This Is Pacific Coast's Quirkiest Little Town
Head north in California toward the Pacific Northwest, and the landscape turns quieter and greener. Cities and sagebrush give way to thick forests and laid-back towns. Klamath is a perfect example. The community sits within Redwood National and State Parks, home to some of the tallest trees on Earth. Just off US Route 101, Klamath serves as a gateway to classic roadside stops like the Klamath Tour Thru Tree and Trees of Mystery. Other nearby spots like Radar Station B-71 and the Old Douglas Memorial Bridge Site add wartime and transportation history.
A Verdant Logging Town Turned Haven for Outdoor Adventurers
Klamath sits along a rugged stretch high up on the California coastline, right near the mouth of the Klamath River, between Crescent City and Redwood National and State Parks. This small community of nearly 1,100 residents is surrounded by some of the oldest redwood forests in the west, steep coastal drop-offs, and river valleys that have all shaped life in the area for centuries. Long before modern American settlement, the region was home to the Yurok people, whose communities depended on the river's salmon runs and the greater Pacific coastline for food, trade, transportation, and more.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Klamath developed around logging, fishing, and road travel along what later became US Route 101 (a.k.a. the Pacific Coast Highway). As with much of the rest of this part of the country, at one point or another, timber operations once dominated the local economy, and remnants of old logging roads still cut through nearby forests. But today, the town is better known for its unusual roadside attractions, giant redwoods, and proximity to a plethora of cool outdoor recreation areas.
Moreover, its isolated setting, frequent coastal fog, and towering forests give Klamath a distinctly remote atmosphere that feels far removed from California's larger coastal destinations, and is certainly a big contrast from the deserts down south.
The Most Interesting Attractions in Klamath, California
As said before, there are a variety of things to see and do in and around Klamath, including historic landmarks, guided tours, quick roadside stops, and a mix of state and nationally run parklands. With that, here are a handful of locales we recommend to get you started if it is your first time visiting.
Klamath Tour Thru Tree
The Klamath Tour Thru Tree is easily among the region's best-known attractions and a certified classic stop along the Pacific Coast Highway. Carved directly through a particularly massive coastal redwood, this unique draw allows you to slowly drive through the center of the tree, all while being surrounded by a wonderfully verdant forest environment in every direction. Beyond the drive-thru tree itself, the property also includes walking paths, oversized carvings, gift shops, and additional redwood groves.
This privately operated site has been drawing travelers for decades and reflects the quirky roadside culture that still defines much of what makes a long-distance highway trip across California's coastline so special.
Trees of Mystery
Another tree-based bit of fun, the Trees of Mystery is a family-friendly local staple and has been operating since 1946. The site is immediately recognizable from the enormous Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox figures, as well as its gift shop, standing beside the highway just north of town. But the property extends even deeper into the area's dense coastal forest for an experience you won't forget.
Elevated walkways and winding trails pass unusual redwood formations, including trees twisted into spirals and trunks naturally fused together over time. For a more relaxing tour, however, the SkyTrail gondola can carry you high above the forest canopy, revealing wide views of the Pacific Ocean, Klamath River, and surrounding mountains outside its windowed cars.
Redwood National and State Parks
The Redwood National and State Parks stretch along the coast south of Klamath, protecting many of the grandest trees on Earth. The park system combines Redwood National Park with Jedediah Smith, Del Norte Coast, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Parks into a continuous corridor of old-growth forest and beach and bluff-covered shoreline.
As you can tell from the name, the ancient coast redwoods are the star of the show here, with trunks often exceeding hundreds of feet in height, and thick understories of fern and redwood sorrel to accompany them. Rivers such as the Smith and Klamath cut through steep terrain as well, supporting healthy populations of salmon and shaping a dense, extremely verdant riparian habitat that is an absolute pleasure to stroll through rain or shine.
The parks also include a variety of coastal bluffs, wildflower meadows, and geological features like Fern Canyon, where its walls are lined entirely with hanging mosses and ferns throughout the year. For other sightseeing opportunities, try dropping by spots like the Corkscrew Tree or the Big Tree Wayside, too.
Radar Station B-71
A truly unusual tourist destination, but popular with history buffs and hikers looking to get off the beaten path, the Radar Station B-71 is a former World War II coastal defense installation located near Klamath's coastal bluffs. It was built as part of a network of early-warning radar sites intended to detect potential enemy aircraft and naval activity along this portion of the western seaboard.
If you make your way up to it via the short trail off the shoulder of Coastal Drive, you'll see the station occupies a high vantage point overlooking the ocean, where clear sightlines reduce interference from surrounding forest and mountainous obstacles. After the war, the site was decommissioned and gradually reclaimed by vegetation, leaving only the fragments of its military infrastructure behind that you will witness today.
As part of the area's wartime history, the station is federally protected. With few functioning remains, however, it rather comes with excellent views of the surrounding lands that all who visit can appreciate.
Old Douglas Memorial Bridge Site
The Old Douglas Memorial Bridge Site is yet another must-see landmark for history fans near the mouth of the Klamath River, marking the location of a former crossing that once carried traffic over the waterway before a modern replacement structure was built. The original bridge, swept away in the 1964 "Great Christmas Flood," was part of a vital transportation link through this section of Northern California, where river mouths, floodplain shifts, and coastal weather frequently challenged all kinds of infrastructure.
After a newer span was completed, the old structure was mostly removed, leaving behind its approaches, various viewpoints, and river access points. These days, the site functions mainly as a quiet pullout area, offering some nice sights over where the river meets the ocean, and the surrounding forested valley landscape beyond.
Explore this Fascinating Corner of the Pacific Coast Today
Klamath will leave a strong impression on you through its mix of wooded scenery, coastal scenes, and a small but unusual array of roadside and historic sites. From the towering forests of Redwood National and State Parks to landmarks like Trees of Mystery and the former Radar Station B-71 area, this tight-knit community set in the PNW showcases both the natural side and the longstanding human history present in one of the most remote stretches of the West Coast.
