Real Adventures Can Be Found on One of America's Top Rated Scenic Drives.

Travel Writers

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 27, 2003

If your summer vacation plans include a visit to the Pacific Northwest, a little known scenic drive in Klamath County, Oregon offers you one of the top rated scenic drives in America.

The Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway All American Road, which encircles Crater Lake National Park, is just one of 29 drives in America that has earned the rare national rating of "All American Road." But this byway shares more than Oregon's only National Park with drivers.

Driving south takes you into the Wood River Valley. Expansive views of the Cascade Mountain Range serve as a backdrop to picturesque barns and cowboys herding cattle. The 3,000 acres of wetlands offer an ideal spot for a family picnic, a canoeing adventure or exploring interpretive walking trails.

Next stop, historic Fort Klamath where the first military post in Southern Oregon was located. Make sure to tour the small museum built on the site of the original fort.

As you continue south, shimmering Klamath Lake will come into view. This is the largest lake in the Pacific Northwest and home for a bounty of birds, from the great white pelican to the nations' pride, the bald eagle. Nearby, the Rocky Point area is known for well marked canoe trails and fishing. One of the nation's premiere "Wild & Scenic" whitewater rivers, the Klamath River, offers class IV & V rapids.

Klamath Falls, Oregon's City of Sunshine, is steeped in history from buildings to culture. Visit the city's unique downtown museums, which are filled with interesting artifacts of the region. The multitude of antique shops and galleries will make even the most frugal visitor a collector. Local performing arts theaters offer cultural entertainment that you wouldn't expect in this inviting small town.

Continue on Hwy. 97 south to the Oregon/California border and check out the thousands of migrating birds at the Lower Klamath Wildlife Refuge. You can view bald eagles hunting in the protected Bear Valley Refuge. The area is smack dab in the middle of the Pacific Flyway.

Lodging and camping is readily available throughout Klamath County. The county has over 60 resorts and hotels. BLM, state, federal and private campgrounds are also available.