Northwest-Klamath

California’s Northwest-Klamath region is an area of thick forests, steep mountains, narrow valleys and few people. Some of the highest precipitation totals in the state, over 100 inches per annum, have been recorded in the mountains here just a few miles from the coast.

The population in this remote region is scattered about in small towns that either hug watercourses or spread out on the few sizable areas of somewhat level ground. Primary industries such as logging and mining have been and continue to be mainstays of the local economy.

Klamath River

Seen here near Happy Camp, the Klamath River is California's second largest. It rises in southern Oregon and winds 257 miles to the sea.

Scott Valley

Cattle and dairy farming is a major primary industry in this rural inland valley.

Trinity Alps

The Trinity Alps are part of the larger Klamath Mountains complex. The Alps contain peaks that top out just over 9,000 ft and are mainly composed of granites and metamorphic rocks, Many conifers that are rare to California can be found here and in the neighboring Russian Wilderness of the Klamath National Forest, the latter possessing the greatest number of conifer species in North America.

Trinity River

Seen here, the Trinity River winds its way through the Klamath Mountains near the town of Willow Creek. The Trinity is the principal tributary of the Klamath River.

Trinity Mountains

Glacial cirques, horns and aretes can be seen in this aerial view of the Trinity Alps. The reddish hues at top of frame are indicative of ultramafic peridotites. The lighter colored rocks are composed of batholithic granites.

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