Southern Oregon is home to Crater Lake, Oregon's only national park, showcasing America's deepest and bluest lake. But that's only the beginning. It is also the stage for hair-raising white-water adventures and awesome downhill and cross-country skiing. Southern Oregon features two spectacular mountain ranges, a gold-mining era boom town, a wildlife safari park, caves for the adventurous explorer, Klamath Lake, Oregon's largest natural body of water and Ashland's Shakespearean Festival. The area has six wildlife refuges, four national forests and two national monuments, all of which provide the opportunity for one-day trips or extended exploration. Year round access to Crater Lake is provided by Highway 62. In the winter, Nordic equipment rentals are available and park services rangers lead weekend snow shoeing expeditions. In the summer, the 33-mile rim drive leads to stunning views, abundant hiking trails and campsites. The rugged and scenic Oregon coast is less than a half day drive away.
Perhaps the best places to find things to do in Klamath are the Meet Me in Klamath website. As you can quickly see, there is always something to do!
In City Activities
In this fine city of ours you will find delicious restaurants, cafes and bakeries owned and operated by friends of yours. You will find concerts and plays at two different theatres and one of the west coast's best skate parks. We boast some of the nation's best bird watching. You can walk from bike shop to brewery to wine store where they take you on a southern Oregon tasting tour. We have co working spaces and perhaps the world's best Karaoke (perhaps). During the summer we have killer farmers markets, summer collegiate baseball games (the Gems!), and Thursday street fairs. We have our very own rodeo and the lake is one of the best places to get your sail on. Several attendings own boats and need warm bodies to "heave and ho me hearties yo-ho" every Wednesday night. And yes - you can see downtown from the snowscape, which is taken from the hill behind our neighborhood college.
Cycling
Klamath Falls has incredible road biking, mountain biking, and gravel grinding. In town we have Moore Park's 26 miles of developed trial, and just outside of town we are developing the Spence Mountain trail system. We have a rapidly developing bicycling community with a new, awesome bike club, plus hundreds of miles of old logging roads to shred and camp. Check out the new biking website by clicking the picture!
Hiking
Within city limits we boast Moore Park as well as Hogsback (this page's welcome picture) and several other short afternoon adventures. Klamath Falls is also situated just 30 minutes from the Mountain Lakes Wilderness and Sky Lakes Wilderness, both of which offer countless day hiking and backpacking opportunities. Check out a class favorite in Harriet lake, where you can leave your house and be setting up camp within 4 hours. We are a hop skip and jump from Crater Lake, which is Oregon's only National Park. To the west we have easy access to California's Redwoods and the beautiful Oregon coast. To the south we have mount Shasta, which is an exciting challenge to anyone who loves climbing mountains. Many residents have successfully cut their peak bagging teeth on this 14er, with the best option being hiking your skis up and shredding some gnar on the 7000 vertical feet descent.
Rafting
We are situated within spitting distance of the Upper Klamath, Rogue, and Deschutes rivers. These rivers are true destination rivers, with boaters coming from across the states to paddle the always-frothy waters. Many of these rivers can be paddled in an enterprising afternoon, and while there are many guide companies that service the rivers, experienced boaters should just go for it! We have a river trip every year for orientation as well as during our Advanced Wilderness Life Support course. Residents have planned several weekend trips down the remote sections of the Deschutes and Wild and Scenic Rogue. If all you have are a few hours after clinic, we've got you covered- the link river connects Klamath Lake to Lake Ewauna and boasts a tasty class III right off the put in. Tuck in and find your roll - the kayaking and rafting abide.
The Oregon Coast
We are just four hours from the coast cities of Florence, Bandon, and Crescent City. The above picture was taken on a weekend trip to Port Orford, where residents camped on the beach. The Oregon Coast's Highway 101 is famous for its winding, verdant scenery and is dotted with towns both quaint and eclectic. Travel far enough north and you can visit the Tillamook Creamery and come home rich in cheese beyond your wildest dreams, travel south to find yourself among the Redwoods of northern California.
Winter Sports
During winter months the surrounding mountains become beacons for backcountry skiers and snowboarders. Crater lake is itself transformed into a many peaked playground for those who love to hike up things only to barrel down them once again. Nordic Skiers and snow shoers find themselves traversing landscapes once familiar in search of frozen lakes and snowball fights. For those of us who like to ride down without walking up, there are accessible lifts on nearby Mount Ashland, Bachelor and Shasta. Further, Mount Shasta maintains her welcoming dusting well into June, so successful summiters are rewarded with 7000 feet of smooth descent ending spectacularly at their car.