Klamath Falls

United_States

Klamath Falls (sometimes called Klamath by locals) is a small Southern Oregon city found in the eastern foothills of the Cascade Range. Klamath Falls is at the southern end of Klamath Lake in the large Klamath Basin. Klamath enjoys quite spectacular views. Snow-covered Mount Shasta, one of the most prominent peaks in the United States, can be seen on the southern horizon, and the outlying areas are filled with acres of farmland. Popular with outdoor enthusiasts, birdwatchers, history buffs, and fans of rural America, Klamath is a place many people are glad they didn't miss.

Klamath Falls is surrounded by two lakes and two rivers. It was founded as Linkville in 1867 at the mouth of the short Link River, which drains Klamath Lake into Lake Ewauna. In turn, Lake Ewauna is the source of the Klamath River, one of only two rivers that flow across the Cascade Mountains, a distinction shared with the great Columbia River. Linkville changed its name to Klamath Falls in 1893 and was incorporated in 1905.

Locals like to joke about tourists and other outsiders naively asking, "Where are the falls?" The fact is, Klamath Falls got its name from rapids on the Link River. The average person seeing these rapids today might wonder who on earth would call them "falls," especially now that a small hydroelectric dam on the river has dropped the water level, making the whitewater at the rapids less remarkable. Although this is probably what most locals mean when they joke, "Where are the falls?", a few are truly clueless and may just be flaunting their ironically naive understanding of "the truth"—in which case, the joke's on them!

Klamath Falls is on Pacific Time. Standard time is UTC−8, and daylight saving time is UTC−7. This is three hours behind New York, and typically eight hours behind London.

  • Discover Klamath, 205 Riverside Dr, +1 541-882-1501. Klamath County's official tourist agency. Find maps and brochures for nearby attractions here.

Discover Klamath, 205 Riverside Dr, +1 541-882-1501. Klamath County's official tourist agency. Find maps and brochures for nearby attractions here.

Klamath Falls is one of the gateway cities to Crater Lake National Park, a 60-mile (97 km) drive. Crater Lake is a crystal-clear lake in the caldera of what used to be Mount Mazama, a volcano that violently erupted about 7,700 years ago. Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and among the ten deepest lakes in the world, and Crater Lake National Park is Oregon's only national park.

The Klamath Basin is rated #1 in the West on Sunset magazine's list of Fantastic Five birding destinations .

Klamath County Museum

  • Klamath County Museum, 1451 Main St, +1 541-883-4208. Tu–Sa 9AM–5PM. Has many artifacts and relics from pioneer days, along with many Native American items and natural history exhibits. The museum also owns the Baldwin Hotel Museum and Fort Klamath outside of town. Baldwin Hotel Museum
    * Baldwin Hotel Museum, 31 Main St, +1 541-883-4207. Memorial Day weekend–Labor Day weekend W–Sa 10AM–4PM. Established in 1907 by George Baldwin, an influential businessman and politician, and father of locally prominent photographer Maud Baldwin, whose studio is on the fourth floor. The plumbing and electric conduits can be easily seen throughout the building; electricity and indoor plumbing were still somewhat of a luxury at the turn of the 20th century, and Baldwin wanted to flaunt these amenities. It operated as a hotel from 1909 to 1977. Guided tours are available; the last one of the day starts at 2:30PM.
  • Moore Park. The largest park in Oregon offers hiking and mountain biking trails, tennis courts, and deer sightings.
  • Veterans Memorial Park. This downtown park on the Lake Ewauna waterfront hosts a memorial to veterans, as well as a display for the Southern Pacific Railroad Locomotive #2579, a 2-8-0 "Consolidation" steam locomotive built in 1906 and donated to the city in 1957.
  • Favell Museum, 125 W. Main St, +1 541-882-9996. Native American artifacts and contemporary western art
  • Collier Memorial State Park, +1 541-783-2471. Tent site $19, Full hookup $29.
  • Jackson F. Kimball State Recreation Site, +1 541-783-2471.

Klamath County Museum, 1451 Main St, +1 541-883-4208. Tu–Sa 9AM–5PM. Has many artifacts and relics from pioneer days, along with many Native American items and natural history exhibits. The museum also owns the Baldwin Hotel Museum and Fort Klamath outside of town.

Moore Park. The largest park in Oregon offers hiking and mountain biking trails, tennis courts, and deer sightings.

Veterans Memorial Park. This downtown park on the Lake Ewauna waterfront hosts a memorial to veterans, as well as a display for the Southern Pacific Railroad Locomotive #2579, a 2-8-0 "Consolidation" steam locomotive built in 1906 and donated to the city in 1957.

