Enjoying the Heart of Klamath Country Recreation
Paddle a canoe, or hike to a remote wilderness lake. Go water skiing, or raft a wild river. Whisk along in a sailboat, or lazily watch the colors of an evening sunset reflected in a placid lake.
Crater Lake National Park, America’s deepest and clearest lake, is a place to gaze and marvel from road pullouts along Rim Drive, hike to the lake or take a seasonal boat tour.
In Klamath Country, a network of waterways serves the region’s recreation and provides an array of outdoor opportunities. Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon’s largest lake covers 142 square miles and stretches nearly 30 miles. It’s seasonally popular for duck hunting and fishing for trophy-sized trout and traveled by diners on a reconstructed paddle wheeler and sail boaters. Canoes and sea kayaks travel portions of the Upper Klamath Canoe Trail that meanders through marshes near Rocky Point, and also at the Lake of the Woods, Wood River, Klamath Marsh National Wildlife, Running Y Ranch Resort marshes and Tulelake National Wildlife Refuge.
Klamath Country's lakes and marshes historically have attracted duck and geese hunters and bird watchers. The Pacific Flyway converges here, with seasonal migrations of 350 bird species, from raptors like bald and golden eagles to grebes, terns, swans, white pelicans and waterfowl.
Locals favor Gerber Reservoir and Fourmile Lake for fishing and camping. In the north Country are Odell, Crescent and Davis lakes.
Hikers have abundant choices. The Pacific Crest Trail follows the Cascades crest near the Lake of the Woods through the Sky Lakes Wilderness Area, Crater Lake National Park and the Thielsen and Diamond Peak wildernesses.
In Klamath Falls, the Link River Trail is used by walkers, runners and blackberry pickers. The river links Upper Klamath Lake with Lake Ewauna, which eventually becomes the Klamath River and travels 180 miles before reaching the Pacific Ocean. Near Klamath Falls is a 17-mile stretch of the Upper Klamath, a destination for whitewater rafters and kayakers.
The OC&E-Woods Line State Park is Oregon's longest linear state park, nearly 100 miles long. A paved portion in and near Klamath Falls is used by bicyclists, in-line skaters, runners and walkers. The remaining 90-plus miles of graded gravel is favored by mountain bikers, equestrians and hikers.
Biking, rafting, hiking, paddling, fishing and bird watching are some of the ways people enjoy Klamath Country. Whether fanatically playing or lazily lounging, there’s a range of ways to experience Klamath Country recreation.