Just past the eastern boundary of the wilderness is Waldo Lake, one of the purest freshwater bodies in the world. This lake, formed by ancient glaciers, stretches 10 square miles with a maximum depth of 420 feet. As the sun rises the lake is calm and looks like a sheet of glass. On a clear day, you can see up to depths of 100 feet. Waldo Lake Wilderness covers 36,572 total acres, with approximately 84 miles of trails which lead to lakes and small meadows. Waldo Lake Trail, separate from the wilderness is a 22-mile loop around the edge of Waldo Lake. Mostly Douglas-fir, mountain hemlock, and Pacific silver fir trees are present.

On August 23, 1996 lightning struck north of Waldo Lake in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon. In five days, the Charlton Fire burned 10,000 acres of forest, killing 95 percent of its trees. Over twenty years later, the area has barely recovered. Dead, bare trees still stand. Regrowth is stunted.

The burn is shown in these pictures in addition to some of my favorite views near Waldo Lake, from an enhanced perspective.