Located in Alturas, some of the items on display date back 150 years and include Native Americans artifacts, an antique gun collection and domestic items used by the early date pioneer families of Modoc County.
"LOST RIVER" The Story of the Modoc Indian War, premiered in August of 1998 as an outdoor historical drama at Cal Pines Lodge near Alturas, the County Seat of Modoc County, California. It is produced by the Modoc County Arts Council, Inc. (a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit corporation and Modoc Performing Arts Theatre and is projected to become an annual event. Donations from area businesses, service groups and public agencies provided the cash needed for the first season. Hundreds of volunteer hours by the cast and crew rounded out the contributions necessary to present the first production of the show . The annual production of Lost River will be presented in July, please call or check calendar of events for exact dates. The play will be performed at the Alturas Amphitheater.
The Blue Door Flat area provides an interesting area to watch waterfowl, shorebirds and
songbirds, as well as the colorful wildflowers at the site. Door Flat is a
reservoir that was constructed in 1939 by the CCC, or also known as the "Tree
Army" for their vast amount of conservation work completed in the post depression
years.
Located between Surprise Valley and Goose Lake, Fandango Pass is the scene of an Indian
massacre in the early 1850's.
The Indian trail through High Rock Canyon was first recorded by Captain John Fremont in
1844. The Applegate brothers guided emigrant wagon trains through the canyon on their way
to Oregon's Willamette Valley. In 1849 and into the 1850's it was a well beaten path to
the gold fields and towns of California. But today it is far off the beaten path and that
fact makes it a particularly special place. is wilderness country, and except for
Steven's Camp, there are no facilities of any kind in or near the canyon.
This was one of the major trails providing access into California and Oregon, also
called the California cutoff after it left the Oregon Trail near Fort Hall, Idaho.
markers identify the routes of these two national historic trails.
This area offers the chance to explore rugged volcanic formations and learn about the
forces that melted and twisted rock into strange shapes and patterns. vegetation is
just as dramatic as the volcanism, with the abundance of changing color depending on the
season of visit.
The 6,700-acre refuge was established in 1960 to manage and protect migratory waterfowl such as Canadian geese, ducks, cranes and swans. Fed by snowmelt from the Warner Mountains, the pit River creates an oasis for wildlife. The refuge also provides fishing, hunting, photography and educational programs.
The Pit River is the largest river in northeastern California and drains that section
of the state and enters the Sacramento River at Shasta Lake. Fall River Mills,
California, adjacent to the river is the Pit River Campground, one of the most unique and
aesthetic camping areas around.
Travel across lakes, through canyons and valleys and over mountain cliffs. the gold rush of 1849, the most used route of the California National Historic Trail crossed this region. 93 mile driving tour is distinctive because it takes the traveler though such a wide variety of natural settings and points of interest. The Byway forms a loop that begins and ends in Cedarville, California and takes a minimum of three hours without stops.
Alturas, the county seat for Modoc County, lies in the broad valley of the Pit River near the center of the county. Alturas serves as a center for various hunting, fishing, water and snow skiing, golfing, ice fishing and bowling activities which surround it.
Louieville
Louieville is located at the Modoc County Fairgrounds in Cedarville,
Louieville is a mythical town comprised of log cabins and old buildings transported in
from around Surprise Valley. Louieville consists of a slaughterhouse, a schoolhouse, a
water tower, the old Ft. Bidwell jail, the old Eagleville jail, a cabin built by
Christopher Sharp, one of the first settlers in Cedarville, an old workshop, a church, and
a two-seater outhouse.
Modoc Volcanic Scenic Byway -Unrivaled Volcanic Features, Natural Wonders and Indian Lore
Traversing an area unrivaled in North America for its volcanic features, the Modoc Volcanic Scenic Byway provides a rich mixture of geology, wildlife viewing and Indian history. This route is somewhat unique in that the entire route is only available for driving for a short four month span from June 1st to October 15th. Although the road is good, portions of the byway are unpaved. The portion of the route in the Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge is best visited during the winter months when the most viewing opportunities are possible.
Starting in McCloud you will have the chance to step back in time to experience what life was like in a company owned logging town. The McCloud Lumber Company built most of the structures, and a quick drive around the community will give you a glimpse of this past life. The McCloud Railway operates the year-round Shasta Sunset Dinner Train. This excursion in 1920’s style railroad cars with gourmet dining is worth the trip. The McCloud Hotel and several B&B’s offer a chance to “sleep back in time”. Traveling east from McCloud on Hwy. 89 almost immediately offers the opportunity to view the three McCloud Falls. The Fowlers Campground turnoff will lead you to the area of Lower, Middle and Upper Falls, which are truly spectacular in the spring and early summer.
