Crater Lake National Park (The Volcanic Jewel)

The Flight Experience

Crater Lake offers a deceptively challenging and serene high-altitude experience. Unlike the jagged chaos of Canyonlands or the Badlands, this landscape is defined by stillness and symmetry. You are flying over the flooded caldera of a destroyed volcano (Mount Mazama), where the water is a mesmerizing, almost unnatural deep blue.

For virtual pilots, the challenge here is altitude management and containment. The lake sits high—at nearly 6,200ft MSL—but the rim towers another 1,000 to 2,000 feet above the water. Flying inside the caldera is the ultimate goal. It requires dropping into a "bowl" where the horizon disappears, replaced by 360-degree walls of sheer lava cliffs. The sensation is one of total isolation; the water is so still it often acts as a perfect mirror, making it difficult to judge your height above the surface without reference points.

Visual Highlights

• Wizard Island: A perfect cinder cone rising 760 feet out of the west side of the lake. It looks like a "volcano within a volcano." Orbiting the island's summit crater (the "Witches Cauldron") offers a spectacular geometry test for your banking turns.

• The Phantom Ship: On the southeast side of the lake, look for a jagged rock formation jutting out of the water. It resembles an old sailing ship in distress and can be hard to spot against the dark cliff walls until you are right on top of it.

• The Watchman & Hillman Peak: These are the highest points on the western rim. Flying over them provides a dramatic "reveal" moment where the ground suddenly vanishes, replaced instantly by the massive blue expanse of the lake.

• Pumice Desert: North of the lake, the terrain changes to a flat, desolate expanse of volcanic ash where almost nothing grows. It provides a stark textural contrast to the lush forests surrounding the caldera.

Pilot’s Note

Be mindful of density altitude. Even though the surrounding terrain looks like lush forest, you are taking off and maneuvering at altitudes between 4,000 and 8,000 feet. Non-turbocharged piston aircraft (like a standard Cessna 172) will feel sluggish. When dropping into the caldera, ensure you have enough engine power and climb performance to spiral back out—the walls are steep, and there are no low exits.

VFR Flight Plan: The Caldera Bowl

• Departure: Chiloquin State (2S7) or Beaver Marsh (2S2)

  • Recommendation: Chiloquin (2S7) is a paved strip and slightly closer to the southern approach.

• Arrival: Crater Lake-Klamath Regional (KLMT) or return to Chiloquin.

• Aircraft Recommendation: Diamond DA40 NG (for visibility/climb) or a Turbo Bonanza.

• Cruise Altitude: 8,500ft MSL (Approach) / 6,500ft MSL (Inside Bowl)

• Total Distance: ~60 NM

• Estimated Time: 40–50 minutes

Route Waypoints & Navigation

1. Departure: The Forest Climb

• Takeoff 2S7: Depart North.

• Visual Cue: Follow Highway 97 North for about 5 miles, then turn Northwest (Heading ~300°) towards the rising mountain range.

• Climb: You need to gain altitude aggressively. Aim for 8,500ft MSL to safely clear the rim. You will pass over dense pine forests and the smaller Agency Lake.

2. Waypoint 1: The Rim Approach (The Reveal)

• Navigation: Aim for Applegate Peak on the southern rim.

• The Moment: As you cross the rim, the ground drops away 2,000 feet instantly to the water surface. The sudden appearance of the blue water is one of the best "wow" moments in flight simulation.

• Action: Reduce throttle and gently descend into the caldera bowl. Aim to level off at 6,500ft MSL (approx 300-400ft above the water).

3. Waypoint 2: Phantom Ship

• Navigation: Turn East (Right) and follow the shoreline counter-clockwise.

• Visual Cue: Look for the spiky rock formation near the southern shore.

• Maneuver: Perform a tight orbit around the "ship" to see it against the backdrop of the sheer cliff walls.

4. Waypoint 3: Wizard Island & The Witches Cauldron

• Navigation: Cross the center of the lake heading West.

• The Challenge: Fly directly towards the cinder cone island.

• Detail: Try to fly over the small crater at the top of Wizard Island. If you are feeling adventurous and have a high-performance plane, drop low to skim the water near the island's base before climbing out.

5. Waypoint 4: The North Exit

• Navigation: Circle North towards Llao Rock (a massive cliff face on the north rim).

• Climb: Apply full throttle. You need to climb back above 8,000ft to clear the northern rim.

• Visual Cue: Once over the rim, look for the Pumice Desert—a flat, grey/brown clearing in the forest directly to the North.

6. Return/Arrival

• Option A (Short): Turn South-East and head back to Chiloquin (2S7).

• Option B (Long): Turn South and head for the larger Klamath Falls (KLMT) airport for a full instrument approach or a long runway landing.

Simulator Setup

• Time: Noon (12:00 PM). Unlike the badlands, you want high sun here to penetrate the water and make it that signature "deep blue." Low light makes the lake look black.

• Season: Winter (January) offers a stunning contrast with white snow surrounding the deep blue water, though the "Pumice Desert" will be covered. Summer (July) is best for seeing the geological colors of the rocks.