4 Best Sights in Klamath Falls, Southern Oregon

As many as 500 bald eagles make Klamath Basin their rest stop, amounting to the largest wintering concentration of these birds in the contiguous United States. Located along the Pacific Flyway bird migration route, the more than 50,000 acres of freshwater wetlands in this complex of six different refuges serve as a stopover for around 1.8 million waterfowl in the fall. Any time of year is bird-watching season; more than 400 species of birds—including about 30 types of raptors—have been spotted in the Klamath Basin, along with many mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. For a leisurely excursion by car, follow the tour routes in the Lower Klamath and Tule Lake refuges—the latter has a superb bookstore and visitor center and is also a short drive from Lava Beds National Monument.

The anthropology, history, geology, and wildlife of the Klamath Basin are explained at this extensive museum set inside the city's historic armory building, with special attention given to the hardships faced by early white settlers. Also part of the museum's domain are the Baldwin Hotel Museum, which is also downtown, and the Fort Klamath Museum and 8-acre frontier-era military garrison that you reach by driving 35 miles north on Highway 62.

In 2018, JWTR timber company opened the first portion of a fantastic new trail system on a nearly 7,500-acre tract of pristine conifer forest about 12 miles northwest of town, near the western shore of Upper Klamath Lake. There are currently 42 well-groomed trails open for mountain biking, running, and hiking (as well as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in winter), with the nearly 10-mile Spence Mountain Loop the property's showpiece. The trail rises steadily to a 5,800-foot peak that offers spectacular views of Upper Klamath Lake and the surrounding mountains.