Places to Visit, Things to Do

Places to visit, things to do, and a panorama of magnificent scenic settings await Modoc County visitors. Unbound from the hustle and bustle of city life, the crowds, traffic, and noise is a hidden treasure nestled into the far northeastern corner of our state, Modoc County the land the Natives once called “The Smiles of God.” Step back in time to where the west still lives. Rich in Native culture and western history, Modoc is one of California’s best kept secrets, a place of spectacular natural diversity, unspoiled breathtaking landscapes, and a wealth of astonishing wildlife. This combination of high desert terrain and spectacular mountain ranges gives special uniqueness to the contour of the land. Modoc is gateway to the enchanting Warner Mountain Wilderness area. Imagine the bluest skies, brightest stars and captivating pristine mountains, green fertile valleys, beautiful alpine lakes, streams, wetlands and ragged lava bed plateaus makes Modoc County truly mesmerizing.

Modoc County

Modoc County is a county in the far northeast corner of the U.S. state of California. Its population is 8,700 as of the 2020 census, down from 9,686 from the 2010 census. This makes it California's third-least populous county. The county seat and only incorporated city is Alturas.

Area: 4,203 mi²

Founded: 1874

Population 8,853 (2020)

County Seat: Alturas

The Modoc National Forest

The Modoc National Forest provides twenty-nine clean and simple campgrounds located in the Modoc National Forest (MNF). Many of these campgrounds are situated in the alpine elevations of 4,400-6,000 ft. and up. The highest is at 7,200 ft. and there are no campgrounds below 4,000 feet. Camping at these sites is considered some of the most captivating in the north state. Never crowded or overrun with campers and tourists. The MNF offers the fishing enthusiast, a myriad of creeks, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs that provide an abundance of native species and other game fish. In the higher elevations you’ll find rainbow trout, redband trout, brown trout, and brook trout. High plateau lakes and reservoirs hold blue gill, crappie, trout, Sacramento perch, largemouth bass, channel and bullhead catfish. Fishing season is open year round with the exception of stream fishing which opens in April and closes in November. Hunting is also year round. Coyote and squirrel hunting starts the season off. Spring wild turkey season follows, other upland game bird seasons begin in the in the late summer starting with Blue or Ruffed grouse and dove. Big Game hunting also begins in the late summer and runs through the fall, beginning with, Pronghorn antelope, Rocky Mountain elk, Mule deer and bear. In the late fall and winter, upland game birds and waterfowl are plentiful; fall wild turkey, pheasant, quail, chukar, and a wide variety of ducks and geese.

​

The Devil's Garden lies in the heart of the Modoc Plateau. The Modoc Plateau is a mile-high expanse of lava flows with cinder cones, juniper flats, pine forests, and seasonal lakes. The plateau is thought to have been formed approximately 25 million years ago. The Devil's Garden lies directly under the Pacific Flyway. During their migration from Alaska and Canada to Mexico, hundreds of thousands of waterfowl use the wetlands as rest stops. The Garden is also shared by Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, wild horses and pronghorn antelope. Many of the reservoirs on Devils Garden are stocked with crappie, catfish largemouth bass and trout. Four of the 5 developed campgrounds on the Devil's Garden charge no fees for camping, day use or boat launching. Even so, these facilities rarely fill to capacity and are considered the perfect getaway by the few who venture there.

Lava Beds National Monument

Tulelake /Newell is located approximately 60 miles north of Alturas along Hwy.139 on the California/Oregon border. If cinder cones, spatter cones, pit craters, hornitos mars or lava flows intrigue you then, Lava Beds National Monument is where you want to be. Established in 1925, Lava Beds National Monument is a land of turmoil, both geologic and historic.  Over the last half-million years, volcanic eruptions have created a rugged landscape dotted with diverse volcanic features.  One can explore this landscape via guided or self-guided hikes, driving and viewing from overlooks, or delving underground into the numerous caves.  Lava tube caves, Native American sites (Petroglyph Point), historic battlefields (Captain Jack’s Stronghold) and, and a high desert wilderness experience await you!  

WWII Valor over the Pacific/Japanese internment camp The Tule Lake Unit of World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, established in 2008, is a nationally significant site dedicated to telling the story of the cost of war on the home front and the lasting effects of the unjust incarceration of over 29,000 US citizens and long-term residents of Japanese ancestry at the Tule Lake Segregation Center.  A visitor center with guided tours is available in the summer months.  Other areas of interest include Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Basin Birding Trail, Medicine Lake, Tionesta and Glass Mountain.

The Modoc National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR)

Located just outside the Alturas city limits is part of a chain of National Wildlife refuges along the Pacific Flyway. Home to the greater sand hill cranes, golden and bald eagles and a host to resident and migrating birds, in fact over 240 different bird species can be observed here. MNWR is an important resting and feeding area for migratory birds and considered a Bird Watcher’s paradise. In addition to the migratory bird populations, the diverse habitats of the Refuge also support a wide range of other wildlife such as; Mule deer, Pronghorn antelope, bobcats, coyote and more. Take the auto tour loop and you’ll be amazed.

​

The MNWR also provides some of the best waterfowl hunting in the north state. There are a variety of habitats on the hunt area including dry and flooded grain fields, wet meadows, ponds and marshes. The areas include rough, uneven terrain; deep, dense stands of bulrushes (tules) and ditches. The most common species harvested include Canada geese, mallards, wigeon and gadwalls with decoying techniques being the most effective method. There are three spaced blinds available, out of the North hunt lot, which are all ADA accessible. The new Grandma Tract hunt area has offers 5 assigned hunt units (2 wetland, 1 dry grainfield, and 2 units which may be either freshly planted grain or moist soil wetland) available.