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Oregon's High Desert Lake Is A Freshwater Escape With Fishing, Kayaking, And Birdwatching

Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon’s 60,000‑acre high‑desert freshwater gem, remains largely undeveloped due to a seasonal cyanobacteria bloom that creates a brief foul odor each spring and summer. The bloom’s deterrent effect has preserved pristine shorelines, making the lake a premier destination for kayaking, fishing, and birdwatching. Visitors can explore a 9.5‑mile canoe trail, access multiple put‑ins, and encounter trophy redband trout and a recovering Chinook salmon fishery. The surrounding Klamath Basin Birding Trail hosts over 350 bird species, including the nation’s largest bald‑eagle population outside Alaska.