In addition to the geological features of the park there are several ecological communities of importance within its boundaries. These include Boundary Springs near the northwest corner, Sphagnum Bog and Thousand Springs along the western boundary, and some specific areas within the caldera walls of which Wizard Island and the Phantom Ship are the most outstanding.
Three forest types are dominant within the park. These are the ponderosa pine at lower elevations, lodgepole pine extending from 5,500 to 6,500 feet, and mountain hemlock which is characteristic of the higher elevations. Also present in the park are Douglas fir; western white, whitebark, and sugar pines; and some incense cedar, aspen, and Englemann spruce.
Some 570 species of flowering plants and ferns thrive in the park. These range from lichen at Palisade Point to the wildflowers of Castle Crest and Munson Meadows to the stunted vegetation of the Pumice Desert and Wizard Island.
The variety of mammals found in the park is typical of the forested areas throughout the southern sections of the Cascade range. The most commonly observed large mammals are black-tailed deer, elk, black bear, porcupine, and yellow-bellied marmot. Seldom seen are the red fox, coyote, pine marten, bobcat, pronghorns, and even more rarely, the cougar.
More than 120 kinds of birds have been seen in the park, including raptors such as golden eagles, American bald eagles, falcons, ospreys, and horned owls; waterfowl; and smaller singers such as the western tanager and the hermit thrush.
Although Crater Lake is known primarily as a “natural park area,” it does have significant cultural resources. The Superintendent’s Residence has been designated as a National Historic Landmark, and the Munson Valley Historic District has been proposed for addition to the National Register of Historic Places. Crater Lake Lodge is an example of early park architecture designed to provide accommodations for overnight guests.
The thirty-three miles of Rim Drive provide park visitors with opportunities for quality scenic vistas. In addition to numerous scenic views of Crater Lake within the caldera, there is a peripheral display of Cascade peaks including Mounts Shasta, McLoughlin, Bailey, and Thielson, Union and Diamond peaks, and Three Sisters, which highlight prominently the forest and alpine surroundings of the park and national forest lands.
Crater Lake National Park is known for its long winters and heavy snowfalls. The average seasonal accumulation of snow is 544 inches. The winter of 1932-33 provided 878 inches of snow, the highest recorded total to date. Snow on the ground of 14-foot depth is common by late winter. The greatest recorded snow depth in the park was 252 inches on April 3, 1983. [1]
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