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Hiking

Take a Hike or Climb a Volcano! Explore Klamath County on foot. Advanced climbers can make the trek to Mt. McLaughlin or Mt. Thielsen, while beginners can take a relaxing hike through Moore Park or along the downtown historic walking tour. Many beautiful places can only be reached by hiking, and enthusiasts regard hiking as the best way to see nature. Hike through lush forests, past inland streams and pristine lakes, or view wildlife as you walk along nature trails. In the North Klamath County, take advantage of groomed hiking trails, or venture out on your own for a day of adventure with trails in the Crescent Lake area to appeal to all skill levels. Klamath County provides nearly endless choices for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts, regardless of skill level. Check out this Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Hiking to get you started.

The link river trail

The Link River Trail is a mostly flat trail that runs between Putnam’s Point on Klamath Lake to the Klamath Wingwatcher’s Trail on Lake Ewauna. If you love watching birds, you’ll want to walk this path, as its unique habitat offers birds and wildlife peaceful sanctuary. Expect to take a couple of hours to truly enjoy the area. Restrooms are available at Moore Park and Veterans Park. No facilities on the trail. Be sure to stop and see the site of “Klamath Falls”.

Klamath wingwatcher’s interpretive trail

Klamath Wingwatchers developed this easy 1.1 mile long, wheelchair accessible trail along the western shore of Lake Ewauna. Park at Veterans Park and walk over the bridge to the trail head. Over 1100 trees and shrubs provide shelter and food for the many species of wildlife that inhabit the area, including Pelicans and Grebes. The eagle perch along the trail is used year round by bald eagles and cormorants. Since this is a wildlife area, there is no camping or fires, no motor vehicles, no littering. Pets must be kept on a leash at all times. Guided tours available upon request.

The pinnacles hiking trail

Crater Lake National Park

Breathtaking views as you walk this easy mile up a slight incline following a canyon rim to Pinnacle Valley then enter Crater Lake National Park. Most of the trail is gravel. No water or bathrooms available. Directions: Travel Hwy 62 through Fort Klamath. Two miles east of Fort Klamath, take Sun Mountain Road north for 3 miles. Go past Jackson F. Kimball State Park signs, off the paved road onto a gravel road. At 0.4 miles past pavement go left at the fork. Continue to just past MP 16. Take dirt road #2304 to the left where you’ll see a sign that says “Pinnacle Trailhead 4 M”.

Tomahawk trail

The whole family will enjoy this fun ½ day hike. This 2.8 mile easy hike is located West of Klamath Falls off Hwy 140. Take forest road 3600/190 off of Hwy 140 just W of Rocky Point Road intersection. Park anywhere at the base of the hill and take the old dirt road/trail up Tomahawk. With little elevation gain, it offers postcard views of Mt. McLaughlin. It is designated multi-use for hikers, horses, dogs, and bicycles.

Billie creek trail

Here’s a great trail to stretch your legs and then soothe tired feet in the cool waters of Billie Creek. You can park at Rye Spur trail head located just past Lake of the Woods turnoff and MP 36 on Hwy 140. The flat, easy loop trail is at a 5,000′ elevation among heavy timber. It crosses Billie Creek in a couple of places for your wading enjoyment.

Brown Mountain Trail

Goes from Forest Road #3705 on the Rogue River National Forest to the junction with High Lake Trail #6200 on the Winema National Forest. Brown Mountain is a small shield volcano capped by a cinder cone. The trail skirts along the side of Brown Mountain where you can view lava flows, old-growth forest, huckleberry, serviceberry, and other plants.

To access the trail from Klamath Falls, take Hwy 140 West. After you pass Fish Lake, turn left onto Forest Road 37. Go 2 miles and turn left on Forest Road 3705. Trail head parking is on the right side of the road 3.2 miles further.

Varney Creek

From Klamath Falls, travel 21 miles west on Hwy 140. Look for a large brown sign (just after milepost 48) to the Varney Creek Trailhead and turn left onto Road 3637. Stay on the gravel road for about 2 miles and turn left on Road 3664. Road 3664 ends at the trailhead another 2 miles down the road. A large parking area with ample room for turn-around is provided.

Hike through forests of white fir, ponderosa pine, sugar and lodgepole pine, and low growing shrubs of creeping snowberry. You’ll also see mountain hemlock and Shasta red fir. You’ll walk through meadows of wildflowers. Wildlife in also abundant with many birds and golden-mantled ground squirrel roaming the area

Nannie Creek Trail

Nannie Creek is located in the Sky Lakes Wilderness Area. The trail climbs a steep slope of red fir, mountain hemlock and lodge-pole pine. Stop at Pucks Lakes for some excellent fishing and enjoy its beautifully clear water. About 1 mile past Puck Lakes you’ll have some amazing views of the Sky Lakes Basin and Luther Mountain.

Sevenmile Creek Trail

From Klamath Falls, go west on Hwy 140 to Westside Rd. Go about 17 miles to Forest Road 3300 and go straight north for 2.5 miles, where it become Road 3334. The trail head is about 5 ½ miles up the road. The trail crosses Sevenmile Creek and climbs up gentle slopes along Sevenmile Marsh.

