Birding the Volcanic Legacy from Klamath Falls to Crater Lake N.P.

Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway - (California, Oregon)

Departure: Klamath Falls, Oregon
Destination: Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
Time to allow: 1 day

Plan for a full day of birding from Klamath Falls, up the western side of Upper Klamath Lake, and into Crater Lake National Park.

This road trip was created under collaboration with the Fish & Wildlife Service. For more information and birding locations off Volcanic Legacy All-American Road in the Klamath Basin, one of the best birding areas in the country, visit the website for the Klamath Basin Birding Trail or call 1-800-445-6728.

  • Start: Klamath Falls

    Located in the south central region of Oregon and bordering northern California, Klamath Falls sits on the southern shore of the Upper Klamath Lake, nestled in the Klamath Basin on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains.

  • Stop 1: Birding by Boat

    Directions from previous place:

    Take Hwy. 97 to the Oregon Ave. off ramp. Proceed west. Oregon Ave. will turn into Lakeshore Dr.

    After crossing the Link River Bridge turn into the Moore Park Public Marina. A traveler staying along Hwy.140 west of Klamath Falls can reach this part of Upper Klamath Lake by turning left off Highway 140 onto the west end of Lakeshore Drive.
    Suggested Time at This Site: 2 hours

    Upper Klamath Lake is considered one of the finest lakes for sailing in the Northwest. Remote anchorages are ideal for birding. Canoe trails are found in several wetland fringes of the Upper Klamath Lake.

    Boat ramps are located in convenient proximity to many good birding sites around Upper Klamath and Agency Lake. Commercial marinas with fuel and rentals are available in Klamath Falls, Lake of the Woods, Rocky Point, Agency Lake and Williamson River.

    Habitat: Some of the best habitat on Upper Klamath Lake is only accessible by boat, as much of the shoreline is private or is inaccessible. Extensive marsh and tule beds as well as timbered shoreline provide good cover. Hanks Marsh, the Upper Klamath Canoe Trail and Squaw Point are especially productive.

    Birds to look for: American White Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, dabbling and diving ducks, herons, egrets, terns and several species of grebes. Warblers, Marsh Wren, blackbirds and a host of other riparian and marsh species are observed along the shoreline and marsh locations.

  • Stop 2: Howards Bay

    Directions from previous place:

    Continue west on Lakeshore Drive to Hwy. 140 and turn right. Continue on 140, or return to Klamath Falls via Hwy 97 and go south on 97 to Hwy 140. North of Klamath Falls, OR for 12 miles; you will see the bay on your left and Klamath Lake on the right. When you cross the bridge over the Wocus drainage canal, immediately pull off the road to your left into a gravel parking area. Do NOT block the gate as you park.
    Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour

    Continuing by car NW on Highway 140, the road follows the shoreline of the lake for two miles, where there are several pullouts, in addition to a large boat launch area at the north end (a good place to launch a canoe).

    Habitat: Nearby flooded farmland around a small bay bordered by woodland (mixed coniferous forest/oaks) and riparian habitats (willows). A mile-long gated dirt road (Geary Canal Road) along the bay allows for undisturbed viewing of quite a variety of birds in this unique combination of habitats. Because of the low elevation here, the hardwood trees leaf out early. The emergence of midges from the nearby bay make this site one of the best places to see early spring Neotropical migrants (usually with a peak the first 2 weeks in May). Further uphill hiking away from the bay leads to Bear Wallow (a seasonally flooded wetland) in a partially logged forest.

    Birds to look for: Clark's, Western and Red-necked Grebes, diving ducks, Caspian and Forster's Terns, chickadees, wrens, warblers, Bullock's Oriole and Black-headed Grosbeak.

    This area is "Timber Resource Services" property, which you are visiting with their permission. They request that you respect their private land and do not litter.

  • Stop 3: Shoalwater Bay / Eagle Ridge

    Directions from previous place:

    Continue north on Hwy 140. One-half mile past milepost 53, turn north (right if coming from the south) onto an improved gravel road. Travel about one mile, staying to the right, to an intersection. Turn right, travel about 100 yards, and turn left onto the road to Shoalwater Bay and Eagle Ridge. Continue around the southern tip of the marsh and continue north approximately 2.5 miles to the county park. There is a seasonal road closure on the upper road during bald eagle nesting and rearing.
    Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour

    Habitat: A large natural marsh with surrounding uplands bordered on the East by a Ponderosa pine forest. The marsh provides nesting, feeding and resting habitat for waterfowl and marsh birds. The surrounding adjacent pine forest sustains 12 bald eagle nest sites and also supports a diverse wildlife resource.

