Planning Your Trip

Things to Bring  

Summer - Dress for hot, sunny days and cool nights.  A brimmed hat and a water bottle are handy.    Swim wear and beach towels are a must for swimming, and some folks like to bring their own shade.

Spring & Fall can range from warm and sunny to cool and wet, so dress accordingly.  

A flashlight is useful for getting around the ranch at night.   Bring sturdy shoes if you plan on hiking.  Maps of the area can be purchased at the Orleans Ranger Station, 3/4 mile down the road.

Food - Orleans has a small store with very basic fare - canned goods, dairy, beverages, snacks, some fresh produce etc.  If you're driving route 101 from the south then Arcata is the last town to stock up at, coming from the north it would be Ashland, and if you're driving 299 west from route 5 then Weaverville has a supermarket.

Books to Read -

The Klamath is a truly unique region and you can get a lot more from your trip if you do a bit of reading ahead of time.  Here are a few of our favorite books:

The Klamath Knot, by David Raines Wallace Named one of the twentieth century's best nonfiction books by the San Francisco Chronicle, The Klamath Knot,  is a personal vision of wilderness in the Klamath Mountains of northwest California and southwest Oregon, seen through the lens of "evolutionary mythology."   Wallace uses his explorations of the diverse ecosystems in this region to ponder the role of evolution and myth in our culture.

In the Land of the Grasshopper Song, This story is told by  Mary Ellicot Arnold and Mabel Reed of their visit to this region in 1908 has become a classic.  Read this and you'll be impressed by how much this area has retained its wildness and unique character in the 100 years that have passed.

River of Renewal  by Stephen Most  Tells the story of  the Klamath Basin, the history of farming in the upper basin as well as the Indian struggles for water and fishing rights and the tangled history of water allocation in the Klamath River


Directions

Map to Sandy Bar Ranch
Take Route 96 into Orleans from 299 (via Arcata or Redding) or I-5 (via Yreka).  Turn west onto Ishi Pishi Road at the gas station, and continue past the ranger station 3/4 miles to Sandy Bar Ranch, on the right side of the road.

From the San Francisco Bay Area - You can take either 101 North to Arcata, or I-5 North to Redding.  101 is a more scenic route, taking you through California's Wine Country.  If you are traveling form south of San Francisco then I-5 would be faster as you can avoid driving through SF.  


Shortcuts,  Scenic Byways and Nearby Destinations

Orleans is off the beaten path, but there are a number of ways to get here and several  routes to connect the Klamath region with other areas of interest in Northern California and Southern Oregon:


The California Northcoast Redwood Region 

Located directly east of Orleans as the crow flies, the Northcoast Redwood region includes hundreds of miles of unspoiled coastline and hiking trails.   The Bald Hills Road connects Weiptchpec, 13 miles south of Orleans, with the Redwood Coast , just north of the town of Orick.   (Note - as of Otober 2008 the Bald Hills rod. was closed, use the route described above under "Directions" as an alternate route.
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Ashland, Oregon
Home of the world class Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland is a  2.5  to 3 hour drive from Sandy Bar Ranch, via route 96, a beautiful route  that takes you through the Klamath River canyon.  
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Jefferson Scenic Byway over the Siskiyou Mountains 

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The Grayback - Happy Camp road connects the town of Cave Junction in Southern Oregon with the town of Happy Camp on the Klamath River, 45 miles north of Orleans.  It's a beautiful drive through the Siskiyou high country and a great shortcut, to or from I-5 in Southern Oregon.  Closed in winter due to snow.  


The Smith River


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The Smith River is the  next watershed to the north of the Klamath.  A designated National Recreation area and wild and Scenic River, it shares much of the ecological diversity and scenic beauty of the Klamath.   Use the Jefferson Scenic Byway to connect with 199 for a drive through the Smith River that ends up in the redwoods on California's Northcoast.  


The Salmon River 


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With it's headwaters in three of California's largest Wilderness areas - the Marble Mountains, the Russian and the Trinity Wilderness; the Salmon  is one of the most pristine rivers in the lower 48.   The windy Salmon River Road is the opposite of a shortcut, but if you have the time you'll see  some beautiful country.