Klamath Mountains

Range of mountains extending for some 400 km/250 mi from southwestern Oregon into northwestern California. They form part of the larger Coast Range. Their highest peak, at 2,755 m/9,038 ft, is Mount Eddy. They are named after the indigenous Klamath people who once inhabited the area. The main economic activities here are lumbering, dairying, fruit growing, as well as leisure services catering for anglers, hunters, and hikers.

The Klamath Mountains run from the foothills south of the Willamette Valley in Oregon, join with the Cascade Range to form the northern boundary of the Sacramento Valley, and then continue south along the west side of the valley. They are subdivided into a number of smaller ranges, including the Rouge River, Siskiyou, Marble, Scott, and Salmon mountains; the South Fork Range; and the Trinity and Yolla Bolly mountains. The Klamaths are made up of granite and include small glaciers and areas of volcanic formation. Castle Crags, south of Shasta, derives its name from striking granite spires that resemble towers and battlements. They receive ample rainfall (over 254 cm/100 in annually), and are for the most part densely wooded. The mountains contain a mix of national forests, wilderness and natural refuge areas, and private property; the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge, an important spot on the ‘Pacific Flyway’, is known as a winter home for bald eagles. The Klamaths are dissected by the Klamath, Rogue, and many other rivers, including headwaters of the Sacramento River. Their clear streams are important spawning grounds for salmon and steelhead.