1.0 hr
Overview
This is an easy afternoon getaway for Vancouver/Camas residents, but it's not far from Portland either. This small crater lake is a very popular destination for families with children, and all kinds of fishing poles can be seen casting over the water. The lake and crater are the remains of a maar volcano, a member of the extensive Boring Lava Field. About 105,000 years ago, rising lava superheated underground water and caused a steam explosion. While the lake floor is only about 60 feet below the surface, the crater bottom is actually much deeper than that, with the hole being filled by thousands of years of sediment, organic matter, and rain water. There is a rather extensive trail system that takes you throughout the 280-acre park, but the outer trails are heavily used by horses and can get very muddy in winter. The loop described focuses on the lake itself and the forested rim of the old volcano.
Trail Stats
3.4 km
62 m
207 m
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Photos
Trail photo
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Trail photo
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Trail photo
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Trail photo
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Trail photo
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