Things to do / Travel Guide
From mountains, pine forests and meadows, to rugged canyons, wetlands, lava beds and high desert plateaus, the Modoc National Forest offers you beautiful scenery, varied terrain, abundant wildlife and a memorable visitor experience.
The Modoc National Forest is named for the war-like Indian tribe, the Modocs, who fought at the lava beds during the late 1800s. Today, the area's volcanic history provides unique vistas, rugged mountains, lava caves, craters and hot springs for visitors to enjoy. Over 300 different animal species call Modoc home, including a large population of wild horses. Bird watchers will love the Pacific Flyway for migratory waterfowl that cross the forest, providing a rare observational opportunity for several weeks per year. Visitors can choose from fishing, paddling and biking, and backpackers, hikers and horseback riders will find almost 80 miles of trails and spectacular scenery along remote highways near the South Warner Wilderness Area. The scenery, solitude, and cool nights make Modoc great for camping, as do the forests' endless vistas.
So if you're in the area, don't miss Modoc National Forest, only eight hours from the San Francisco Bay Area, three hours from Reno, and one of California's best kept natural secrets.