A variety of public recreation opportunities are available on the Klamath River at J.C. Boyle Reservoir, Keno Reservoir and along the Link River near Upper Klamath Lake. Other recreation areas are located along the Rogue River, Wallowa River and North Umpqua River. Our facilities provide river and reservoir fishing, boating, camping and hiking opportunities.
Please use caution around dams and waterways. Follow posted notices and watch over children.
To ensure public safety at Klamath River recreational areas, emergency evacuation sirens have been installed at JC Boyle Dam, Klamath Wild and Scenic Campground (owned by BLM) and Copco 2 Power Plant (upstream end of Iron Gate Reservoir). The sirens have been installed as a proactive measure to prevent delays in communication in the unlikely event that sudden flooding or rapid changes in water flows force evacuation of the campground or areas immediately below applicable dams, spillways or power plants. These sirens are not intended to communicate evacuation orders to residences nearby.
Immediately downstream of J.C. Boyle Dam, the Klamath River enters a series of rugged, deep gorges and narrow canyons. In 1994, the section of river between the Boyle powerhouse and California state line was designated a National Wild and Scenic River by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management manages the river in cooperation with the State of Oregon.
This section of the Klamath River is swift, providing rafters with challenging whitewater boating opportunities (up to Class IV rapids). Daily peaking flow releases from J. C. Boyle Dam allow rafters summer whitewater rafting opportunities. Information on water releases is available on our our J.C. Boyle water release page.
To learn about whitewater rafting opportunities in Upper Klamath River between JC Boyle Powerhouse and Copco Reservoir, please contact the Klamath Falls office of the BLM at 541-883-6916.