Cloud Cap

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(courtesy of W7PUA)

(Last update December 30, 2001 )

General.  This is a high point on the E-NE corner of the rim that is over Crater Lake.  The highest point is 8065 feet, but requires a half mile walk from the road.  The best place for operating is a pullout about 0.7 miles before the viewpoint. The elevation is about 7800 feet and has a beautiful shot from the North through East. 

The shot to Seattle (320 miles, 358 deg true) is up the middle of the Cascades and not as great as one might expect from 7800 feet. Spokane (346 miles, 40 deg true) is very good, with a negative horizon. There is no shot South from this corner of Crater Lake, but I have worked stations in Medford by bouncing off Mt Scott.  For microwave work, Steens Mt (175 miles, 94 deg true) could be interesting.

I have talked with park rangers while operating at the pullout and they saw no difficulty with the activity. But, camping at the pullout could be  problematic. There is a picnic area on the main rim road, about 1 mile from the pullout. It is almost as good a location as the pullout and it is better for "improvised" camping.

Driving Instructions:  The road is all paved and snow is off sometime in June or July. The snow banks in the area can stay well into August. Enter the National Park (fee) from any of the three entrances. If you enter from the North, it is shortest to go around the top of the lake. For the other two entrances you probably want to go around the bottom. Follow the sign for Cloudcap viewpoint.