Westside Road runs along the west side of Upper Klamath Lake and along the eastern base of the Cascade Mountains from Highway 140 north to Sevenmile Road. Much of the road runs through the Klamath Ranger District of the Fremont-Winema National Forests.
The road runs through a mixed conifer forest that is primarily fir and pine. The forest is dominated by Douglas fir, white fir and ponderosa pine. Much of the route follows the interface between the forest and marsh along Upper Klamath Lake and Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge. It provides a unique and diverse combination of habitats found nowhere else in the Klamath Basin.
The area presents many opportunities for outdoor recreation including hiking, biking, boating, fishing, canoeing/kayaking in the Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, horseback riding and in the wintertime, snow mobiling, snow shoeing and cross-country skiing.
The best time to bird Westside Road is spring or early summer. Forest birds to look for include Hermit Thrush, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Mountain and Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Steller's and Gray Jays, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Common Nighthawk, Yellow-rumped, Hermit and Nashville Warblers, Western Tanager, Red Crossbill, Hairy, Downy and Pileated Woodpeckers, Vaux's Swift, Blue Grouse and more. In aspen-willow areas, look for Ruffed Grouse and Red-breasted Sapsucker. Potential night encounters with Great Horned Owl, Great Gray Owl (rare), Northern Spotted Owl, Northern Pigmy-Owl, Saw-whet Owl, Flammulated Owl are possible. Common Nighthawk is fairly common in the summer time.
The lake and marsh attract waterbirds of various kinds. You can view the lake from the boat ramp in Rocky Point, the Rocky Point Resort, Malone Springs, Crystalwood Lodge or various pullouts along Westside Road. On and around the lake look for Common Loon (occasionally), Red-necked Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican, Sora, Black Tern, ducks and geese, Osprey, Bald Eagle, gulls and more.
Westside Road is located off of Highway 140 near Rocky Point. It is approximately a 16-mile stretch of road that runs north/south along Upper Klamath Lake to Sevenmile Road. GPS: 121° 10' 14.45" W, 42° 34' 11.52"N.
Klamath Ranger District
Fremont-Winema National Forests
2819 Dahlia Street
Klamath Falls, OR 97601
541-883-6714
www.fs.fed.us/r6/frewin/
www.crystalwoodlodge.com
www.rockypointoregon.com
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