    Birds to look for: Black Tern, White-headed Woodpecker, several warbler species, Western Tanager and Mountain Bluebird.

  • Stop 4: Odessa Creek Campground

    Directions from previous place:

    Return to Hwy. 140. Going west continue several miles and turn north on FS Rd. 3639 to Odessa Creek Campground.
    Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour

    Odessa Creek campground is a small (4 - 7 camp sites) Forest Service campground located along Odessa Creek, near where the creek enters Upper Klamath Lake. There are opportunities to explore the nearby marsh via canoe.

    The campground is in a Ponderosa pine forest that borders the Odessa Creek marsh. The edge is a transition from marsh to willow/aspen to Ponderosa pine forest.

    Birds to look for: Wood Duck, American and Least Bittern, several woodpecker and warbler species, nuthatches, Brown Creeper and Red Crossbill.

  • Stop 5: Rocky Point/Upper Klamath Canoe Trail

    Directions from previous place:

    Return to Hwy. 140 and go west to the Rocky Point Road exit. Drive carefully through the residential development, and look for the Rocky Point Resort and boat launch signs. Or continue one half mile further on Highway 140 and take the Fort Klamath exit (Westside Road) and drive to Malone Springs (4 miles north).
    Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour

    Mature Ponderosa pine/Douglas fir forest habitats come right to the edge of Upper Klamath Lake. A 15,000-acre marsh and wetland complex, mostly within Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, adjoins the shoreline with the open waters of Upper Klamath and Agency Lakes to the east. The Refuge and marsh areas are accessible by boat via a 9.5 mile canoe trail. More information on the canoe trail (and canoe or boat rental information) can be obtained from the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges and the Fremont-Winema National Forests.

    The west shoreline of Upper Klamath Lake serves as a travel corridor for many Neotropical migrant birds on their spring and fall migrations.

    Birds to look for: Bald Eagle, Osprey (nesting), American White Pelican, egrets, herons, terns, American Bittern, woodpeckers, flycatchers, warblers, Black-headed Grosbeak.

  • Stop 6: Fort Klamath

    Directions from previous place:

    Return to Westside Road and turn north. At the intersection with Seven Mile Road turn right (east) to stay on the paved road. At the intersection of Seven Mile Road and Hwy 62 turn left (north) to the town of Fort Klamath.

    This site is actually the whole valley surrounding the town of Fort Klamath. This valley is about 5 miles wide and is primarily made up of irrigated pasture lands surrounded on 3 sides by forested mountains. The Wood River, Annie Creek, Crooked Creek, and Sevenmile Creek flow through the valley, along with numerous diversion canals. There are plentiful springs in the valley, including several artesian wells. Most of the valley is privately owned, but paved roads provide access to the majority of the area. Please respect the rights of the landowners.

    Birds in the area: Wilson’s Phalarope, Yellow Rail, Bald and Golden eagles, and Prairie Falcons are often seen here during the winter. Great Gray and Long-eared owls also nest in this valley.

  • End: Crater Lake National Park

    Directions from previous place:

    From Fort Klamath take Hwy. 62 north to Crater Lake National Park entry road. An entrance fee is charged for the Park.

    Within the park, habitats include old growth Ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, fir, hemlock, spruce and open alpine areas. Crater Lake is one of the deepest and bluest lakes in North America with spectacular views from the 33-mile Rim Drive around the lake. The Park is also known for its wildflowers; one trail featuring them is the Castle Crest Wildflower Trail.

    Birds to look for: A wide range of species, are present at the park due to the diverse habitats, including Blue Grouse, Clark's Nutcracker, Gray Jay, American Dipper, Goshawk, Gray-crowned Rosy Finch, Vaux's Swift, Pine Siskin and Evening Grosbeak. Other suggested birding sites are Annie Creek Canyon Trail and Watchman's Peak Trail.