Here is a view of Phantom Ship from much closer to the lake. The name is given to this outcropping of rock because of its likeliness to an old masted sailing ship. The ‘phantom’ part comes from the fact that it is located in such a place that from other parts of the lake, it seems to have disappeared, like a phantom. Of course, it doesn’t disappear, it is merely hidden.
This is Crater Lake, the namesake of the park. It is astoundingly beautiful, though I’m biased. This park will always be my “home”. It is even more fantastic to view the lake from the lake level. There is a trail that goes down to the lake, but be warned…it is 1.1 miles long. It isn’t tremendously difficult to go down the trail to the lake. Last time I did so, many decades ago, it took me about 10 minutes. Walking back up, however, is another matter. It can take between a half-hour to an hour to get back to the top. Still, there are benches that are strategically placed along the trail so people can rest on the return hike.
It seems to live up to its name.
Yes. The surprise to many is the trees growing on it, despite steepness.