We live but a couple of hours from magnificent Crater Lake National Park. While we make that drive from time to time, we seldom drive past Crater Lake on Highway 138 (also called the Rogue - Umpqua scenic byway) heading west to Roseburg. http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/umpqua/runsb/points-interest.shtml
But we were doing that very thing a couple of weeks ago when nature called to a member of our traveling party. He was in luck that another member of our group knew about the "facilities" at Diamond Lake Viewpoint just a few miles west of the Crater Lake turnoff.
As it turns out, even those of us who were not in need of a pit stop were in luck because we knew nothing of this new-ish viewpoint, opened in 2007. http://www.kpic.com/news/local/9800087.html
A lovely place it was for stretching our legs and taking in views of Diamond Lake with dormant volcano Mt. Bailey behind it and also to see another dormant structure in Mt. Thielsen.
In addition to well maintained bathrooms (but non flush / no water arrangements - ugh - I am never desperate enough to use them), there are two picnic areas and viewpoints for soaking up the view and a large parking lot. For my Yelp friends and others who consider accessibility as requirement, one of the picnic areas is accessible as are all the other elements.
The nicest surprise was at the height of tourist season for Crater Lake and the Rogue - Umpqua Rivers scenic byway drive, this viewpoint was lightly populated.
Maybe that's because the turnoff takes you about a quarter of a mile up the hill to reach it and many don't know it's there. I didn't. But now I do. And now you do too! read more