I drove down to Crater Lake National Park this morning to see the beautiful Crater Lake. It is the deepest lake in the US and is also considered to be the cleanest large body of water in the world. It is fed by rain and snow but no rivers or streams. It was formed when a 3600m volcano collapsed following a major eruption approximately 7700 years ago. Over time the caldera filled with rain and snow and is exceptional for its clarity and intense blue colour. As I neared the park there were warnings of forest fires and I drove through quite a lot of smoke. The lay-bys were full of fire trucks and ranger vans. Unfortunately when I arrived at the lake there was a layer of smoke over the area so there were no good views. Apparently it has been like this for the last week. I still drove round the rim stopping at the view points but the smoke was still there. Lots of people told me how beautiful it really was and which were their favourite points to view it. I then drove through the rest of the park and then down the side of Upper Klamath Lake which is Oregon’s largest freshwater lake. I made my way back by the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway. Volcanoes and glaciers formed the dozens of lakes in this area some hidden behind the trees and some which can be seen from the road. There was a wonderful view of Mount Bachelor which is Oregon’s largest ski area. You can also see huge tracts of lava rock, evidence of long ago eruptions. The Deschutes river flows along the same route and can be seen from time to time. The route then descends to Bend where I had a walk along the river. The whole area is well known for it’s outdoor activities and the town brings it all together with it’s craft beers and restaurants in the trendy Old Mill area bordering the river.