Report of the Superintendent of the Crater Lake National Park, 1910
Roads.
At the present time the principal routes to Crater Lake National Park are from Medford, Oreg., on the Southern Pacific Railroad, by automobile, stage, or team (distance from Medford to Crater Lake is approximately 84 miles), and by way of Klamath Lake. The trip via Klamath is as follows: From Weed, on the Southern Pacific Railroad, to Klamath Falls, Oreg., by rail: from Klamath Falls to Agency Landing by boat; from Agency Landing to Crater Lake by automobile, stage, or team—distance, approximately 34 miles. There is also a steam railroad under construction from Medford, Oreg., to Crater Lake.
The road from Medford, Oreg., to the park boundary has long, steep grades, many chuck holes, and in places is much too narrow. Generally speaking, it is a very poor road. At the time I was there (September 3 and 4) the State had grade stakes set for a regrade of the old road to the park boundary. On this part of the road, approximately 75 miles, from Medford to the lake, is by far the most difficult construction. From the park boundary to a point a short distance beyond Camp Arant, approximately 6 miles, the present road is narrow and winds among the trees, making transportation by automobile slow, but it is in very good condition and traverses practically level, smooth country, through which a good road can be very cheaply constructed. From Camp Arant to the lake, approximately 4 miles, the country traversed is very steep amid hilly, but if the road is carefully located easy grades can be established, and the construction is not difficult.
For about the first 5 miles of the road material for macadam can not be obtained close to the road, and it will probably have to be hauled some distance. There is plenty of rock for macadam close to the present road for the 5 miles from Camp Arant to the lake. The best available rock for the macadam is the basalt, some of which is very hard and will make very good road metal. By careful selection suitable material can be found for macadam. Little or no money should be expended on these roads until a complete and comprehensive road plan for the entire park is worked out.
The road from Camp Arant to Agency Landing on Klamath Lake follows the right side of Anna Creek Canyon. At present it is too far from the canyon side to afford a view of the beautiful canyon from the stage. If this road is reconstructed it should be relocated nearer to Anna Creek Canyon rim.
Within the park limits this road traverses a smooth, gently sloping country through which a good road could be easily constructed but a reasonable cost. There is rock for macadam very close to the road and by careful selection suitable material can probably be found close at hand. The length of this road within the limits of the park—Crater Lake to boundary—is approximately 10 miles. At the present time it is in very fair condition for travel.
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