From the craggy, 9,182’ summit of Mount Thielsen we could see the surface of Crater Lake shimmer and shine, whose waters cast a deep blue more rich than the sky itself. Knowing that we had planned a visit to Crater Lake for the following day, I studied the broken rim of the ancient caldera - its loftiest pinnacle still dotted with residual snow fields; the highest peak of Crater Lake beckoned us to pay a visit.

*Mount Scott (far distant, L of center) from Mount Thielsen*

With leagues of historical tales and timelines online these days, chronicling Crater Lake’s volcanic past is not a saga I will attempt to tell here, I will focus on the ascent itself; however, a circumnavigation of the crater rim is highly recommended as a fine way to view and explore all the National Park has to offer.

After showing the gate attendant our annual National Park and Federal Recreation Land pass, we looked with wide eyes into the surrounding forest. A very unique timberland lined the 9-mile drive southward, toward the crater itself; exuding a sense of prior destruction, many of the trees stood as mere shadows of their once living counterparts.

*Alanna sizing up Mt Scott from across Crater Lake*

At Merriam Point, the first opportunity to disembark and gaze into the massive crater, we became mesmerized by the glittery, shimmering surface. As we visited various stopping points along the western and southern rim of Crater Lake, I could not detach my gaze from the mightiest peak on the horizon: Mount Scott.

Since the 8,929’ jagged peak sits slightly over 2-miles southeast of the actual caldera rim, the mountaintop appears to be nearly equal in height as several other lesser peaks which comprise the actual rim. As the northeastern approach (East Rim Drive) was closed due to road maintenance, we followed hordes of vehicular traffic through the chaotic Rim Village, to the Mount Scott Trailhead parking area. Throughout the winding drive around the southern portion of the crater rim, bends and switchbacks in the route offer stunning looks back - oftentimes the crater edge falls out of view, offering only glimpses of the long ridgeways and other mountainous features.

*Early along the Mount Scott Trail (Peak 8418 on right)*

Crater Lake offers a multitude of hikes for all experience levels; The Watchman, on the western edge of the rim, offers views from an old lookout fire tower which precariously rests atop its minute summit - it is recommended to visit Crater Lake first thing in the morning, as to beat not only the heat of mid-day sun, but also the crowds. Many tourists may choose to remain on shorter treks with minimal elevation gain, thus capturing as many scenic vistas as possible during their stay. Despite many paths throughout the National Park to spread out foot traffic, these trails all become busy by mid-morning, on a good weather day.

*Another beautiful, well-graded west coast trail*

Into one of the last remaining parking spots, we pulled around noon, the sun already beating down. Much of the Mount Scott Trail is exposed to the sun; higher along the path, scrubby conifers afford some shade, but overall, the trail is in full sun on clear sky days.

With a fine view toward our main objective, we began the hike along a wide, sandy footbed which meanders through a clearing, blanketed with low, sunbaked grasses. Thankfully the treadway is tidy and void of roots, sticks or other ground-level debris, as watching one’s footfall was near impossible given the partially forested Mount Scott rising nearly 1,200’ into the sky, directly ahead.

*Views abound as soon as any elevation is gained*

Reaching 0.3-miles, the pathway begins to climb, gradually at first as the wide, well-graded footpath rises to gently swing from due south to a more eastbound direction, swinging around the craggy summit of Peak 8418 (notated on some maps as: Peak 8419). Even with a fresh image of how the trail snakes its way up the steep mountainside, we could look ahead at the partially forested, western face of Peak 8418 and wonder how a footpath might scale such a dramatic incline as what lay ahead.

Low, stunted conifers line the sandy hillside; small patches of vegetation work diligently to keep the non-organic sand and rock from slipping down slope. Beautiful views further enhanced every step of this hike; whichever way we faced on the mountainside, we had stunning vistas to destinations both near and far.

