ADMINISTRATION. The Crater Lake National Park was established by the act of May 22, 1902 (32 Stat., 202). The representative of the National Park Service in immediate charge of the park is the superintendent, Mr. Alex Sparrow. A force of rangers assists this officer in protecting the reservation. Exclusive jurisdiction over the park was ceded to the United States by act of the Oregon Legislature of January 25, 1915, and accepted by Congress by act approved August 21, 1916 (39 Stat., 521). Will G. Steel is United States commissioner for the park. The tourist season extends from July 1 to September 30. The address of the superintendent is Crater Lake, Oreg., during the tourist season, and Medford, Oreg., during the balance of the year. General information may be obtained from the superintendent. All complaints should be addressed to him.
RAILROAD INFORMATION. Crater Lake National Park is connected by automobile stages of the Crater Lake Co. with Medford, Oreg., a station on the main line of the Southern Pacific Railroad between San Francisco, Calif., and Portland, Oreg., and Klamath Falls, Oreg., a station on the Southern Pacific Railroad branch line extending northward from Weed, Calif. During summer season round-trip excursion tickets at reduced fares are sold at Southern Pacific Railroad stations in California and Oregon to Crater Lake National Park as a destination. Passengers holding through round-trip excursion or one-way tickets to other destinations, reading via Southern Pacific Railroad to or from Portland, Oreg., will find stop-over privileges available and may visit Crater Lake National Park as a side trip, having choice of stopping over at Medford for automobile stage trip to the park and return, or of taking advantage of the following optional routing permitted, without charge, by the Southern Pacific Railroad: Tickets reading from San Francisco to Portland, for example, will be honored from San Francisco to Klamath Falls and from Medford to Portland. Tickets reading from Portland to San Francisco, for example, will be honored from Portland to Medford and Klamath Falls to San Francisco. Rates for automobile stage service between railroad stations and Crater Lake National Park are shown on page 15.
Storage charges on baggage will be waived at Medford, Klamath Falls, or Portland, or at Sacramento, Oakland Pier, San Francisco, or Los Angeles, for actual length of time consumed by passengers in visiting the park. For further information regarding railroad fares, service, etc., apply to railroad ticket agents, or C. S. Fee, passenger traffic manager, Southern Pacific lines, San Francisco, Calif., or John M. Scott, general passenger agent, Southern Pacific Lines, Portland, Oreg. SCENIC APPROACHES TO CRATER LAKE. From San Francisco the "Shasta Route" of the Southern Pacific Railroad for 30 miles skirts the shores of San Francisco Bay and crossing Carquinez Straits by train ferry turns northward, thence traversing for 125 miles the wide and fertile Sacramento Valley. Between Red Bluff and Redding, 10 miles beyond the head of the valley, Lassen Peak in Lassen Volcanic National Park, and the only active volcano in the United States, is in plain view on the sky line 40 miles to the east. On May 30, 1914, Lassen Peak renewed an activity that had been dormant for possibly 200 years, and has since been active at frequent intervals, emitting volumes of smoke thousands of feet, with rocks and ashes. Following the picturesque Sacramento River Canyon, the line then winds between the verdant, fir-clad walls of an ideal gorge, dotted with summer hotels and cottages, the train crossing the river on steel bridges 18 times in 32 miles, past Castella, Castle Rock, and the towering granite spires of Castle Crag, Dunsmuir, Upper Soda Springs, Shasta Retreat, beautiful Mossbrae Falls, and Shasta Springs, where passengers may drink of the mineral waters bubbling from the spring at the station. The Shasta Springs Hotel and cottages are on the timbered plateau above reached by a cable-incline car. At Cantara Loop the line turns out of the canyon and climbs a thousand feet to the top of the plateau to the east and north. Snow-capped Mount Shasta, 14,380 feet above sea level, looms high over surrounding pines and peaks, its glistening bulk, which is encircled by the train for hours, affording the most remarkable close-up view obtainable from a car window of a mountain of such magnitude and grandeur. The best trail to the summit leads from Sisson, at its western base. Passing Weed, also at the base of the mountain, whence a branch line runs to Klamath Falls, the eastern gateway of Crater Lake National Park, the Shasta Route main line runs north through Montague and a cattle range foothill country, skirting the Cottonwood Valley and climbing the winding and picturesque ascent to the summit of the Siskiyous, where a view is unfolded to the north superb in its vast vista. It is the Valley of the Rogue, with the Cascade Range against the sky line to the northeast. From the summit the line winds downward amidst towering pines, flaring madrone, manzanita, and mountain laurel, reaching Ashland, an attractive mountain resort with mineral springs and lithia water. MEDFORD AND THE ROGUE RIVER VALLEY. Medford, the western gateway to Crater Lake, is reached a few miles beyond. The auto-stage route between Medford and Crater Lake Park, a total length of 72 miles, follows up the Rogue River Canyon, interesting on account of the volcanic origin of the canyon itself, and beautiful because there is so much timber and so many vistas of far-away scenery visible between the trees. Medford is the center of the Rogue River orchard region, and for miles the train passes through ranks upon ranks of fruit trees. Directly to the east rises snow-capped Mount McLoughlin, 9,760 feet above sea level. It overlooks Upper Klamath Lake and is 20 miles south of Crater Lake, which lies in the heart of the Cascade Range, 80 miles from Medford. At Ray Gold the route enters the Rogue River Canyon, which is followed to Grants Pass. The Oregon Caves National Monument is reached from here by auto-stage and foot trail and lies 37 miles to the southwest. North of Grants Pass a beautiful view is to be had of the broad valley of the Rogue River, with the peaks of the Coast Range on the western sky line. At Wolf Creek a picturesque horseshoe curve swings out of the canyon and surmounts the grade, forming the crest of the divide between the Rogue and Umpqua River valleys, and a few miles north the line enters Cow Creek Canyon, which it follows for 35 miles. This charming ravine is held between steep walls which rise at places to a thousand feet above the tumultuous stream. The sides are covered with a dense growth of fir and pine, intermingled with laurel and madrone. Few mountain regions are more wild or enticing than this, and when stop is made, the silence of the forested surroundings, broken only by the music of the foaming waters in their rocky bed below, brings to one the realization that, if he is not quite back to, he is on the verge of Nature. But on the Shasta Route in Oregon the attention is attracted from one stream or river to another. Each stretch of water, or bend, unfolds a new landscape that appeals to the angler, the disciple of the out-of-doors. Roseburg is situated on a bend of the Umpqua River amidst orchards, berry farms, and dairy ranches, encircled by rounded and timbered hills.
