About the Klamath Region

Officially designated a Wild and Scenic River, the Klamath River encompasses two nationally recognized scenic byways. Miles of rivers and creeks offer world-class white water river rafting and kayaking vacation opportunities, as well as crystal clear pools for swimming and fishing. Situated in one of the largest tracts of remaining wilderness in the lower 48, the region's four Wilderness areas (Siskiyou, Marble Mountain, Russian and Trinity Alps) offer exceptional hiking. The Klamath Mountains are the cross roads of the West, where north meets south, the coastal range meets the interior Great Basin, and the Sierra Nevada meet the Cascades, creating a rich and unique region of endemic plants found nowhere else in the world.

To learn more, check out our "Guide to Sandy Bar Ranch and the Mid Klamath", available online and as a free download. 

“The Klamath-Siskiyou ecoregion of Northwest California is one of the most diverse temperate forest regions on earth. To the locals, the ecoregion goes by many names: the Klamath Knot for it's rugged mountain ranges: State of Jefferson, for a local secession movement popularized in 1941; and Bigfoot Country, for the reputed sightings and mythical connection this creature inspires in indigenous communities. To biogeographers and conservationists, however, this area has many accolades, including designation as a World Conservation Union global center of plant diversity, a World Wildlife Fund Global 2000 ecoregion and proposed United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designation as a biosphere reserve”

-Dominick A. Dellasala, Ph.D

Listen to this two-minute podcast by author Michael Kauffman that sums up why the Klamath Region is an ecological gem, produced by Sound Ecology of Arcata, CA.

Klamath River and the Klamath Mountains

The North Coast of California has hidden coves, majestic Redwoods and miles of secluded beaches. Voted number one in Lonely Planet's 2018 "Best in the U.S." destinations, the Redwood Coast offers hiking, beachcombing, quirky culture and unparalleled scenery, with only one drawback: it's foggy and cold for most of the summer. We're located just inland from the Redwood Coast, without the fog and crowds of the summer tourist season. Our favorite and most direct route to the coast is over Bald Hills Rd., which connects to Redwood National Park, and one of our favorite stretches of the north coast, including Ladybird Johnson Grove, Fern Canyon, Prairie Creek Redwoods and Gold Bluffs Beach. The drive takes about 1 hour and forty five minutes, and winds through the beautiful grasslands of upper Redwood National Park, a seldom-visited corner where you're likely to spot elk, deer, bear and hawks. The route includes an eight mile unpaved section which may be bumpy certain times of the year, but is kept in good condition, even for 2WD low clearance vehicles. 

The Redwood Coast

The Klamath Knot refers to the complex melange of rock that underlies the Klamath Mountains, a result of the collision of the North American and Pacific tectonic plates, which gives rise to the steep terrain of the region. An ecological crossroads, the Klamath Mountain lie at the intersection of the Sierra Mountains to the south, the Cascades to the north, the Interior Great Basin to the east, and the coastal pacific to the west. One of the most biologically diverse and complex temperate bioregions on the planet, it includes the coastal fog belt, hot interior canyons, and the most diverse conifer forests in the world.

Klamath Knot

The Klamath River and its tributaries, including the Salmon and Trinity Rivers, have some of the largest remaining wild salmon runs in the lower 48 States and hold the promise of significant ecological improvement through restoration programs.

We are proud to serve on both the staff and board of directors of the Mid Klamath Watershed Council. Since 2001, the Mid Klamath Watershed Council (MKWC) has been working to restore the threatened Klamath River in Northern California and the upslope habitats upon which the river depends.

MKWC is part of the Western Klamath Restoration Partnership, a regional effort to protect communities and resources and restore fire to its ecological role in the Klamath Mountains. After years hard work, the effort starting to pay off, and the project is gaining recognition across the country as a model for fire adapted communities. For more info check out this excellent article by MKWC director Will Harling.

Mid Klamath Watershed Council