The wonderous Klamath River is the second largest river in California with many of its longest free-flowing stretches of river and whitewater. From families to expert anglers, it makes an unbeatable recreational destination for scenic beauty and splendid isolation. Explore the Klamath at a leisurely pace! It’s a great road trip that deserves extra time to explore.
Hornbrook to Happy Camp
The Klamath first enters California near Hornbrook at the Iron Gate Dam and Reservoir. If you’re in an RV, spend a riverfront night in Hornbrook at the Klamath Ranch Resort & Blue Heron RV Park. Lake levels are low this year at the nearby Irongate Reservoir, but there’s still plenty of boating action! For non-RV’ers, nearby Yreka makes an excellent basecamp
To continue exploring the Klamath, from Yreka head to highway 263. You’ll cross over the scenic and historic Pioneer Bridge. Finally, turn left on to Highway 96 headed for Happy Camp – and the heart of Bigfoot Country.
On Highway 96, you’ll follow the bends of the Klamath. Take your time and explore multiple river access points. You’ll also want to stop at two local institutions: Quigley’s Station and the Seiad Café. The cafe is home of the famous pancake challenge that was featured on the Food Network, and a favorite with Pacific Crest Trail Hikers. There you can also ask Heather behind the counter if it’s a good time to detour up to Horsetail and Ponytail Falls (though this route is not recommended ever for RV’s).
Finally once you reach Happy Camp, use it as a basecamp to explore the many mountain biking, rafting and fishing opportunities the Klamath has to offer.
For tips on preparing how to visit Siskiyou, visit here.
