Oregon’s "Other" Crater Lake: The Best 5-Minute Hike in the State?

November 8th, 2025: Little Crater Lake is the lesser known little brother to the (much bigger) Crater Lake in the southern Cascades. They were formed very differently, but they share a beautiful deep blue color. Little Crater Lake is a spring fed pond in the Cascade Range just south of Mount Hood and east of Portland. Paved national forest roads will lead you to the trailhead, and it's only a short stroll to the pond. I include some really cool 4K underwater shots toward the end of the video. #roamingbenji #nature #travel #roadtrip #pacificnorthwest #pnw #cascaderange #cascades #oregon #4k