The Pinnacles of Crater Lake

At the turn of the last century, travelers to Crater Lake had to endure a long, arduous journey by horse-drawn carriage. They knew that they had finally arrived when they came alongside a deep canyon filled with rock formations unlike any they had ever seen: The Pinnacles.

Then came the automobile, and with it the need for a better road. The old East Entrance was eventually abandoned and The Pinnacles were largely forgotten, overshadowed by the unmatched blue of Crater Lake. But they still stand, mysterious stone fingers pointing skyward, and today they are easily reached by a short, fully-accessible, kid-friendly hike. 

Obviously, this is not a quick day trip for most of us. Crater Lake National Park is not exactly close to anywhere, and the $30 entrance fee is not to be sneezed at. But The Pillars are just as much a part of Mt. Mazama's explosion as the nearby lake, and they should not be missed at your next visit. 

The trailhead is reached by a good, well-marked spur road off of the Rim Drive. Look near the Phantom Ship Overlook but on the other side of the road. Travel about 6 miles to a small parking area. And that is it. You can see pinnacles from the parking lot, or follow the trail along the edge of the canyon to the old East Entrance to see more of them. And it's very possible that as you walk, you are walking over more pinnacles. 

These unique formations are actually fumaroles. When Mazama erupted, it dumped massive layers of material on the surrounding landscape. Hot gases from the still-active volcano forced their way up through the accumulated layers, and the heat fused the surrounding material into tubes (yes, The Pinnacles are hollow). The fumaroles only become visible where there is a creek. Water action and weathering wash away the fluffy volcanic material, and the fumaroles remain.

There are actually two other pinnacle sites in the park. The Godfrey Glen trailhead is located 2.4 miles south of the park headquarters, approached from the south entrance road. This loop trail is just over a mile long and offers a smooth trail, but wheelchair users might need some assistance as the area is more sloping than the previous hike. Take the loop counter clockwise through a peaceful forest. On the return side of the loop the trail skirts the edge of Munson Creek, which has carved out a canyon and revealed some pinnacles. We hear, but never quite see, the creek below.

Annie Creek is a different hike. This is a moderate trail into a canyon, with steep areas and occasional crumbly patches on the path, but at 1.7 miles this highly-recommended hike should be within the abilities of the average hiker. Park at the Mazama Village store and head through the campground. The trail officially begins behind the amphitheater, but it can be picked up anywhere behind the campground. Walk along the edge of the canyon in a pleasant forest with views of pinnacles, then drop quickly to the canyon floor. Walk alongside Annie Creek, which murmurs and sparkles in its pebbly bed. This canyon is lush and cool on a hot day, peppered with wildflowers and songbirds. Look for rock formations as the canyon narrows, then climb a series of switchbacks to return to the rim.

The pinnacles may not be the tourist attraction they were at the turn of the last century, but these nearly-forgotten spires have an eerie beauty of their own. Take the paths less traveled and find these reminders of Crater Lake's cataclysmic past, witnesses of Mazama's fury standing silently in the canyons.

Abandoned East Entrance sign

   

Godfrey Glen

Pinnacles in the making

Annie Creek