Hike of the week: Mt. Scott gives bird’s-eye view of Crater Lake
Mail Tribune
Medford, Oregon
September 3, 2004
By BILL KETTLER
There’s a peak experience and a mountaintop view waiting for you at Crater Lake National Park.
Most people who visit Oregon’s only national park content themselves with a view from the rim. More intrepid folks walk down to the water’s edge to cruise the lake in an excursion boat. Precious few take the time to march to the summit of Mount Scott and peer down on the lake.
At 8,928 feet, Mount Scott is Oregon’s tenth-highest summit, but it gets relatively little notice perched up against the 7,000-foot rim of Crater Lake. It’s barely 1,000 vertical feet from the trailhead (at 7,900 feet) to the summit and a fire lookout tower.
The mountain is named for Levi Scott, one of the lesser-known Oregon pioneers. Scott came to Oregon in 1844 and helped develop the Applegate Trail into Southern Oregon. Scottsburg, a forgotten little town along the Umpqua River in Douglas County, also bears his name.
Late summer and early fall is the best time to visit if you want to reach the summit with dry feet. Snowfields may linger at this altitude into August.
To get there, take Highway 62 from Medford to Union Creek and follow it into the park. Turn left at the entrance station, and follow the road four miles to the park headquarters buildings. Turn right (east) onto East Rim Drive and follow it about 11 miles to the trailhead.
The trail starts along the remnants of an old road and wanders down to the mountain’s southwest face to avoid the loose rock that covers most of the north side. There are some whitebark pines and Shasta red firs at the base of the mountain, but most of the trees here are mountain hemlocks, easily identified by their droopy tips and short, small needles.
The trees give way to more primal stuff — rocks, pumice, ash — as the trail switchbacks up the mountain. There’s nothing technical about this “climb,” but make sure you wear sturdy shoes and bring plenty of water. The shoes will help you navigate the loose gravel and rocks. The water will keep you cool.
If you go on a sunny day, bring a hat and sunscreen. There’s plenty of fire in the sun at this altitude well into September.
The view from the top will make you glad you came. To fully appreciate the vista, bring a map to help identify all the landmarks you’ll see. There’s Mount Thielsen, Mount Bailey and Diamond Lake, Mount McLoughlin, Mount Shasta, Pelican Butte and the Klamath Basin, just to name the most well-known places you can see.
And then, of course there’s the lake and its celestial blue water. Bring your camera. From this vantage point, you may be able to crowd the whole perimeter of the lake into your viewfinder.
Reach reporter Bill Kettler at 776-4492, or e-mail bkettler@mailtribune.com
Other pages in this section
- Editorial: Rim Village to get new look, and it’s about time – November 26, 2004
- Pendleton creates online blanket special for Crater Lake Trust – November 23, 2004
- Crater Lake to get funds – November 22, 2004
- Falling trees do damage at Crater Lake – November 19, 2004
- Lost at the lake – November 17, 2004
- Crews find lost snowboarders – November 16, 2004
- Missing snowboarders found – November 16, 2004
- Vesta Lee Fulton – November 15, 2004
- Obituary: Kevin Palmer – November 4, 2004
- Officials hold dedication for 500-mile scenic byway – October 15, 2004
- Byway hits milestone: celebration of Volcanic Legacy All American Road planned for Thursday – October 12, 2004
- Conference to celebrate frontier poet – September 24, 2004
- Two hikes, two views – September 20, 2004
- Science, learning center part of park renovation – September 14, 2004
- Crater Lake holds status as area’s primary tourist draw – September 13, 2004
- Obituary: Rex Laverne Ash – September 07, 2004
- Geologist’s talk rebuilds a mountain – August 25, 2004
- Lindgren, Hanlin repeat as Crater Lake Rim Run winners – August 16, 2004
- Shields remembers first Crater Lake races – August 16, 2004
- Ten small fires burn in Crater Lake park area – August 16, 2004
- Oh Crater Lake – poetry about the lake – August 9, 2004
- Friends of Crater Lake to repair Annie Creek – August 03, 2004
- Park publications on sale at Great Basin Visitor Center – August 02, 2004
- Astronomy programs set for this weekend – July 29, 2004
- Pied Piper of Astronomy’s to present program: John Dobson – July 15, 2004
- Crater Lake to reduce fire hazards – July 02, 2004
- Editorial: Should this be a first ‘view’ of Crater Lake? – July 1, 2004
- Crater Lake’s summer program cut – June 29, 2004
- Crater Lake road ready for drivers Wednesday – June 15, 2004
- Governor OKs Crater Lake for state’s quarter – May 25, 2004
- Chamber has big ideas for new quarter, promotions – May 18, 2004
- Postcards from the Rim – April 26, 2004
- Guidebooks help reveal new ways to explore Oregon – April 25, 2004
- Cycle Oregon to tour Crater Lake – February 29, 2004
- Crater Lake tops list of specialty plates, raises $1.1 million – February 26, 2004
- Ole Norman Lunde – February 24, 2004
- Crater ski patrol launches effort for new ski signs – February 20, 2004
- It’s plow it out, lit snow, plow it out at Crater Lake – February 19, 2004
- Ski races at Crater Lake on Saturday – February 4, 2004
- What’s in a name? Chatting with Lewis L. McArthur – February 4, 2004
- Using cross country skis or snowshoes, one can experience Crater Lake’s winter wilderness – February 02, 2004
- Crater Lake license plates raise more than money – January 27, 2004
