Getting to Mazama Cabins can be a little confusing. From Hwy 62, just past the Annie Creek Entrance Station, turn right towards Mazama Campground and right again into Mazama Village. Drive through the big parking lot and past Mazama Village Store on your left, take the first right which leads to the cabins. The road is divided into two loops. The first loop contains cabins A through E and the second loop contains cabins F through J. A paved footpath connects the two loops between Cabin D and Cabin G. The rustic exterior of each cabin blends with the natural forest setting, and the structures generally appear the same. They are a single-story horizontal design with a high peaked roof. Forward facing is another peak covering a cement porch and the entry to four rooms. The entire structure is painted brown and the peaks are protected by wood shingles. Large, sliding barn-doors are closed during winter to protect the porch from snow drifts, but remain open all summer. From the road, a cement walk and two steps up lead to the porch. The accessible cabin has a ramp to the porch. Once the snow melts, picnic tables are placed out front. White lines in front of the cabins designate parking spaces. On the porch, each room has a designated number. The rooms all have a casual inn-like appearance with one bright colored wall that the bed skirt and scarf, a pillow and curtains compliment. Two queen beds, or one queen bed in an accessible room, have multiple pillows and white linens. The remaining room accommodations are similar to standard hotel including: lamps, tables, luggage and hanging clothes rack, and rustic style chairs. Each room has a single window that opens to the natural sounds of the forest. In addition to a sleeping and lounging area, there is a bathroom with sink, toilet, and shower with fresh white towels. Exiting either loop returns to Mazama Village, Annie Creek Restaurant and Gift, the Mazama Village Store and gas station. Typically, every night a different evening program is offered by a park ranger at the amphitheater located between loops D and E.

The Cabins at Mazama Village offer the comfort and privacy of an inn nestled in an old growth forest of lodgepole pines. <br /> <br /> <span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 1.5625rem; letter-spacing: -0.25px;">Features</span><br /> The rustic-style exterior opens into a casual interior design offering comfort and serenity, free of phones and TVs. At 6000 feet there is plenty of fresh mountain air so air conditioning is not available. There are 10 cabins each with four private accommodations featuring two queen beds with a private bath and shower. Two accessible accommodations offer one queen bed and private bath.<br /> <br /> Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made up to a year in advance of your visit. Reserve a room at the Mazama Cabins by contacting the park concessionaire, Crater Lake Hospitality, either <a href="https://www.travelcraterlake.com/lodging-camping/crater-lake-lodge/">online</a> or by calling 866-292-6720. The Mazama Cabins are generally open from late May or early June through late September. <br /> <br /> <span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 1.5625rem; letter-spacing: -0.25px;">Near-by Amenities </span><br /> At the Annie Creek Restaurant and Gift Shop, located in the village, you’ll find family-friendly American cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as a variety of local beers and wines. The gift shop offers a wide selection of park souvenirs. The nearby Mazama Village Store carries groceries, camping supplies, firewood, and gasoline.<br /> <br />  

Cabin at Mazama Village

The Cabins at Mazama Village are nestled in an old growth forest of lodgepole pines. The rustic-style exterior opens into a casual interior design offering comfort and serenity, free of phones and TVs. At 6000 feet, air conditioning is not available but there is plenty of fresh mountain air! Ten cabins each with four private accommodations featuring two queen beds with a private bath and shower. Two accessible accommodations offer one queen bed and private bath.