Continuing east to Bartle is the turn north on Forest Service Route 15. This road leads to the Medicine Lake Highlands, a broad shield volcano. This volcano is actually larger than Mt. Shasta in total mass and is the largest volcano in the Cascade Range. The original volcano’s center part collapsed creating a huge basin 6 miles long by 4 miles wide and this is now the location of Medicine Lake. Medicine Lake provides good fishing and relaxing summertime camping experiences. Side trips from here include the Mt. Hoffman Fire Lookout (a genuine fire lookout which can be rented from the Forest Service) and Glass Mountain, one of the largest obsidian glass flows in the American West. Continuing north to Lava Beds National Monument is really a volcanic experience. This area was used for moon landing training by the original Apollo astronauts and has the highest concentration of lava tube caves in North America with over 435. The caves can be explored on your own, but the monument also offers ranger led tours. Bring a flashlight! This area is also the site of the only Indian/US Army battle in California’s early history. Captain Jack’s Stronghold, a natural Lava fortress, was used as a base for 57 Modoc warriors and their families for more than 5 months. They held off a US Army force more than 20 times their strength. Visitors can tour Captain Jack’s Stronghold to learn about both the geographic and historic wonder of this unusual landscape.
At the north end of the byway is the Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge. It encompasses more than 39,000 acres along the Oregon/California border. The refuge offers world class wildlife viewing opportunities for large flocks of ducks, geese and white pelicans. It is also home for the largest concentration of wintering bald eagles in the continental US. Although the entire route may not be available during the winter months, a trip to the wildlife refuge in the winter provides the best opportunity to see both eagles and a wide variety of waterfowl. The route ends in the small town of Tulelake.
Drive Tips
Distance: 120 miles
Minimum Driving Time: 4-5 hours
Best Time to go: June 1 through Oct. 15th
For Information: Regional - Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association, 530-365-7500 or 1-800-474-2782
Along the byway - McCloud Chamber of Commerce, 530-964-3113.
Services along the route: Lodging and other traveler services are available in McCloud and Tulelake, with other limited services along the route.
Barrel Springs Back Country Byway - High Desert, Applegate-Lassen Trail, and 150 Years of Little Change
In the northeastern corner of California the Warner Mountains rise in a near solid wall to an elevation of almost 10,000 feet. Crossing over these mountains at Cedar Valley, you will enter a totally different world. Explorer John Freeman named it “the Great Basin”, the land where none of the rivers run to the sea.
The Surprise Valley/Barrel Springs Back Country Byway is
through this remote and rugged area. The byway provides an opportunity for those
who want to get away from crowds and experience the west as it used to be. On
this byway you will see clear evidence of our continent pulling apart, of giant
earthquakes and volcanoes. You will be able to stand on the beach of a
prehistoric lake where people hunted ice age animals, search for
fossils and prehistoric art, and view the final resting place of 19th century
cavalry troopers.
This drive begins in Cedarville, which is reached on Hwy. 299 from Alturas. Travel north from Cedarville to Fort Bidwell, about thirty to forty minutes without stops. Fort Bidwell was founded in 1865 as a post to insure the safety of passing pioneers. In 1892 it became part of the Fort Bidwell Indian Reservation. Today the original Fort Bidwell general store is still in operation and the original hotel has been renovated to comfortably serve its guests. From Fort Bidwell take County Road 6 east to the California/Nevada border. Here the road name changes to Barrel Springs. Notice how the countryside opens up dramatically into a vast high desert. You are actually traversing a prehistoric lakebed, Lake Surprise. At this point, you will begin heading south on a route that more than 300,000 settlers used on their way to Northern California and Oregon. Once you reach the town of Vya you are in the Great Basin surrounded by Nevada high desert. Turning west again toward California you will connect with Hwy. 299.
To many, the high desert of the Great Basin appears to be a forgotten, forlorn and desolate landscape, but this environment is home to many species of plant life, rich mineral deposits and desert wildlife. Along this route you will see dramatic vast high desert, strange rock formations, fossils, and petrified wood. You will also have traveled the route taken by many of the west’s earliest settlers.
Drive Tips
Distance: 93 miles
Minimum Driving Time: 3 hours
Best Time to go: Summer, check road conditions before traveling.
For Information: Regional - Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association, 530-365-7500 or 1-800-474-2782,
Along the byway: Contact the BLM office in Cedarville for a Byway tour guide, 530-279-6101, and Great Surprise Valley Chamber, 530-279-2001
Services along the route: Lodging and other traveler services are only available in Cedarville and Fort Bidwell. There are no other services along the route.
FOR A COMPLETE BYWAY GUDIE CALL 1-800- 4SHASTA (474-2782)
Mill Creek Lodge, Likely (530)233-4934