Favell Museum, 125 W. Main St, +1 541-882-9996. Native American artifacts and contemporary western art

Collier Memorial State Park, +1 541-783-2471. Tent site $19, Full hookup $29.

Jackson F. Kimball State Recreation Site, +1 541-783-2471.

  • Ella Redkey Municipal Pool, 1805 Main St, +1 541-273-1477. The city's geothermally heated outdoor swimming pool is open all year.
  • Kla-Mo-Ya Casino, 34333 US 97, Chiloquin (22 miles north of Klamath Falls.

  • Klamath County Fair, 531 South 6th St, +1 541-883-3796. Every August.
  • Snowflake Festival. A two-week winter festival in early December including a tree-lighting ceremony and a parade down Main Street.
  • Third Thursday, Main St between 3rd and 11th. Every summer month on the third Thursday of the month.

Klamath County Fair, 531 South 6th St, +1 541-883-3796. Every August.

Snowflake Festival. A two-week winter festival in early December including a tree-lighting ceremony and a parade down Main Street.

Third Thursday, Main St between 3rd and 11th. Every summer month on the third Thursday of the month.

Klamath Falls is next to Klamath Lake, which is connected to several other lakes as well as the Williamson River and the Klamath River. The fishing is incredible. There are a dozen more lakes in the Klamath Basin as well. The Basin hosts an amazing amount of wildlife. You can hunt for many different species of game during hunting season.

  • The Running Y Ranch and Resort. One of four golf courses in the area.

The Running Y Ranch and Resort. One of four golf courses in the area.

Ella Redkey Municipal Pool, 1805 Main St, +1 541-273-1477. The city's geothermally heated outdoor swimming pool is open all year.

Kla-Mo-Ya Casino, 34333 US 97, Chiloquin (22 miles north of Klamath Falls.

While Klamath Falls has a few big box stores like Walmart and Fred Meyer, you can find local alternatives:

  • Klamath Falls Farmers Market, 9th Street between Main and Klamath, +1 541-273-1102. Jun–Oct Sa 9AM–1:30PM.
  • The Ledge, 369 S 6th St, +1 541-882-5586. M–F 10AM–6PM, Sa 9AM–5PM. A popular camping, mountaineering, backpacking, and general outdoor equipment store.
  • Leo's Camera Shop, 437 Main St, +1 541-882-3331. M–F 9AM–5:30PM, Sa 9AM–5PM. This camera shop is a well-known local establishment, selling cameras and camera accessories to anyone who loves taking photos. This is by far the best place in the Klamath Basin to find film and related supplies.
  • Oregon Gift Store, 729 Main St, +1 541-884-1600. M–F 10AM–5PM, Sa 10AM–4PM. Find all sorts of Oregon/local products, souvenirs, and trinkets here.
  • Periwinkle Upscale Resale, +1 541-205-4396. A set of three shops selling gently used fancy clothes, accessories, and home furnishings. Tu–Sa 10AM–6PM.
    * Periwinkle Boutique, 811 Main St. For women and children.
    * Periman's for Him, 817 Main St. For men.
    * Periwinkle Home, 831 Main St, +1 541-205-4395. Home decor and other furnishings.

Klamath Falls Farmers Market, 9th Street between Main and Klamath, +1 541-273-1102. Jun–Oct Sa 9AM–1:30PM.

The Ledge, 369 S 6th St, +1 541-882-5586. M–F 10AM–6PM, Sa 9AM–5PM. A popular camping, mountaineering, backpacking, and general outdoor equipment store.

Leo's Camera Shop, 437 Main St, +1 541-882-3331. M–F 9AM–5:30PM, Sa 9AM–5PM. This camera shop is a well-known local establishment, selling cameras and camera accessories to anyone who loves taking photos. This is by far the best place in the Klamath Basin to find film and related supplies.

Oregon Gift Store, 729 Main St, +1 541-884-1600. M–F 10AM–5PM, Sa 10AM–4PM. Find all sorts of Oregon/local products, souvenirs, and trinkets here.

Periwinkle Upscale Resale, +1 541-205-4396. A set of three shops selling gently used fancy clothes, accessories, and home furnishings. Tu–Sa 10AM–6PM.

* Periwinkle Boutique, 811 Main St. For women and children.
* Periman's for Him, 817 Main St. For men.
* Periwinkle Home, 831 Main St, +1 541-205-4395. Home decor and other furnishings.

