman.

Last year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, record numbers of visitors were recorded in July, August and December. Numbers that high could once again spell problems for visitors and result in delays in entering the park and, once in, finding parking near Rim Village.

To read more, go here.