Location

Designation

Cabins at Mazama Village

The official parking area and trailhead is located 0.25 mile east of Park Headquarters on East Rim Drive. Walking counterclockwise, the trail begins by crossing a bridge over a stream and winds under a canopy of conifer trees. It soon shifts from a shady dirt path to uneven steppingstones. Early season, the stones may be covered in water flowing down from springs along a 2000-foot towering ridge. Grasses give way to mosses and flowering shrubs, and ultimately both sides of the trail become colorful eruptions of wildflowers. The trail takes a few gentle turns with upward stone steps that guide the visitor through knee and waist high plants which bloom in a succession from late spring to early fall. While lingering snow melts, tiny yellow violets, yellow buttercups, and pinkish spreading phlox (Phlox diffusa) bloom just above the soil. Purple shooting stars (Dodecathean alpinum) unfurl from slender stems and American bistorts (Polygonum bistortoides) flash white florets. Different species bloom as summer brings the warmth of drier, hotter days. Two of the most prolific wildflowers are the boldly pink Lewis' monkeyflower (Mimmulus lewsii) and the pink to orange paintbrush (Castillejaspp). Other favorites are the white bog orchids such as (Platanthera dilatata var. leucostachys), blue stickweed (Hackelia micrantha), deep purple Columbia monkshood (Aconitum columbianum) pink Pacific bleeding heart (Dicentra formosa), and a variety of aster species that are mostly yellow and pastel purple. Even when the seed heads and dried flowers remain, pollinators and their predators are seen and heard throughout the meadow and along the trail. Leaving the meadow area along its western edge, the trail passes a pumice hillside where white-pollen-skyrocket (Ipomopsis aggregata ssp. formosissima) a gorgeous, tubular, orange flower grows. As the meadow is now behind you, and you cross streams via two bridges, once again a forest canopy of mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana), Shasta red fir (Abies magnifica), and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta),) creates an evergreen backdrop for the meadow and the trail as you follow it back to your car.

<h3><b>The Trail</b></h3> <p>At 6300 feet in elevation, the Castle Crest Wildflower Trail loops around a spring-fed meadow, through a mixed conifer forest, over streams, past a grassy slope, and below Castle Crest Ridge which towers 2,000 feet above the trail on the north and east sides. All this in just 0.41 miles. This trail is not accessible.</p> <h3><b>The Wildflowers</b></h3> <p>Castle Crest Wildflower Trail hosts over 200 species of wildflowers, and is surrounded by trees, shrubs, grasses, and moss. While lingering snow melts, tiny violets, buttercups, and spreading phlox (Phlox diffusa) bloom just above the soil. Shooting stars (Dodecathean alpinum) unfurl from slender stems and American bistorts (Polygonum bistortoides) flash white florets. Different species bloom as summer brings the warmth of drier, hotter days. Two of the most prolific wildflowers are Lewis' monkeyflower (Mimmulus lewsii) and paintbrush (Castillejaspp). Other favorites are the bog orchids such as (Platanthera dilatata var. leucostachys), blue stickweed (Hackelia micrantha), Columbia monkshood (Aconitum columbianum) Pacific bleeding heart (Dicentra formosa), and a variety of asters. White pollen skyrocket (Ipomopsis aggregata ssp. formosissima) is a gorgeous, tubular, orange flower which grows on the western pumice slope.</p>

Wildflowers

A wildflower meadow with an abundant array of flowers and pollinators is encircled by a .041 mile trail, multiple springs, a diverse forest, and a towering 2000 foot ridge.

Significance

Castle Crest Wildflower Trail

Goodbye Picnic Area has two sections which are on the west side of Munson Valley Road between the Annie Spring Entrance Station and park headquarters. Both sections have safe entry from the north or the south. The sections are separated by a canyon through which Goodbye Creek flows. This audio description identifies the area with the most amenities. It is a left turn for lake-bound traffic (or right turn for south bounders after crossing the bridge). There are four angled parking places and room for a bus or RV to park. This location also has two picnic tables—one with wheelchair access—within a circle drive, a public vault toilet, and trash and recycling receptacles. Goodbye Picnic Area, including the picnic tables, rest beneath a forest composed of a variety of mature tree species including Shasta red fir, lodgepole pine, and mountain hemlock. The towering trees harbor calls of many birds including the red breasted nuthatch, woodpeckers, and pine siskins, and the antics of Douglas squirrels are never far away. There is not much tree undergrowth surrounding the picnic tables as it has all been stunted by foot traffic but beyond the bareness is a healthy undergrowth of shrubs and young trees. Mostly inaccessible to the eyes but very audible to the ears is Goodbye Creek which flows in a shallow canyon between the two picnic areas. The creek is relatively quiet after spring and early summer snow melt.

