POD: Exploring The Rocks By The Lake
Janis Shaeffer
Next you will be heading to the northeast section of the lake for a boat cruise! There are a couple of different boat cruise options on Crater Lake, ran by a park concessionary. I suggest taking the Wizard Island Tour that involves some cruising around the lake as well as some time spent exploring Wizard Island. Keep in mind that to get to the boat dock you will need to be able to hike the Cleetwood Cove Trail 1.1 miles downhill (700 ft / 213 m descent) and back up again after your tour.
One of my favorite places to go! Very convenient to Anchorage and one of the most accessible ways to get into the backcountry. The trail starts over a ridge then descends into the valley. At the end, after climbing over the a slew of rocks and boulders from a long ago slide, are two lakes situated on both sides of a lateral moraine; Eagle Lake, which is a green milky color and Symphony Lake, a rich blue aquamarine color. The contrast in color is amazing and is one of the coolest sites in the park.
While many hike to the Lakes as a day hike, plan an overnighter to allow time for exploring. The scenery is gorgeous whichever lake you decide to camp by. Some people choose to camp right on the spine of the moraine getting views of both lakes. On the ridge is a strange wooden structure that was supposedly the start of a cabin.
My research focuses on the combined use of siliceous microfossils (radiolarians, diatoms) and sedimentary geochemistry to answer questions about the age of rocks, the evolution and extinction of fossil marine plankton, as well as understanding past climate, anthropogenic impacts, and natural disturbances in mountain lakes.
In 2019, Dr. Paula Noble presented her research on the combined use of microfossils and sediment chemistry to answer questions about the age of rocks, the evolution and extinction of fossil marine plankton, as well as understanding past climate, anthropogenic impacts, and natural disturbances in mountain lakes.
There's plenty of hiking opportunities available within this expansive northern Arizona state park. Explore nature, the lake, and even local area history! Petroglyphs can be found on many of the rocks here and trails lead visitors into areas that offer up fantastic viewing opportunities. A little history accentuates the beauty these trails show you very nicely!