Earth science buffs visit Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway for its dramatic lava flows and deep caldera lakes, but the byway's assets are not limited to geological wonders. With several protected wildlife reserves and two national parks between its 500 miles, the byway's diversity of animal life is enough to please even the most jaded of enthusiasts. On Volcanic Legacy, you'll drive through or past the habitats of over 430 different species, some extremely rare and threatened, on a life-altering trip through fragile and varied ecosystems.
Crater Lake, one of the deepest lakes in America [1]
Whether you come from the south or from the north, you'll begin in a national park. These areas have been managed in a way to preserve wildlife and allow for visitors to spend time among the region's native species. Crater Lake National Park has communities of such mountain animals as the bald eagle, elk, and black bear, as well as pine martens and snowshoe hares. Lassen Volcanic National Park on the southern end of the byway also boasts a bounty of wildlife, including the great horned owl, coyotes, and the occasional mountain lion. These creatures are experts at camouflage and secrecy, so you'll need patience, sharp eyes, and luck to see them.
A Bald Eagle Perches In a Tree [2]
Several National Wildlife Refuges lie between the two parks, most of which are found right alongside the byway. Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge, part of the Klamath Basin system, is renowned as the nesting site for the largest concentration of bald eagles in the lower forty-eight states. Every morning during these noble birds' wintering season in November, witness hundreds of them as they fly out from their night roosts in the refuge's old-growth forest. So few Americans have seen their national symbol, don't pass up the chance at a guaranteed glimpse of these awe-inspiring raptors.
Wood Duck Along the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway [3]
Over a hundred thousand acres of marshland, grassland, and forest have been set aside all along the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, preserving wild places, waterfowl nesting grounds, and threatened habitat for its own sake and ours. While some are currently closed to the public, others, such as Lower Klamath, Tule Lake, and Klamath Marsh have wildlife viewing routes and areas as well as educational resources to aid in your communion with the wild. The sheer variety of species existing in these unique areas gives travelers on Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway a singular moment of sanctuary in untamed wilderness.
