Crater Lake National Park was created in 1902 to protect the volcanic lake, created by the eruption and collapse of Mt. Mazama around 7,000 years ago in south central Oregon. The park offers year-round recreation activities. Around two thirds of its summer visitors come from others states, mainly California and Washington (Visitor Service Project, 2001). Three gateway communities, Roseburg, Klamath and Medford, are about an hour driving distance away. The park is also about an hour driving distance to Interstate Highway 5 where it connects to Washington and California.

There are two lodging facilities inside the park - the 71-room historic Crater Lake Lodge and the 40-room Mazama Village Motor Inn with room rates ranging from $98 to $227 in 2001. The park also maintains two drivein campgrounds at Lost Creek and Mazama with a total of 216 campsites. The overnight fees for Impacts of Visitor Spending on Local Economy: Crater Lake National Park, 2001 Page 6 camping were $10 for Lost Creek and $15.75 for Mazama in 2001. The park is open year round with a $10 dollar entrance fee. All lodging facilities inside the park are only open from mid-May to October due to an eight-month long winter.

Total recreation visits to Crater Lake NP in year 2001 was 457,373 (Table 1). Total person night stays at lodges, campgrounds and backcountry sites inside the park were 31,762, 43,975 and 2,009 respectively. Fifty-seven percent of recreation visits, 74 percent of lodging nights, 83 percent of camping nights and 59 percent of backcountry nights were reported during the summer season, June through August, 2001.