Question 1

Is the water really that blue, or photoshopped?

Accepted Answer

The blue is real physics. Water molecules absorb red, orange, yellow wavelengths; blue light scatters deeper and reflects back. The lake's exceptional clarity (103 feet average visibility) lets this effect show plainly.

Question 2

Can we actually get down to the water?

Accepted Answer

Yes, via Cleetwood Cove Trail (2.2 miles round trip, 700-foot descent, steep scramble). Most visitors view from Rim Drive pullouts instead.

Question 3

When is the lake open to visit?

Accepted Answer

Year-round, 24 hours. Rim Drive typically opens mid-June and closes November 1. North Entrance Road closed mid-November to mid-June depending on snow removal progress.

Question 4

How cold is the lake water?

Accepted Answer

Never exceeds 59°F. Swimming is not recommended due to cold-water hypothermia risk and depth hazards.

Question 5

What is that island in the middle?

Accepted Answer

Wizard Island—a 767-foot cinder cone with a 300-foot-wide crater at its summit. It formed after Mount Mazama collapsed, when lava continued flowing into the nascent caldera.

Question 6

Do I need to hike to see the lake?

Accepted Answer

No. Rim Drive has multiple pullout overlooks accessible by car. Hiking trails like Castle Crest Wildflower Trail and Cleetwood Cove are optional.

Question 7

Why does the lake have no rivers flowing in or out?

Accepted Answer

It's fed only by rain and snow (67 inches annually). Evaporation and seepage prevent the lake from rising. It's a closed hydrologic system—water loss balances water input.

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