Link River Nature Trail (south access) - Klamath Falls, OR
N 42° 13.217 W 121° 47.547
10T E 599661 N 4674939
This trailhead is located at the south end of the Link River Trail in Klamath Falls, OR.
Waymark Code: WMGFT7
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 02/28/2013
Views: 3
The
Link River Nature Trail is a 1.3 mile-long trail that parallels the
Link River which 'links'
Lower Klamath Lake to
Lake Ewauna and then into the
Klamath River.
Klamathgreenways.org has a good writeup on this trail and says the following:
Klamath Falls was named for a series of cascading falls and rapids on Link River, a mile and a half-long stream located in the heart of the city. PacifiCorp operates two hydroelectric plants on the river. It allows public access along the road paralleling the river and adjacent to one of the canals supplying water to the west side hydroelectric plant. This is called the Link River Trail, and is well utilized by numerous individuals and groups. Among these are fishermen, birders, commuters, bicyclers, walkers, runners, black berry pickers, school classes and others. Less developed trails traverse the water's edge. The eastern ridge of the waterway is Conger Heights, and forms a backdrop of tranquility for those enjoying the trail and river. Irrigation projects in the late 1800s, as well as a dam in the early 1900’s diminished the extent of the falls. Nevertheless, whitewater rapids and a few of the cascades can still be seen today. The falls were often photographed in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and these old photos can be accessed through the Klamath County Museum. KGF has participated with other groups and PacifcCorp, in clean-ups of the trail and surrounding areas. Photos of the cleanups are visible on the photo gallery page. The ongoing maintenance of the trail and river basin will continue to be an active goal of KGF. In the future there is discussion that PacificCorp will decommission the power plants. KGF is supportive of efforts to keep the trail and river valley accessible to the public and protected from development.
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There are signs located at both the north and south trailheads that highlight the flora and fauna that visitors might spot during their walk along the trail. The flora that can be seen include the Klamath Plum, the only wild plum that grows in the Pacific states; Chokecherry trees; gray rabbitbrush; and if you're lucky to be here in late August/early September,wild blackberry bushes that are popular picking with the locals. The fauna that live in this area include muskrats, mule deer, and river otters. The fish habitat in the Link River include yellow perch, native redband trout and fathead minnows.
If you're visiting Klamath and have the time to spend an hour here along the trail, you won't be disappointed by all the wonderful views you may witness.