Once the real ascension of Mount Scott begins, the trail hardly levels until reaching the recognized high point of the mountain. Once past Peak 8418 and climbing Mount Scott’s south ridge proper, the path begins a series of long, sharp switchbacks. With such an open hillside, it is possible to look back down from some upper switchbacks, to those far below as they snake up the mountainside - a glimpse of what was just climbed.

The five switchbacks grow increasingly tight as one nears the final summit ridge. While hiking alongside plumes of crumbly volcanic rock, a fine view toward Mount Thielsen comes into view, its mind-numbingly jagged summit pinnacle appearing too sharp for even the most skilled mountaineer to scale - one of the most beautiful mountains I have ever been as fortunate to gaze upon, plus one of the finest alpine summit scrambles to date.

Nearing the final switchbacks, the shimmering blue waters of Crater Lake also come into view. The panorama is easy to call “busy”, but not so much in the foreground; jagged peaks rise up in every direction - some hikers even say Mount Shasta is visible on a clear day (to the south), just over the California border, but unfortunately I could not discern that glacier-capped volcano from this vantage, perhaps the slight atmospheric haze was to blame - fortunately, lingering smoke was considerably less than was experienced during most of the earlier summer back east.

*Low clusters of brightly colored flowers dot the ridgeway*

Trekking around craggy corners with Crater Lake insight all the while, we eventually traced around the northwestern slope of a sub-peak before joining the long, near flat walk toward the main peak. Rocks and boulders lined trailside as small flower clusters staked their claim within patches of sheltered real-estate, behind low mounds of volcanic rock they appeared to thrive. Conifers became much more stunted and scrappier once completely exposed to harsh Oregon elements.

A trek of about 500’ will bring trampers to the old (locked up) lookout fire tower, but from any of the surrounding boulders, a fine lunch spot can be had. Even on busy days, there are likely enough durable surfaces around the mountaintop of Mount Scott to afford a pleasant stay for most trampers.

*Mt Scott fire tower with Mt Thielsen in the distance*

The panorama from the peak of Mount Scott is simply breathtaking. While views can be had in 360°, one must walk around tufts of low evergreen to capture vistas in all directions. What a varied landscape from that of the lower, generally wooded peaks of the Northeast; from Mount Scott, dozens of broken-top, jagged volcano shards and remnants can be seen rising from the otherwise mundane plateau of old basin land.

With a compass and a good map of the surrounding area, countless hours can be had in fair weather picking out surrounding peaks on the scape, the supply of jagged saw teeth appear to stretch seemingly endlessly from north to south, along the Cascade Mountain Range.

*Several Geological Survey discs adorn the mountaintop*

A standard US Coast & Geodetic Survey benchmark disc has been placed (ca. 1932) near the ultimate high point of the mountain; a newer, silver disc can be found cemented to bedrock only several feet distant. The vista toward Crater Lake is by far one of the most unique to be found anywhere; dark, viridescent streaks envelop patches of exposed earth: sand, scree, and talus all slip downslope, toward 8,065’ Cloud Cap. The formidable crater, with its jagged rim, offers a delicious feast of vision, as other peaks stack up, far into the horizon.

Once it was assumed that the view could not be absorbed further, we turned to retrace our steps, the wide, graded footway encouraged efficient travel as we succumb to gravitational forces - before we knew what second wind had whisked us downslope, we were focusing on proper footfall as we navigated around occasional, small rocks in the path.

*Summit views of Crater Lake and beyond*

Passing several ascending climbers, we exchanged greetings and wished them a summit visit as enjoyable as our own. In what seemed like minutes, we could look back and see the partially forested, jagged spire of Peak 8418 once again, still bookending the western ridge of Mount Scott - a sight such as this I could never tire of.

Overall stats for the day:
4.45-miles
2-hours (+15 min summit break)
1,312’ elevation gain

Mount Scott - 8,929’

Mount Scott

Greens Cliff

Gore + West Castle Mountains