The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1920-06-04

- area TO- be AIDED Is puOlc uonldlH
There is therefore no expense. The
enlargement is scenically attractive. is naturally
a part Of the park and is needed for the com
prehcnsive development of the public playground
OF which Crater Lake is the feature.
The small map given herewith has a broken
line around the present park and the heavy contin-
uouS line shows the park as enlarged. The pres
ent park is approximately 13 miles east and west
by IS miles north and south and contains 249
square miles or 5 $3.50 acres. The enlargement
contains about 145 square miles or $500 acres.
The park lies in Klamath county, in southwestern
Oregon, about 60 miles from the California line.
The nearest railroad points are Medford on the
main line of the Southern Pacific, S3 miles to the
southwest; klamath Falls, 60 miles to the south
on a branch line, and Kirk, &c miles TO the south
east on a branch line. The park lies on tine crest
OF the Cascades and varies In elevation from 5000
to 5000 feet.
The addition is spoken of locally as the "Dia-
nOnd lake region" because Of the very attractive
lake which is one of its features. This lake is
about 5000 feet above sea level and Is about 5
by 2k miles. From Crater lake to Diamond lake
by trail is Is miles. Diamond lake is compare
lively shallow and warns up enough for comfort
able bathing. On the east and south the shore
is grassy, with a gradual slope to a pebbly beach.
The lake is beautifully situated and altogether
the location makes an ideal camping ground.
In this lies much of its desirability. Crater
iiht - d WIN MAJ C Dul II 10 LOl tUiIItl ul-
mirable as a camping ground. The camping
ground is OF course on the rim, a thousand feet
or so above the water. And as a bathing lake 1t
f. out Of the question. the temperature Of it's
water being about SO degrees all summer. And
in addition the lake is more than 1000 feet deep
In places.
The Diamond lake region offers fine fishing
also. To be sure, nobody could ask for finer trout
than the rainbows in Crater lake. They run big;
some Of them scale ten pounds. And they are
magnificent fighters; many experts hold that pound
for pound the Crater lake rainbow Is the hardest
fighter of all the western trout. But fishing from
the rocky. broken shore at the foot of the lake
walls is often hard work. The best fishing is from
a boat-and to some anglers this is comparatively
no fun. They want to steal along a stream and
find Il pool and match wits with the big fellow
that has preempted 1t and holds 1t against all
Corners.
And that's just the kind of fishing there is up
around Diamond lake. Two creeks-Silent and
Short-Aow into Diamond lake at it's south end.
Two Bear creek flows into 1T from the north.
Other trout streams are scattered over the adj
dition.
All the roads into the present park ONE from
the south. The enlargement will give the park
n road from the north and direct connection with
Bend and central Oregon points. In the future
q connecting road to the wonderful Rim road
around Crater lake would be a natural improve
ment; at present only a horse trail crosses the
range, which thrusts through the enlargement
and into the park like a huge wedge.
Right up In the very northeast corner OF the
enlargement IS Howlock mountain 1881 fee).
To the east Of Diamond lake is Mount Thielsen
t9.17S) and to the west Is Mount Bailey 1850.
They are picturesque peaks and well worth as
cending. All through the addition there Is seen
cry worth while.
Crater lake attracted 16,645 visitors last sum
mer and the attendance Is increasing every year;
IN 1918 there were 1921. So the enlargement
T. needed-to give more camping room, varied
scenery and different trout fishing, among other
things. The enlargement will offer additionai
attractions and make Crater Lake National park
the kind of place where the visitor VIII want
TO stay all summer. In short, Greater Crater lake
will be both show place and playground.
II In the plan OF the national park service
TO give this playground aspect so far as possible
to all of the national parks. Not all OF tnem
come by II naturally, and these are to be heipeu
slong by development.