Crater Lake Lodge
Within one of the beautiful National Parks is one of the most beautiful lodges, the Crater Lake Lodge. The lodge, originally opened in 1915 and rebuilt in 1995, sits about 1000 feet above the lake and has stunning views of the water below. According to the Forest Service, there are just over 70 rooms available if you plan ahead and make a reservation. Some of the rooms overlook the lake while others look out at the sub-alpine forest.
The inside of the lodge is exactly what you think it will be. Wood everywhere, a giant fireplace and some amazing windows that look out onto the lake. There is also a pretty impressive back porch lined with chairs, perfect for taking in a view and beverage after a day of exploring. You don’t have to be staying at the lodge to explore it. In fact, it was a center point for a lot of people as they walked around to take in the sights of Crater Lake.
The Atmosphere
After a full day at the park, I decided to finish off at the Lodge. I started inside, avoiding the sun a bit and sitting on some of the big old furniture that is around the lobby. A park ranger came in and gave those nearby a lesson on the park. Most notably, that it is not a crater but a giant caldera, created when a giant mountain erupted, thousands of years ago.
After the ranger spoke, I put my name on the list to try to get into the dining room, which was almost completely reserved. I then made my way to the back porch. There I sat and stared at the lake below. Clouds had moved in and replaced the sun of the day. A few of us started sharing our stories. Where we were from, where we were going. It was nice. Tired but excited travelers explaining the wonders we had seen. When it came time for dinner, I took one last very long look at the lake that had impressed me so much during the day. One wonderful day in a wonderful place.
Dining at the Crater Lake Lodge
One of the benefits of traveling alone most of the time is it is usually easy to get a seat. I would definitely recommend a reservation. However, since I was a single I was sat first. The dining room was splendid. Still covered in wood and it felt every bit as historic as it was. White table clothes covered each table while windows surrounded the room and filled it with natural light.
The menu was broad but captured the staples. Burgers, steak, fish, appetizers and salads. A lot of the menu seemed to be Oregon sourced. Klamath Valley Yukon Potatoes, Tillamook Cheeses, and Marionberry dressings all are available. It is always great to see the locally sourced food, especially in a place that brings in so many out of town visitors.
The Food!
The look and the sourcing are important, but this is a food blog after all, so the taste is the most important part! I ended up ordering the Ribeye which came with the Yukon mash, squash and peppers and compound butter. I also went with a side salad.
First off, the dinner rolls that came with the meal may have been the best rolls that I have ever tasted. They were warm and soft and pulled apart easy. They were simply amazing. The salad was also really nice. It was a big salad with lots of mixed greens, tomatoes, carrots, cheese and cucumbers. It was cold and tasted really fresh. The salad was very refreshing after a long day in the sun.
Next up was the Ribeye and sides. The steak was cooked beautifully and flavorful. It was lightly seasoned and really let the meat carry the flavor. The veggies were sauteed and still a little crisp and very flavorful. Finally, the potatoes were nice and smooth but somehow still had some bigger chunks of full potato. Again, really good all around and I really enjoyed this meal. So much so that I couldn’t even try desert. The atmosphere, giant windows and food all combined for a perfect end to the day. If you find yourself at Crater Lake, do yourself a favor and try to get a meal at the Crater Lake Lodge!
Finding the Crater Lake Lodge
The Crater Lake Lodge is located at 570 Rim Village Drive. It is at the end of the road just past the village. Crater Lake Lodge is open seasonally from May to October depending on weather. I highly recommend making reservations for the Lodge.
I have added this restaurant and all of the restaurants I have been to on my interactive map that you can find here. If you have a suggestion for a restaurant or any comments feel free to email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com or you can follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Bon Appetit!