Information
Landmark: Upper Klamath LakeCity: Klamath Falls
Country: USA Oregon
Continent: North America
Upper Klamath Lake, Klamath Falls, USA Oregon, North America
Overview
In south-central Oregon, just outside Klamath Falls, Upper Klamath Lake stretches wide and shallow, its pale green surface rippling in the wind.Covering about 91,000 acres, it’s the state’s largest freshwater lake, resting in the Klamath Basin with the dark slopes of the Cascade Mountains rising to the west and the wide, wind-swept High Lava Plains stretching to the east.The lake shapes the region’s ecology, anchors its history, and fuels its economy, from the fish in its cool shallows to the ferries that cross its surface.Upper Klamath Lake stretches wide but averages just 14 feet deep-shallow enough that you can almost picture the lakebed through its clear, rippling water.Because it’s so shallow, the water heats quickly in summer, and broad stretches of marsh ring the edges where reeds rustle in the breeze.Water flows into the lake mainly from the Wood and Sprague rivers, with dozens of smaller streams and cold, clear springs adding to it.The lake drains mostly through the Link River, flowing into Lake Ewauna before winding its way to the Klamath River.The lake rests in a wide, flat valley, its edges melting into sprawling wetlands and rich, dark soil, with forested mountains and rugged volcanic highlands rising all around.Ecology and Wildlife - Upper Klamath Lake teems with life, especially waterbirds skimming its surface and the creatures beneath.Native fish like the shimmering Klamath Lake redband trout share the water with other local species, as well as newcomers such as rainbow trout and bass.The lake once teemed with fish, and those schools are still a big draw for people casting lines on quiet summer mornings.Around the wetlands, marshes, and open water, thousands of migrating waterfowl gather-ducks skimming the surface, geese calling overhead, swans gliding past reeds, and shorebirds darting along the shore.The lake lies along the Pacific Flyway, serving as a vital rest stop where migrating birds pause to feed and stretch their wings.In the shallows, thick stands of reeds, bulrushes, and other water plants sway gently, offering both food and shelter to the wildlife that depend on them.For generations, the Klamath and Modoc peoples lived off Upper Klamath Lake, fishing its cool, silvery waters, hunting waterfowl in the reeds, and gathering plants that grew thick along the shore.They built their seasonal camps and shaped their traditions around the lake’s pulse-the thaw of spring ice, the hush of winter stillness.In the 1800s, settlers relied on the lake and its marshy edges for irrigation, hauling goods by boat, and catching fish for the table.Crews built dikes and dug drainage channels to turn the nearby marshes into farmland, leaving the soil cracked and the water’s flow forever changed.Cultural Landmarks: Around the lake, old fishing docks and weathered trap lines mark the past, alongside the early logging camps and irrigation works that helped shape the Klamath Basin.Upper Klamath Lake draws outdoor enthusiasts year-round, from anglers casting for rainbow and redband trout in the summer to those drilling holes in the ice when winter settles in.Boating and water sports draw big crowds in summer, with people gliding along in canoes, skimming the surface in kayaks, or cruising a small motorboat across the sunlit water.The lake’s marshy edges draw thousands of migrating birds, from flashing white egrets to darting sandpipers, making it a favorite spot for bird lovers and photographers alike.Hunting: You can hunt waterfowl in certain areas during set seasons, a practice that blends long-standing tradition with careful wildlife management-like waiting in the cold dawn mist for the first flock to sweep in.The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, along with federal partners, works to conserve and manage the land, focusing on protecting wetlands and riparian habitats where reeds sway in the breeze.Keeping fish numbers healthy and the water clear enough to see the pebbles on the bottom.Finding the sweet spot between watering crops and keeping rivers alive with darting fish.They keep a close watch on water levels and inflows to meet irrigation needs, adapt to shifting weather, and protect endangered fish-especially the Lost River sucker and shortnose sucker, which once flashed silver in the basin’s shallows.Upper Klamath Lake isn’t just water shimmering under the sun-it’s the cultural heartbeat, ecological anchor, and economic lifeline of the Klamath Basin.It shelters wildlife, helps local communities thrive, and invites people to fish, hike, or paddle its waters, all while preserving the deep ties to the region’s Indigenous peoples and early settlers.Shallow, wide waters stretch toward the horizon, framed by wetlands and the distant rise of mountains, making it one of southern Oregon’s signature landscapes-vital for wildlife and people alike.The lake reflects the constant give-and-take between nature, local traditions, and how people manage its waters in the Klamath Basin.
