Scenic Byways

Modoc Volcanic Scenic Byway
The Modoc Volcanic Scenic Byway traverses an area which includes Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Lava Beds National Monument, and portions of the Klamath, Shasta-Trinity, and Modoc National Forests.

The route leads travelers through a volcanic area in Northeastern California unrivaled in North America for its volcanic features. The Medicine Lake volcano, a broad shield volcano, is the largest volcano in the Cascade Range. Lava spewed and oozed from many vents over a thousand square miles.

At the summit of the volcano lies Medicine Lake, a beautiful place to picnic, camp, fish and explore. Recent lava flows, obsidian glass flows and large domes of pumice material blanket the area.

Besides the mountains of obsidian, visitors can see surface flows of many types of lava that stretch like fingers down the flanks of the volcano, pillow lava where flows entered ancient Tule Lake, and some of the world's most extensive and accessible lava tubes.

People have been attracted to the area for thousands of years because of its rich resources. Inhabitants from both prehistoric and historic times have behind a rich cultural leg of sites around the volcano.

The area has abundant wildlife with annual spring and fall migrations of waterfowl and raptors that use the Tulelake area as a resting stop on the Pacific Flyway.

The route is part of a major inter-forest travel way. The majority of the route is paved; the remaining sections are surfaced with an aggregate material and suitable for RV and auto travel. These roads wind through managed forests, past waterfalls on the McCloud River, through the Klamath Basin Wildlife area and skirt the volcanic features, providing an opportunity to explore the Medicine Lake Highlands at a leisurely pace along the way to other popular features in the region. Click here for more information.

Emigrant Trails Scenic Byway
The Emigrant Trails Scenic Byway is a route that connects the existing Outback and Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byways in Oregon and California, the Surprise Valley/Barrel Springs Byway in California and Nevada, and the Modoc and Shasta Volcanic Scenic Byway in California. The Emigrant Trails Scenic route includes state and federal highways in Modoc and Siskiyou Counties, California. Highways 395, 299, and 139 all lead to recreation designation areas.

Highlights and points of interest along the route are many and varied. In some locations actual remnants of emigrant trails can be seen. Geology includes high mountain peaks, canyons, farmland, lava flows from volcanic eruptions and wide open meadows. Rock formations are breathtaking and unique to this area.

You will find many friendly people and businesses along your route so please take your time and get to know the area and the people. We are certain that you will truly enjoy following some of the same paths that the early emigrants took and you will soon find out why they chose this land to settle on. Click here for point of interest and more information.

Call (530) 233-4434 or E-mail Us: contactus@alturaschamber.org

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Top Banner Photo Credits: Alturas Overlook, Horsebackriding, and Modoc County Courthouse
photos by Lacy Summers - Balloon photo by Lynda Demsher.