the flowers. Over much of the region, all of which is volcanic, the soil is made up chiefly of fine pumice sand, and for most of the growing season is lacking in moisture. So perforce the plant life must be limited to those forms whose peculiar structure adapt them to such environment. To many, however, this situation only lends variety and adds peculiar interest. Pleasing to the eye are the massed color effects in the open spaces and the drier forest areas. Wherever the highway enters the regions of the streams, these massed effects increase, and one is gladdened by the transformation due to water’s magic touch. If the visitor travels the many byroads and winding trails to the mountain meadows beside the singing brooks, or by boat along the rocky shore of the lake, he will find gardens of transcendent beauty. No more enchanting ones can be found than Castle Crest Gardens at park headquarters and Talus Garden under the towering walls of Cloud-cap, or lovelier spots than Boundary Springs and Copeland Creek along the western slope of old Mount Mazama.

Soon after entering the park, the attention is caught by bright flashes of the scarlet trumpets of the mountain gilia (G. aggregata), the pineland paintbrush (Castilleja pinetorum), and the abundant white sprays of the snowbrush (Ceanothus velutinus). Sheltered by the denser and more somber forests farther along are noteworthy representatives of the heath family, such as prince’s pine (Chimaphila umbellata) and several species of Pyrola, some of the latter with the usual green leaves, yet others without such foliage. Several near relatives belong to this class of leafless saprophites which obtain their food by feeding on decaying vegetation, as, for examples, the tall brownish pine drops (Pterospora andromedea) and the snow-white phantom orchid (Cephalanthera austinae).

Responding to the influence of the diversity of topography and soil and moisture conditions, various types of flowers are abundantly represented around park headquarters. Near at hand on the first bare spots among the snowdrifts, cheerful harbingers of spring, come the lovely wind-flowers (Anemone occidentalis) with cups of white, and the strikingly beautiful yellow lamb’s tongue (Erythronium grandiflorum pallidum). Stone crop (Gormania watsonii) covers the rock ledges, and finest of the rock-loving plants, the pink pentstemon (P. rupicola) drapes the rock walls in company with the lace fern (Cheilanthes gracillima). Delicate bog orchids (Lemnorchis), elephant heads (Pedicularis groenlandica), masses of yellow and pink monkey-flowers (Mimulus), banks of daisy-like fleabane (Erigeron salsuginosus), giant ragwort (Senecio triangularis), and a host of others fill the wet meadows and line the streams. On the talus slopes are long strips of Arnica (A. longifolia). In openings in the hemlock forest the ever abundant narrow-leaved aster (A. ledophyllus) presents a field of purple with intermingled pink fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium) and the tall corn lily or false hellebore (Veratrum viride), while the surrounding forest floor is carpeted with the grasslike turf of the smooth wood-rush (Funcoides glabratrum), the most abundant herbaceous plant of the upper forests. In the open pumice fields of the rim area, Douglas phlox (Phlox douglasii), sulphur flower (Eriogonum umbellatum), and the low desert lupine (Lupinus aridus) contribute to the varied color scheme, later transformed into red and gold by the autumnal foliage of Newberry’s knotweed (Polygonum newberryi).

Over the crater’s rim, down the trail to the lake, one is attracted to the trailing raspberry (Rubus lasiococcus), clothing the steep banks, and the spiny currant (Ribes lacustre), prostrate on the rock walls. Abundant on the lower part of the trail and rocky shore of the lake, the large rose-pink flowers of Lewis’ monkey-flower (Mimulus lewisii) are the most conspicuous and striking features of the vegetation.

Across the blue water, even in the more forbidding lavas of Wizard Island, one is greeted at the boat landing by many fine clumps of bleeding heart (Dicentra formosa). A little distance along the trail leading up the island cone, the parrot’s beak (Pedicularis racemosa) is seen under the spreading hemlocks. At the summit, crowning the rim of the miniature crater, emulating the volcanic fires of old, grow the flaming paintbrushes (Castilleja applegatei), mainly restricted to the Crater Lake region. Other plants less showy, sending their long roots deep into the cinders and pumice, reach for moisture and struggle for a foothold in the unstable rock material of the precipitous slope.

HOW TO REACH THE PARK

BY RAILROAD

The Southern Pacific Railroad serves Crater Lake National Park. The company runs its finest trains over the Cascade route passing through Klamath Falls and also operates regular service over the Siskiyou route passing through Medford, west of the park. The Cascade route comes within a few miles east of the park boundary. Connections with Crater Lake automobile stages are made daily at Medford and Klamath Falls from July 1 to September 20.

BY AUTOMOBILE

The automobile approaches to the park are exceptionally fine. Motorists on the Pacific Highway, going north, have the choice of turning off at Weed in northern California, proceeding to Klamath Falls and then to Crater Lake over The Dalles-California Highway, or proceeding on to Medford over the Pacific Highway and then to Crater Lake, 80 miles distant. Southbound visitors on the Pacific Highway turn off at Medford, as well as motorists arriving from California by way of the Redwoods Highway, which has its junction with the Pacific Highway at Grants Pass.

Travelers to the park from Medford arrive by way of the west entrance and from Klamath Falls by way of the south entrance. Those from Bend, Oreg., 106 miles from Crater Lake, use the well-improved approach via the north entrance, bringing motorists near Diamond Lake while en route to the park. This route is rapidly growing in importance. The east entrance also provides for travel from Bend and The Dalles-California Highway and is usually open earlier in the season due to less snowfall.

En route from Medford, motorists travel through great forest areas, along the banks of rushing streams, along the edges of picturesque canyons, and through attractive mountain country. Of particular interest is the Rogue River, well known for its steelhead and cutthroat trout and salmon fishing.

Motorists entering the park by way of Medford often leave by way of the south entrance to Klamath Falls, 62 miles, or arrive that way and leave over the Medford route. On this trip motorists pass along the Annie Creek Canyon, through the Klamath Indian Reservation, and along the edge of upper Klamath Lake, the largest inland body of water west of the Rocky Mountains.

Through the use of powerful snow plows Crater Lake National Park has been made accessible throughout the year over the Klamath and Medford approach roads. This is possible through the cooperation of the State highway commission. Even during midwinter, when snow attains a depth of 12 to 15 feet on the level, motorists can drive to the very rim of the lake.

Park highways are now continuously open, barring the exception of excessively heavy storms; however the north and east entrances are open only from spring until late fall.

BY AIRPLANE

High-speed, de luxe airplane service from all points in the United States to Medford is now available through the United Air Lines, which operates direct service to 19 States. For persons of limited time this service affords a