Klamath Hills Recreation Area is a unique and peaceful trail just outside of
Klamath Falls for viewing birds, including eagles, quail and chukars, and
various wildlife species, including mule deer, pronghorn antelope, squirrels,
jackrabbits, and coyotes. The open, mountain big sagebrush habitat is
intermixed with western juniper and provides scenic views of Mount Shasta
further up the trail.

## Know Before You Go:

  * Open year-round for day-use only. Open from sunrise to sunset; hours vary depending on season.
  * No water or restrooms are available.
  * No camping.
  * Visitors are asked to respect the private property boundaries surrounding the area and avoid areas that indicate “Restoration in Progress.”

Klamath Hills Recreation Area is a unique and peaceful trail just outside of Klamath Falls for viewing birds, including eagles, quail and chukars, and various wildlife species, including mule deer, pronghorn antelope, squirrels, jackrabbits, and coyotes. The open, mountain big sagebrush habitat is intermixed with western juniper and provides scenic views of Mount Shasta further up the trail.

<h2>Know Before You Go:</h2>

<ul>
	<li>Open year-round for day-use only. Open from sunrise to sunset; hours vary depending on season.</li>
	<li>No water or restrooms are available.</li>
	<li>No camping.</li>
	<li>Visitors are asked to respect the private property boundaries surrounding the area and avoid areas that indicate “Restoration in Progress.”</li>
</ul>

A dog trots down a trail at the Klamath Hills Recreation Area.

Trail dog

View to south from the the Klamath Hills Recreation Area.

View of Mt. Shasta from the the Klamath Hills Recreation Area.

Trailhead at the Klamath Hills Recreation Area.

Close up view of Mt. Shasta from the the Klamath Hills Recreation Area.

Klamath Hills Recreation Area

The refuge, with a backdrop of 14,000-foot Mount Shasta to the southwest, is
listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historic
Landmark.

The 50,092-acre refuge is a varied mix of intensively managed shallow marshes,
open water, grassy uplands, and croplands that provide feeding, resting,
nesting, and brood-rearing habitat for waterfowl and other water birds. This
refuge is one of the most biologically productive refuges within the Pacific
Flyway.Approximately 80 percent of the flyway's migrating waterfowl pass
through the Klamath Basin on both spring and fall migrations, with 50 percent
using the refuge. Peak waterfowl populations can reach 1.8 million birds,
which represent 15 to 45 percent of the total birds wintering in California.
The refuge produces between 30,000 and 60,000 waterfowl annually.The refuge is
also a fall staging area for 20 to 30 percent of the central valley population
of sandhill crane. From 20,000 to 100,000 shorebirds use refuge wetlands
during the spring migration. Wintering wildlife populations include 500 bald
eagle and 30,000 tundra swan. Spring and summer nesting wildlife include many
colonial water birds, such as white-faced ibis, heron, egret, cormorant,
grebe, white pelican, and gulls.

In all, the refuge provides habitat for 25 species of special concern listed
as threatened or sensitive by California and Oregon. All refuge waters are
delivered through a system of diversion or irrigation canals associated with
the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Klamath Project. Consequently this leaves the
refuge vulnerable to periodic water shortages due to an over-allocated system

The refuge, with a backdrop of 14,000-foot Mount Shasta to the southwest, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historic Landmark.The 50,092-acre refuge is a varied mix of intensively managed shallow marshes, open water, grassy uplands, and croplands that provide feeding, resting, nesting, and brood-rearing habitat for waterfowl and other water birds. This refuge is one of the most biologically productive refuges within the Pacific Flyway.Approximately 80 percent of the flyway's migrating waterfowl pass through the Klamath Basin on both spring and fall migrations, with 50 percent using the refuge. Peak waterfowl populations can reach 1.8 million birds, which represent 15 to 45 percent of the total birds wintering in California. The refuge produces between 30,000 and 60,000 waterfowl annually.The refuge is also a fall staging area for 20 to 30 percent of the central valley population of sandhill crane. From 20,000 to 100,000 shorebirds use refuge wetlands during the spring migration. Wintering wildlife populations include 500 bald eagle and 30,000 tundra swan. Spring and summer nesting wildlife include many colonial water birds, such as white-faced ibis, heron, egret, cormorant, grebe, white pelican, and gulls.In all, the refuge provides habitat for 25 species of special concern listed as threatened or sensitive by California and Oregon. All refuge waters are delivered through a system of diversion or irrigation canals associated with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Klamath Project. Consequently this leaves the refuge vulnerable to periodic water shortages due to an over-allocated system

Bird's eye view of the park

Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge

These mature stands of trees have open branching patterns of large limbs which
allow easy eagle access and can support many birds. Located on a northeast
slope, the roost also shelters these raptors from the harsh and prevailing
winter winds. In recent years, as many as 300 bald eagles have used the roost
in a single night. Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge also serves as a
nesting habitat for several bald eagle pairs.

Past selective logging activities coupled with the exclusion of fire cycles
have yielded excessive fuel loadings and overstocked tree stand densities,
thus placing eagle roosting habitat at risk of catastrophic wildfire, and
creating potential forest health problems. A plan for the long-term
maintenance and improvement of bald eagle habitat has been implemented.

To reduce the risk of wildfire and improve forest health at Bear Valley
National Wildlife Refuge, prescribed fire is used to maintain fuel loading at
an acceptable level, and move the tree species composition toward a more
natural condition (i.e., more fire-tolerant tree species).

An adaptive management approach is used to examine the results of these
management actions allowing for improved outcomes over time.

Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Plan

These mature stands of trees have open branching patterns of large limbs which allow easy eagle access and can support many birds. Located on a northeast slope, the roost also shelters these raptors from the harsh and prevailing winter winds. In recent years, as many as 300 bald eagles have used the roost in a single night. Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge also serves as a nesting habitat for several bald eagle pairs.Past selective logging activities coupled with the exclusion of fire cycles have yielded excessive fuel loadings and overstocked tree stand densities, thus placing eagle roosting habitat at risk of catastrophic wildfire, and creating potential forest health problems. A plan for the long-term maintenance and improvement of bald eagle habitat has been implemented.To reduce the risk of wildfire and improve forest health at Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge, prescribed fire is used to maintain fuel loading at an acceptable level, and move the tree species composition toward a more natural condition (i.e., more fire-tolerant tree species). An adaptive management approach is used to examine the results of these management actions allowing for improved outcomes over time.<a href="https://fws.gov/media/152631" rel="nofollow">Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Plan</a>

Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Nearly 30 miles long and up to eight miles wide, Upper Klamath Lake is the
largest freshwater body west of the Rockies. It has a surface area of 91,000
acres and 98 miles of shoreline. Recreation facilities are managed for
Reclamation by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Nearly 30 miles long and up to eight miles wide, Upper Klamath Lake is the largest freshwater body west of the Rockies.   It has a surface area of 91,000 acres and 98 miles of shoreline.  Recreation facilities are managed for Reclamation by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Upper Klamath Lake

Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1928 by President Calvin
Coolidge “as a preserve and breeding ground for wild birds and animals.” Today
it is part of a complex of six National Wildlife Refuges in the Klamath Basin
that include Tule Lake, Upper Klamath, Lower Klamath, Klamath Marsh, Bear
Valley, and Clear Lake, whose combined mission is to protect what remains of
what once was the largest wetlands area west of the Mississippi River. These
surviving wetlands remain a highly managed yet critical part of the Pacific
Flyway, a place where migrating waterfowl can rest and refuel during their
transcontinental spring and fall migrations.

Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1928 by President Calvin Coolidge “as a preserve and breeding ground for wild birds and animals.”  Today it is part of a complex of six National Wildlife Refuges in the Klamath Basin that include Tule Lake, Upper Klamath, Lower Klamath, Klamath Marsh, Bear Valley, and Clear Lake, whose combined mission is to protect what remains of what once was the largest  wetlands area west of the Mississippi River. These surviving wetlands remain a highly managed yet critical part of the Pacific Flyway, a place where migrating waterfowl can rest and refuel during their transcontinental spring and fall migrations.

Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge

The Klamath River begins in Oregon's Klamath Basin, then cuts through the
Cascades and the Klamath Mountains before entering the Pacific Ocean in
northern California. The Upper Klamath River has a lengthy season of use
thanks to the steady water releases from the J.C. Boyle Dam and Powerhouse
operated by PacifiCorp. The Upper Klamath River is recognized as an
outstanding whitewater boating river with warm water and many class III to IV+
rapids. These classes are considered advanced to expert on the rafting scale
of one to six. If you are not a seasoned river rat, there are a number of
guides and outfitters who offer safe, professionally guided trips ranging from
one to three days. Other popular activities along the river include camping,
fishing, hunting, and scenic touring. The BLM operates the following
recreation sites on the Upper Klamath River: Spring Island Day Use Site,
Klamath River Campground, Turtle Primitive Camp, and Stateline Campground.

## Know Before You Go:

  * There is access to the opposite side of the river off of the Topsy Road. Note that this road can be in very rough shape at times.
  * Check for local fire restrictions before building any campfire.
  * Pack it in; pack it out at primitive campsites; no developed facilities are available.

## Point of Interest:

The Upper Klamath is one of only three rivers that bisect the Cascade Mountain
Range. This creates a wide diversity of habitats supporting an abundance of
fish and wildlife.

The Klamath River begins in Oregon's Klamath Basin, then cuts through the Cascades and the Klamath Mountains before entering the Pacific Ocean in northern California. The Upper Klamath River has a lengthy season of use thanks to the steady water releases from the J.C. Boyle Dam and Powerhouse operated by PacifiCorp. The Upper Klamath River is recognized as an outstanding whitewater boating river with warm water and many class III to IV+ rapids. These classes are considered advanced to expert on the rafting scale of one to six. If you are not a seasoned river rat, there are a number of guides and outfitters who offer safe, professionally guided trips ranging from one to three days. Other popular activities along the river include camping, fishing, hunting, and scenic touring. The BLM operates the following recreation sites on the Upper Klamath River: Spring Island Day Use Site, Klamath River Campground, Turtle Primitive Camp, and Stateline Campground.

<h2>Know Before You Go:</h2>

<ul>
	<li>There is access to the opposite side of the river off of the Topsy Road. Note that this road can be in very rough shape at times.</li>
	<li>Check for local fire restrictions before building any campfire.</li>
	<li>Pack it in; pack it out at primitive campsites; no developed facilities are available.</li>
</ul>

<h2>Point of Interest:</h2>

The Upper Klamath is one of only three rivers that bisect the Cascade Mountain Range. This creates a wide diversity of habitats supporting an abundance of fish and wildlife.

View of empty campsite at Upper Klamath Campground

Upper Klamath Campground

Upper Klamath Wild and Scenic River

Bankfull Upper Klamath Wild and Scenic River

Splash and giggle on the Upper Klamath Wild and Scenic River

Klamath Hills Recreation Area

Know Before You Go:

Directions

Reviews

Nearby Parks

Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge

Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Upper Klamath Lake

Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Upper Klamath Wild and Scenic River