After approximately 2 miles, you’ll turn left on Pacific Crest Trail towards Devils Peak. Hike to Ranger Spring, where the middle fork of the Rogue River gushes out of the ground, or continue on to the Seven Lakes Trail past Grass Lake and Middle Lake. For stunning views of Devils Peak, go hike to the spur to Cliff Lake. Watch out for those Northern goshawks. While hard to find, they are very aggressive and if nesting, they are known for dive-bombing people who get too close.

Moore park area trail system

From downtown Klamath Falls, head north on 10th Street until it turns to Oregon Avenue. Follow Oregon Avenue for about 1.5 miles, over the Link River, to Moore Park. The parking lots will be on your left shortly after entering the park. Cross the road to reach the trail head. Look for interpretive trail signs at the trailhead and along the trail. This trail will connect with the Euloana trail. Dog walking has recently been allowed in the park. Please keep dogs on a leash and use the dogipot receptacles located throughout the park for waste. Call 541.883.4102 for reservations.

Spence mountain trail system

Spence Mountain involves a trail system on a beautiful 7,400 acre parcel of land owned by HWTR. The property is only 15 miles from Klamath Falls offering easy access. Trails were designed for multipurpose uses to accommodate mountain bikers, hikers, trail runners, and even snowshoeing in the winter. The trail system currently is now a full 10 mile look of single track and once the trail system is completed will be about 50 miles in total. Many of the trail in the system offer amazing views of Upper Klamath Lake and surrounding mountains. This area is also great of birding as there are many bald eagles that frequent the area.

Oc&e woods line state trail

Oregon’s longest linear park. This 100-mile trail is built on the old rail-bed of the Oregon, California, and Eastern Railroad. The trail is open to all non-motorized recreation beginning in the heart of Klamath Falls and extending east to Bly and north to the Sycan Marsh. The first 7.1 miles from Washburn Way to Olene are paved and is a fun stretch of the trail for family, school groups, walkers, joggers, in-line skaters and bicyclists.

This trail section of the OC&E Woods Line State Trail is more rugged than the first 8 miles of the trail and attracts hikers, mountain bikers, 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. Sycan Marsh is an attraction for bird watchers.

Cherry creek

From Klamath Falls, go west on Hwy 140 to Rocky Point and turn north on Westside Road. Go another 11 miles and turn left on Forest road 3450. The trail head is 1.6 miles further.

View sensational old-growth and Engelmann spruce, a tree that is rare in Klamath County. The Engelmann spruce tree has an unpleasant odor when the needles are crushed. The trail will cross a couple of creeks and ends at Trapper Lake where it join the Sky Lakes Trail. Enjoy beautiful views of Luther Mountain.

Union peak

This trail is near Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the United States. It’s accessible from several trail heads, but to avoid a fee, begin this hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. From Klamath Falls, go north on Hwy 97. Get on Hwy 62 and travel for about 30 miles. The trail head is about one mile past the south entrance to Crater Lake on the left side of the highway.

Meander through lodge-pole pine forests, view Union Peak and Crater Lake National Park to the north. The last ½ mile you will have to climb about 700 feet through boulder fields and switchbacks. The view from the top is incredible – you’ll enjoy Mt. McLoughlin, Upper Klamath Lake with its wetlands, and the Wood River Valley.

Mountain lakes loop

From Klamath Falls, go west on Hwy 66 for 8 miles. Stay right onto Clover Creek Rd and go 15.7 miles. Then turn right on Rd 3852. The trailhead is 3.2 miles ahead.

Access the Mountain Lakes Loop via the above 3.6 mile trail. You’ll be committing to a 10 mile hike if you continue, so this loop is more fit for the overnight hiker.

As you climb, you’ll see majestic views of Mt. McLoughlin, then hike down the rocky face to Lakes Eb and Zeb and then Lake Como. You’ll finally end up at Lake Harriette. This would be a great place to stop for the night. The next day, switchback down a rock scree to the Clover Creek Trail to finish your outing.

Mt. Mcloughlin

The tallest volcano between Shasta and Crater Lake, Mt. McLoughlin is located within the Sky Lakes Wilderness Area and offers spectacular views from its top. The trail to the summit winds through rocky terrain and can be very difficult. The trail is marked above the tree line by red circles painted on rocks. Descent can be tricky as these markers are easily missed. Visit nearby Dry Creek, Rye Spring, Ichabod Spring, Swan Creek, and more. Plan a 2 day hike and camp at Saddle Campground.

Brown mountain

Offering a close view of the south flanks of Mt. McLoughlin, Brown Mountain is small (5 cubic kilometers) shield topped by a cinder cone whose central depression is 15 meters deep. Climbing Brown Mountain is mainly a scramble over bare, unweathered block-lava as there is no maintained trail to its summit. White Pine Campground is a great place to camp. Explore Muddy Spring and Rainbow Creek.

Pelican butte

Imagine 180-degree panoramic views of the Cascade Peaks from Crater Lake, past Mt. McLaughlin and other Mountain Lakes Wilderness..these views will be yours if you hike the Pelican Butte trail. A reasonably well-maintained gravel road to the summit. You’ll have an elevation difference of 3,325 feet, two trailheads so you can decide whether to have someone pick you up at the other end rather than hiking back down. Seldom Creek flows through the vicinity, as well as Penn Creek. Stop by Fourmile Flat Quarry and Harriman Spring. Try camping at Hemlock Lake Campground or White Pine Campground, or stay at Point Comfort Lodge.