Only a handful of seats are left on the bus for our first-ever and only Klamath River Tour and spots are now available first come, first served! This special water tour, Sept. 8 through Sept. 12, will not be offered again so grab a ticket here while they last.

You don’t want to miss this opportunity to examine water issues along the 263-mile Klamath River, from its spring-fed headwaters in south-central Oregon to its redwood-lined estuary on the Pacific Ocean in California, including a look at the nation’s largest dam removal project.

The tour will begin Monday evening (Sept. 8) near Klamath Falls, Ore., with an opening dinner and presentations to provide important context and background information on the history, hydrology and management of the Klamath River watershed.

Speakers throughout the tour will talk about the important role that the remote watershed straddling California and Oregon plays for farmers, tribes and salmon. Here’s a rundown:

Tuesday: The tour will explore the upper watershed, including tributaries to Upper Klamath Lake such as the Wood and Sprague rivers, and one of the West’s largest wetland restorations of more than 14,000 acres. We’ll then venture into areas served by one of the Bureau of Reclamation’s earliest projects, authorized in 1905. Participants will hear directly from representatives of the Klamath Tribes, the Modoc Nation, Klamath River Water Users Association, environmental and conservation groups, and more.

Wednesday: The tour’s attention pivots to the mainstem of the Klamath River as it passes through the Cascade Range and examines the removal of Iron Gate Dam, one of four dam removal sites on the river completed in 2024 that now allows for migratory fish passage. Participants will get a firsthand view of restoration efforts within the long-inundated areas of Iron Gate reservoir and hear from the various partners working together, including the Karuk Tribe. The day will end with a study of water issues in the Shasta River Valley, an important tributary to the Klamath River.

Thursday: The tour will begin with learning about Scott River Valley water issues, another important tributary, before focusing entirely on the rugged course that the Klamath River forges through the Siskiyou Mountains on its way to the Pacific Ocean and the river’s redwood-lined mouth near Klamath, Calif. Participants will hear from members of the Karuk and Yurok tribal nations about the cultural significance of the river and its salmon population, and their efforts in the dam removal project.

The tour ends Friday morning near the Pacific Ocean where the Klamath River empties into the sea with some wrap-up thoughts and final reflections on the journey. This tour is one of the longest the Foundation has ever hosted and registration includes ticket options that help participants with travel arrangements, so review the details here and reserve one of the last spots soon!

Any questions? Send an email to Programs Director Nick Gray.