Our highways will take you past well-known attractions such as Crater Lake National Park and Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, while backcountry roads lead to many secret spots still undiscovered by crowds. Along the way you’ll find many curiosities, such as local museums, gift shops, art galleries and scenic viewpoints.

Wildlife will be easy to spot along any of the auto tour routes described in this brochure. Several national wildlife refuges and state wildlife reserves are located in the region. At certain times of year, ducks, geese, swans, eagles and dozens of other species are so plentiful that huge flocks are often seen on fields and pastures next to roads.

Historic markers and parks are also scattered throughout the region. Several sites of the Modoc War are located in and around Lava Beds National Monument near Tulelake, CA. The Applegate Trail, a branch of the Oregon Trail, has a monument off Hwy. 97 at the California/Oregon border, and is just one of the historic routes that cross Klamath, Lake and Modoc Country.

But perhaps the most spectacular attraction in Southern Oregon and Northern California is the scenery. Old homesteads framed by quaking aspens and mountain streams, checkerboard potato and grain fields, sagebrush and juniper rangeland, lakes reflecting the grandeur of countless mountain ranges - it’s all waiting for you in Klamath, Lake and Modoc Country.

Interested in getting out of the car and stretching your legs? If you’ve got time to see a little more of what makes this area unique, here are a few favorite spots among locals that you shouldn’t miss:

• Take a couple of hours to explore some of the caves at Lava Beds National Monument. The National Park Service will lend you flashlights. You will need a jacket and good shoes if you plan to explore the ice caves. Obtain information and or flashlights at Lava Beds NM Visitor Center, 530-667-2282.

• A walking tour of downtown Klamath Falls includes views of historic buildings that date to the city’s heyday a half century ago. Many of the buildings have been refurbished for use as restaurants, art galleries and offices. Contact Klamath County Dept. of Tourism, 541-884-0666.

• Do you want to see some really wide open spaces? Try these tours in Lake County. The Christmas Valley Back Country Byway, which takes you to Fort Rock, Devil’s Garden Lava Flow and Crack-in-the-Ground. Be advised some roads are gravel or dirt and may require high-clearance (four-wheel drive) vehicles. Another great tour is Lakeview to the Steens Backcountry Byway. This is truly a way to get a birds eye view of "Oregon’s Outback," and visit the picturesque Steens Mountains, which are known for their protected splendor and beauty. Be sure to call for current road conditions. Lake County Chamber of Commerce 541-947-6040 or Bureau of Land Management, Lakeview District, 541-947-2177.

• The Surprise Valley/Barrel Springs Back Country Byway goes through another remote and rugged area. If you want to get away from the crowds and experience the West as it used to be, this is the tour for you. There will be travel on gravel roads, so be sure to check on road conditions. Information: Bureau of Land Management, Surprise Resource Area, 530-279-6101. 

• Some of the routes shown are inaccessible part of the year due to snow or floods. Call to check current road conditions before traveling any of the routes in this brochure. We do not want you to have an unexpected adventure, just a wonderful "Oregon Outback" experience.