Besides all of the usual restaurants and fast-food establishments you would expect, like Applebee's, Denny's, etc., Klamath Falls has several local venues:

  • The Creamery Brew Pub & Grill, 1320 Main St, +1 541-273-5222. 11AM–9:30PM daily. Sports bar.
  • The Daily Bagel, 636 Main St, +1 541-850-0744. M–F 6AM–2PM, Sa 7AM–2PM. Bagel sandwiches named after major newspapers across the US, made with fresh New York–style bagels.
  • The Klamath Grill, 715 Main St, +1 541-882-1427. M–F 6AM–2:30PM, Sa–Su 7AM–2PM. Breakfast diner.
  • Mr. B's Steakhouse, 3927 South 6th St, +1 541-883-8719.
  • Pho Hong, 3620 Washburn Way, +1 541-850-9441. Good Vietnamese restaurant.
  • Sherm's Thunderbird Discount Market, 1877 Avalon St, +1 541-884-1758. 6AM–11PM daily. A locally owned bargain grocery store with a wide array of foods, including a large organic section. There are Sherm's Thunderbirds in Medford and Roseburg too, but the building for this store is the newest and nicest.
  • Thai Orchid Café, 900 Main St #D, +1 541-273-0707. 11AM–9PM daily.
  • Wong's Café, 421 Main St, +1 541-884-6578. M–Sa 11:30AM–9PM, Su 12PM–9PM.

The Creamery Brew Pub & Grill, 1320 Main St, +1 541-273-5222. 11AM–9:30PM daily. Sports bar.

The Daily Bagel, 636 Main St, +1 541-850-0744. M–F 6AM–2PM, Sa 7AM–2PM. Bagel sandwiches named after major newspapers across the US, made with fresh New York–style bagels.

The Klamath Grill, 715 Main St, +1 541-882-1427. M–F 6AM–2:30PM, Sa–Su 7AM–2PM. Breakfast diner.

Mr. B's Steakhouse, 3927 South 6th St, +1 541-883-8719.

Pho Hong, 3620 Washburn Way, +1 541-850-9441. Good Vietnamese restaurant.

Sherm's Thunderbird Discount Market, 1877 Avalon St, +1 541-884-1758. 6AM–11PM daily. A locally owned bargain grocery store with a wide array of foods, including a large organic section. There are Sherm's Thunderbirds in [[Medford (Oregon)|Medford]] and [[Roseburg]] too, but the building for this store is the newest and nicest.

Thai Orchid Café, 900 Main St #D, +1 541-273-0707. 11AM–9PM daily.

Wong's Café, 421 Main St, +1 541-884-6578. M–Sa 11:30AM–9PM, Su 12PM–9PM.

  • Basin Martini Bar, 632 Main St, +1 541-884-6264.
  • Black Dog Billiards, 436 Main St, +1 541-884-8373.
  • Chicken N Cheers, 3310 Madison St, +1 541-884-3180. Redneck bar with pool and karaoke.
  • El Palacio, 601 Main St, +1 541-882-5118. Su–W 11AM–9PM, Th–Sa 11AM–2AM.
  • The Pikey, 610 Main St, +1 541-887-2561. Classy Irish pub. This is the renovated former location of Waldo's.

Basin Martini Bar, 632 Main St, +1 541-884-6264.

Black Dog Billiards, 436 Main St, +1 541-884-8373.

Chicken N Cheers, 3310 Madison St, +1 541-884-3180. Redneck bar with pool and karaoke.

El Palacio, 601 Main St, +1 541-882-5118. Su–W 11AM–9PM, Th–Sa 11AM–2AM.

The Pikey, 610 Main St, +1 541-887-2561. Classy Irish pub. This is the renovated former location of Waldo's.

Public Internet access, including wifi, is available at the Klamath County Library .

You can take care of your postal needs at the Klamath Falls post office, 317 S 7th St, +1 541-884-9846. M–F 9AM–5:30PM, Sa 9AM–noon.

The area code 541 is used. The new area code overlay 458 is also assigned to the area, but no 458 numbers have been issued in Klamath Falls yet as of September 2016. However, the overlay means ten-digit dialing is mandatory. You must dial the area code for all calls, even local calls made on landline phones (541-xxx-xxxx). You might infrequently see an old sign or advertisement with a seven-digit number; it's safe to assume the area code is 541.

Fun trivia fact: Back when telephone numbers were often given with exchange names, sometimes the fictitious "KLamath 5-xxxx" was used (in addition to "KLondike 5-xxxx") in the media when a fictional phone number was needed. "KL 5" corresponds to "555" in modern-day fake American phone numbers.

Klamath Falls post office, 317 S 7th St, +1 541-884-9846. M–F 9AM–5:30PM, Sa 9AM–noon.

[[Ashland (Oregon)|Ashland]]

[[Crater Lake National Park]]

Fort Klamath

Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex

[[Lava Beds National Monument]]

[[Oregon Caves National Monument]]

Train Mountain Railroad Museum