We are flying in to Medford ,Oregon in July. According to the map I fig. we would take hwy 62 directly from Medford to Crater Lk. However I just read about the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway. I am wondering if we should instead take 66 over to Klamath Falls & take 62 North or 140 North? Is it really "jaw-dropping"??? And also in that vicinity is the Lava Beds...is this worth a stop?
Thanks for any input,
Joaner
Which drive to Crater Lake
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There is a rock formation north of Bend that makes my jaw drop, otherwise I don't find any one of the drives more spectacular than another. Near Bend, we also always enjoy a drive to the top of a cinder cone and visiting this museum: http://www.highdesertmuseum.org/
HTTY
thanks happytrails
There is an historic Lava Beds park south of my home town of Klamath Falls - where the great Modoc chief - Captain Jack - and his band of Native Americans were greatly outnumbered yet held off battle hardened US Army Civil War veterans - who also had cannons. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Jack's_Stronghold
Naturally - it started with continued US encorachment on Indian lands/treaty lands, and blew up after a deadly fight between a young buck and a young farmer, etc.
However, - it's mostly flat - and as for which drive to take to Crater Lake - I think they are all somewhat scenic/pretty - but if you are already in Medford - I would take the shortest route - up 62 or whatever it is - through Shady Cove, right?
North of Crater Lake - going up hiway 97 - around Bend are several interesting lava flows - and the ones between Bend and west toward Eugene (the road is only open in the summer) is where the Astronauts trained for the first moon flight - and on the east side - by Pauline Lake - is a great mountain of Obsidian - the glass lava rock that the Indians prized for use as Arrowheads. The Newberry Crater is also right there.
And couldn't get the tiny.url page to work - so here is the longer webpage - for great images of Newberry Crater - which is really more east of Sun River -which is just south of Bend.
http://www.google.com/search?q=newberry+crater&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=rmOwT5STAqGRiQK25-ncAw&sqi=2&ved=0CGoQsAQ&biw=1253&bih=658
And here is a bit more about hiway 242 - west from Bend. Even if you just drove to the summit (which has a beautiful park) - 45? minutes - on a curvy - but beautiful road http://capturinggrace.com/blog/?p=349 - it would be worth it - IMO.
Also: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION4/McKenzie_Pass_Project/McKenzie_Pass_Project.shtml
Hwy 62 is OK.You'll go up past Union Creek and the little gorge of the Rogue.
http://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/nws/falls.php?num=3356
If you like wine you could stop at Crater Lake Cellars.
http://www.craterlakecellars.com/
Hwy 66 is a really cool road,but we usually take the back way from Ashland: Dead Indian Road up to
Ft. Klamath, past the Pinnacles and come in from the South. I've seen the Lava Beds too many times on school field trips.I'd say not worth the detour.
What is your destination after CL?