Zen & the Art of Kayaking
Kayak Near Klamath Falls and Stay at Crater Lake Resort
It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures. Whether you double up or paddle solo, Sky Lakes offers all kinds of tours—including one for the birds.
The Bird Watching tour on Upper Klamath Basin’s Wood River Wetlands is pure bliss: over 120 species of birds visit the basin, so get ready for a feather-fest.
From the start, Mark Cobb and his crew get you safely set up (including a clear drybag so you can take pictures with your mobile) and onto the calm waters of the river. Then it’s a gentle, quiet paddle, taking in the surrounding beauty while hearing about some of the region’s history and culture.
Giant lily pads seem animated enough to sing chorus with the birds, which are numerous (see our list below). The Cascades tower in the distance, snow-capped and stunning. Mount Scott looks particularly beautiful on the scene-scape.
The tour glides all the way to Agency Lake, a natural beauty with an area of just over 14 miles (translation: it’s big!). Stay a while to explore with the guide before heading back to land.
SOLAR ECLIPSE TOUR BONUS: Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures is hosting a Solar Eclipse Kayaking Tour in Oregon.
A list of birds spotted on our trip, documented by Weekend Sherpa’s unofficial birder-in-chief, Brad Hyland (@bradhylandphotography): American bittern, great blue heron, snowy egret, great egret, bald eagle, belted kingfisher, yellow warbler, red-tailed hawk, barn swallow, Canada goose, red-winged blackbird, yellow-headed blackbird, cedar waxwing, white pelican, mallard, double-crested cormorant, barn swallow, tern, black-crowned night heron, osprey, black-headed grosbeak (or white-winged crossbill … not so sure on that one!). *Skylakes Wilderness Adventures offers wheelchair accessible options for kayaking.
GLAMPING BONUS: Just minutes north in Fort Klamath, Crater Lake Resort has rustic cabins with full kitchens, and camping, including a few creek-side glamping tents furnished for a cozy stay.
Take out a complimentary canoe to explore a little more of Fort Creek, and enjoy the outdoor games area. There’s a playground, WiFi, and a Tesla charging station (in case you were wondering). Plenty of outdoor adventures are close by, including Crater Lake Zipline. The resort's General Store sells some food and drinks and quirky souvenirs, along with firewood and the fixins for s’mores. Barbecue on site, and we’ll leave it at good night!
CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK: From Fort Klamath you’re just half an hour away from an entrance to Oregon’s only national park—Crater Lake. As its name suggests, the park is home to a lake, but not just any lake … the deepest lake in the country and the seventh deepest in the world. Do a hike to Garfield Peak for some of the best views of this wonder.
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