An often-overlooked stop in the park is Goodbye Picnic Area. Goodbye Picnic Area is perfect for a picnic but also consider it for birding, and an observation point for small mammals with the hope for a bear to stroll through the forest on its way to the creek. It rests beneath a forest composed of a variety of mature tree species including Shasta red fir, lodgepole pine, and mountain hemlock. Mostly inaccessible to the eyes but very audible to the ears is Goodbye Creek which flows in a deep canyon that separates these two picnic areas.<br /> <br /> The road noise from passing vehicles becomes inconsequential especially after snow melt when the creek is roaring. There is no trail into the canyon through which Goodbye Creek cascades downstream. This is one place where the towering trees, calls of the red breasted nuthatch, and the antics of Douglas squirrels begs visitors to put aside the hiking poles and just relax. <h4>Location</h4> Goodbye Picnic Area has two sections which are accessible from the north or the south on the west side of Munson Valley Road between the Annie Spring Entrance Station and park headquarters. <strong>One</strong> is an easy right turnout for southbound traffic from the rim or park headquarters. Parking is pull through next to the curb. There is no accessible ramp from the curb. This sight has two picnic tables. <strong>The second</strong> section is a left turn for lake-bound traffic (or right turn past the bridge for south bounders). There are four angled parking places and room for a bus or RV to park. This location also has two picnic tables, one with wheelchair access, and a vault toilet.

A concrete base picnic table with wood top and benches shadowed by a tall forest

Goodbye Picnic Area

Goodbye Picnic Area is perfect for a picnic and resting in the shade, but also consider it for birding and boosting your tree identification skilIs. It rests beneath a forest composed of a variety of mature tree species including Shasta red fir, lodgepole pine, and mountain hemlock. With no trail access and mostly unseen but heard, Goodbye Creek splits the two sections of this picnic area physically and audibly.

A sign on south Hwy 62 announces the Lodgepole Picnic Area is 500 feet ahead on the right. An old growth forest of lodgepole pines welcomes you. These are trees that are recognized for their height, up to 100 feet, and straightness, not girth as one might expect in an old growth forest. A trailhead for the Pumice Flats Trail, and two picnic tables are located beneath the trees on the left.

Lodgepole is the third picnic area on Hwy 62 when entering Crater Lake National Park from the south boundary via Fort Klamath, Chloquin, and Klamath Falls. An old growth forest of lodgepole pines welcomes you. These trees grow straight and many reach over 100 feet in height. A trailhead for the Pumice Flats Trail, and two picnic tables are located beneath the trees on the left. 

A brown, wood trailhead sign with white lettering, and a picnic table in a lodgepole forest

Lodgepole Picnic Area

Picnic tables and the Pumice Flats Trailhead are set among an old growth forest of lodgepole pine trees along a semi-circle drive. As the name suggests, lodgepole pines grow tall and straight, reaching 100 feet in height.

Pinnacles Trail is at the end of a 6 mile road from the Phantom Ship Overlook and East Rim Drive. Parking is a rustic, forested circular gravel drive. A large vertical sign announces the trailhead. The trail has 10 ft (3 m) of elevation gain and is accessible to all-terrain wheelchairs. There are multiple vantage points to stop for views of the spired pinnacles. These appeared after a stream reestablished its valley and removed lighter and less-resistant vocanic material, leaving many prominent pinnacles along the canyon walls. Vies also reach across the deep canyon and tree tops. To

<h4>What are they?</h4> The final eruption of Mount Mazama blew volcanic material miles into the air. This was followed by the ejection of gas-charged matter through vents in fractures around the mountain which weakened and ultimately caused the upper mountain to collapse. Rather than rising upwards, the volcanic matter ejected through vents flowed rapidly downhill, filling surrounding valleys to a depth of 300 ft (100 m). Once the flows stopped, trapped gases escaped through fumeroles, and surrounding material hardened. As the streams reclaimed the valley the erosion-resistant spires were exposed.  <h4>Where can I see them?</h4> The classic view is located in Wheeler Creek Canyon at the end of Pinnacles Road from East Rim Drive. A 0.8 (1.3 km) trail is an easy walk along the rim of the valley where the pinnacles are visible.<br /> <br /> <span style="color:#c0392b;">These can only be seen when East Rim Drive and Pinnacles Road are open.</span> When the roads are closed, look for the pinnacles in the Annie Creek watershed and canyon from several view points along South Hwy 62.  

Spires of hardened volcanic matter are exposed via erosion along a canyon wall

Pinnacles

The pinnacles developed when pyroclastic flows filled valleys and the gases escaped through vents which hardened and were later exposed through erosion.

Crater Lake inspires awe. Native Americans witnessed its formation 7,700 years ago, when a violent eruption triggered the collapse of a tall peak. Scientists marvel at its purity—fed by rain and snow, it’s the deepest lake in the USA and one of the most pristine on Earth. Artists, photographers, and sightseers gaze in wonder at its blue water and stunning setting atop the Cascade Mountain Range.