WILLAMETTE VALLEY AND PORTLAND. Crossing the Umpqua and Willamette River valleys, we pass Cottage Grove, and northward traverse a fertile farming district where, not many years ago, stood a forest of fir. The principal cities which follow are Eugene; Albany, with Corvallis 12 miles to the west; Salem, the State capital; and Oregon City. Each is modern and attractive and the center of cultivated farms which stretch for miles to wooded foothills east and west, providing an inviting outlook. Three miles southwest of Eugene the McKenzie River comes in from the Cascades and joins the Middle Fork of the Willamette. In addition to these rivers, there are many famous trout streams crossed among them the Millala, Santiam, Yaquina, and Clackamas, the fine river views of this route being particularly noticeable. The Valley of the Willamette is 150 miles long by from 40 to 60 wide. It is a valley of verdure and beauty, the Shasta Route following the river closely for miles. At Oregon City the Falls of the Willamette are seen to the west, and here, below the falls, royal Chinook salmon, weighing from 30 to 50 pounds, are taken with rod, reel, and spoon. Oregon City is historical as the home of Dr. John McLoughlin, and the house erected in 1829 is preserved as a memorial to this notable man and pioneer. After him is named the great snow-capped mountain in the Klamath country near Crater Lake. A few miles south of Oregon City is seen Mount Hood, 11,225 feet above the sky line to the east. Crossing the Willamette River on a steel bridge, the "Shasta Route" enters Portland, the metropolis of Oregon, and its chief city. It is built on both sides of the Willamette and within 12 miles of its confluence with the Columbia. The city's heights command unusual views of mountain peaks and surrounding valleys and rivers. From Portland to The Dalles, along the world-famous Columbia River Highway, are many beauty spots of superlative attractiveness. Leaving the highway at this point is an auto road to Bend, the metropolis of central Oregon and center of its great lumber and stock industries. From Bend, Crater Lake National Park may be reached by a fairly good automobile road. The Weed detour is by a Shasta Route branch line, 86 miles northeast to Klamath Falls. It skirts the timbered foothills of Mount Shasta, affording a fine view of Shasta Valley to the northwest with the Siskiyou Mountains beyond. The line passes through Butte Valley and crosses the Oregon State line at Calor. Mount Shasta to the south is seen as a single snow-capped peak, while Mount McLoughlin rises to the north above the western shore of Upper Klamath Lake. The auto-stage route between Klamath Falls and Crater Lake lies through forest and mountain scenery and for 25 miles along the eastern shore of Upper Klamath Lake. AUTO-STAGE SERVICE FROM RAILROAD POINTS TO CRATER LAKE.1
The Crater Lake Co. will operate regular daily automobile service from Medford and Klamath Falls, Oreg., to points within the park at the following rates:
In Medford the point of departure for Crater Lake is the Southern Pacific Railroad Station. Automobiles call at the principal hotels in the city and leave the railroad station at 9.45 a. m. or on arrival of train No. 13 from Portland. Lunch is served to passengers at Rogue-Elk, 36 miles from Medford. Crater Lake Lodge is reached in time for dinner. Returning to Medford, automobiles leave Crater Lake Lodge at 8 a. m. daily, reaching Medford in time to connect with the outgoing evening trains. In Klamath Falls automobiles call at the principal hotels before leaving the city for the park about 7 a. m.; Crater Lake Lodge is reached at noon. Returning, automobiles leave Crater Lake Lodge at 1 p. m., and arrive in Klamath Falls about. 6 p. m.
1920/crla/sec2.htm Last Updated: 16-Feb-2010 |