Klamath County: Crater Lake, Nature and Culture

Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and is located in Crater Lake National Park in southwestern Oregon. The park preserves about 183,224 acres of forest and alpine terrain. Its natural setting ranges from protected landscapes to places where bird migration and water activities shape the visitor experience.

Crater Lake: Hiking Trails and Scenic Drives

The Cleetwood Cove Trail is steep and challenging: over 1.1 miles, the trail descends 700 feet (213 meters). The distance alone therefore doesn’t convey what makes the trail distinctive. Check current park updates before you travel. For long-distance hikers, 33 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail run through the national park; along the way, impressive views open up of the mountains surrounding the lake. Permits and conditions may apply.

The Rim Drive is also 33 miles long, but it loops around Crater Lake and offers viewpoints, short hikes and a view of Wizard Island. The same mileage here refers to something different from the Pacific Crest Trail: a drive with possible stops rather than a section of a long-distance hiking trail. Seasonal road conditions may affect access to Rim Drive.

The southern section of the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway includes an 80-mile stretch along Upper Klamath Lake and near Klamath Falls, as well as an approximately 60-mile stretch in the Crater Lake region. These two sections provide a guide to the route’s different landscapes; seasonal conditions may affect the section in the Crater Lake region.

Protected Areas, Bird Migration and Water

Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge was established to protect migratory birds. Part of the refuge includes historic areas and the former reservation of the Klamath Tribes. Members of the Klamath Tribes still hunt, fish and gather in the marshland and along the river. Canoeing and kayaking are possible at Klamath Marsh from July 1 through September 30; low water levels may make the canoe trail impassable.

During the annual bird migration, a large proportion of the ducks in the Pacific Flyway use Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. Recreational fishing from a boat is allowed on Upper Klamath Lake near the refuge, but is subject to state and federal regulations. Another experience is the 10.2-mile Lower Klamath Auto Tour Route, a loop reached via Stateline Highway 161. Route conditions may change.

Forest History and Museums

The Williamson River and clear Spring Creek meet at Collier Memorial State Park. The park includes an outdoor museum of historic logging equipment and a relocated pioneer village. The logging museum displays rare and antique forestry equipment dating from the 1880s onward. From the park’s equestrian trailhead, a connection runs north across Fremont-Winema National Forest land to Jackson F. Kimball State Recreation Site and beyond; trail conditions may vary.

Train Mountain offers educational train rides on 1:8-scale trains between mid-May and mid-October. Check the specific dates before your trip. In Klamath Falls, the Baldwin Hotel Museum has 40 rooms filled with antiques and artifacts. The Fort Klamath Museum displays the parade grounds of a 19th-century frontier military post.

Collections in Klamath County offer further perspectives on cultural history: the Favell Museum displays more than 100,000 Native American artifacts, as well as works by more than 300 contemporary artists of the American West. The Klamath County Museum features birds in lifelike habitats, Native American artifacts, dioramas, and relics from pioneer times and the history of World War II. The 100-mile OC&E Woods Line State Trail also tells a story of the former railroad through its route: it follows the former railroad grade of the Oregon, California and Eastern Railroad.

These highlights can help you evaluate hotel search results in light of your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Klamath Falls, Chemult, Chiloquin, Crescent, Gilchrist, Hood River, Harney County, Wasco.

For the broader travel overview: Oregon.