Upper Klamath Lake
Nearly 30 miles long and up to eight miles wide, Upper Klamath Lake is the
largest body of freshwater west of the Rockies.The winds can shift on a dime on
Klamath Lake keeping the outcome of the Wednesday night yacht club races “up in the air” to the end. Regattas draw sailors
from around the world. As shallow as eight feet and as deep as 60 feet in a few
isolated spots, the lake is host to windsurfers, sailors, recreational boaters,
fishermen and hunters.
The winds can shift on a dime on Klamath Lake keeping the outcome of the
Wednesday night yacht club races “up in the air” to the end. Regattas draw sailors from around the world.
A highly nutritious strain of blue green algae (Aphanizomenon flos-aquae)
flourishes in the lake. The tiny, single-celled organisms thrive in the warm
waters. Packed with an broad array of micronutrients, the algae is harvested by
local companies and processed for sale as a food supplement.
Clean, blue rivers and a multitude of creeks and springs feed the northern
portion of the lake. The crystal clear water around Pelican Bay is home to a
vast population of rainbow trout. Fly fishermen from around the globe catch -
and release - some of the largest trout on the continent. Resorts on the shores
of Pelican Bay attend to the needs of fishermen by offering meals, lodging and
guide services.
Canoe and kayak trails meander through the marshes and waterways of
Pelican Bay providing unparalleled viewing of waterfowl, otter, mink, deer and
bald eagles.
It’s hard to say which is more impressive, the performances inside the building or
the building itself. Once a 1940s movie palace, the stylish, art-deco
performing arts center is a landmark in Klamath Falls. The Ragland’s six-story tower, brightly lit with neon, is a friendly beacon for travelers
looking for world-class entertainment. There’s always something happening at the Ross Ragland. For more information or
reservations, dial 541-884-5483.
What’s your pleasure? Golfing on Oregon’s Number #1 rated course. Riding your favorite mount to survey the cattle on
this working ranch. Bicycling the many trails throughout the resort. Canoeing
the reed marshes along Upper Klamath Lake. Or just sinking into an overstuffed
chair in front of a massive stone fireplace. The Running Y Ranch Resort, just
eight miles west of Klamath Falls, is surrounded by bird sanctuaries, wildlife
preserves and towering forests.
Named after the Klamath, Modoc and Yahooskin Tribes, which were the original “settlers” of the Klamath Basin, Kla-Mo-Ya Casino is located on Highway 97 just 25 miles
north of Klamath Falls. Gaming includes slots, blackjack, poker and bingo.
Ample parking, delicious food and friendly people will greet you upon arrival.
For more information or reservations, dial 888-552-6692.
Few state parks offer the recreational opportunities of Collier Memorial. The
campground is open from mid-April through October and includes 50 full hookup
sites, 18 tent sites, hot showers, flush toilets, an RV dump station and plenty
of paved parking. The Williamson River and its Spring Creek tributary, two of
Oregon’s best trout fishing waters, are nearby. A short hike from the campground leads
to the Logging Museum and Pioneer Village. A longer, 10-mile hike connects
Collier Memorial to Jackson F. Kimball State Recreation Site. The trail is open to hikers, bikers, cross-country skiers and horseback
riders. For more information, dial 800-551-6949.
Welcome to the OC&E Woods Line State Trail – Oregon's longest linear park! This 100-mile, rail-to-trail conversion is built
on the old railbed of the Oregon, California, and Eastern Railroad. The trail
is open for all non-motorized recreation, beginning in the heart of Klamath
Falls, extending east to Bly and north to the lush Sycan Marsh. From its
beginnings as a railroad carrying millions of board feet of timber and railcars
loaded with cattle, to its present cargo of recreational trail users, this
railroad line has always been on the move.
As of November 2002, the OC&E Woods Line State Trail is paved from the Klamath Falls Trailhead to the small,
rural community of Olene. This makes a total of 8 miles of paved trail surface
where you can bike, jog, skate, and ride horseback. Here, you'll experience the
historic 1898 steel bridge spanning the A Canal and imagine the feel of an
old-time steam engine crossing its riveted beams. From Highway 39, an unpaved
trail emerges into a wonderful mixture of ranch lands, rivers, and forested
buttes. All the original trestles are still in place, as well as unique
engineering feats such as the double switchback.
This trail section is more rugged and attracts mountain bikers, avid hikers,
anglers, equestrian users, and wildlife watchers. From Beatty to the Sycan
Marsh, trail users are in a national forest, with its lofty ponderosa pines,
lively streams, and Horse Glade Trailhead camping. This section is host to the
400-foot-long Merritt Creek Trestle. Cross-country skiers will be delighted to
find snowfall in the area is consistent. Sycan Marsh is an attraction for bird
watchers. Exploring the OC&E Woods Line State Trail is always an adventure. For more information see this
website:
http://www.ocestatetrail.com
Lava Beds National Monument is located approximately 25 miles south of the
Oregon/California border. It is included on the Klamath County map because of
its geologic and historic ties to the region. For centuries, the Tulelake area
was home to the Modoc Indians. An attempt to forcibly remove Modoc Chief
Captain Jack and his 52 warriors from the Lava Beds led to a five-month
standoff with the U.S. Army. Battle sites from the Modoc War have been
carefully preserved. The National Monument has the largest concentration of
lava tubes in the continental U.S. – 426 caves in all. The region is also known for its unusually high number of
birds of prey and migratory waterfowl.
The downtown Klamath Falls area has been the centerpiece of our community for more than a century and it shows
in the quality of old buildings and the care we’ve taken to keep it spiffed up. The Ross Ragland Theater features nationally recognized entertainment, an art gallery, and a conference
center. Tours of historic buildings and homes are available. Wonderful shops
and art galleries are everywhere with room for more!
Our heritage is logging and agriculture and the rich and colorful cultures that
developed to support these industries. You will still see cowboys driving cattle down rural roads (don’t honk, drive very slowly through); colorful communities like Gilchrist with its
uniquely decorated buildings and the Czech settlement in Malin; sheep herding – there used to be hundreds of thousands grazing rangelands from north to south;
special places where hard working people relax and cool off like Bly’s hidden swimming hole and the high lakes of Gearhart Mountain’s wilderness area. 350,000 visitors a year enjoy Collier State Park Logging
Museum, one of the best of its kind in the world!
Ice Sports The Bill Collier Community Ice Arena at the Running Y Resort is a community
based project operated by Klamath Ice Sports. From November through March you can enjoy figure skating, speed skating,
hockey and take skating lessons.
