Williamson Headwaters
Dinner was simple, just some grilled chicken with cheese.
DETAILS
Location: Klamath County, Ore.
When: June 2021
Stops: Diamond Lake, Klamath Marsh, Williamson Headwaters, Applegate Butte
An overnight solo excursion started out with dinner on the Nylox Ridge alongside Upper Klamath Lake in Klamath County, Oregon with no real destination in mind. Little did I know, I would end up right back where I started.
Overnight parking accommodations.
Just a few miles from basecamp and too early to bed down, I left the ridge and traveled north. With the hopes of finding some night photography landscapes to photograph. I tried all the usual suspects (click here to see some of my previous work) but did not find anything different or inspiring from the past.
I ventured through the Wood River Valley and Crater Lake before finding myself along the shores of Diamond Lake. Still unable to find anything great with the Milky Way, I was going to call it a night along a pullout near the dam. Unfortunately, another traveler had the same idea. I then ventured over to the overflow parking of the resort for a few hours of shuteye. It was about 3:00 AM when I laid down for the night.
The next morning. I awoke to a beautiful sunrise over the lake. Mount Bailey was glowing and the marina was busy. It just so happened to be the first day of fishing season on the lake.
The marina of Diamond Lake Resort looking to Mount Bailey.
After a quick cup of coffee and a visit to the bathroom (maybe not in that order), it was time for breakfast. I did not want to cook in the resort so I went a few miles south to the South Shore Day Use Area to whip up some ham and eggs.
Full and caffeinated, I broke down from breakfast and left the mountains for the Klamath Marsh.
After arriving at the marsh, I settled on a destination. A place, I have never been to before. The headwaters of the Williamson River. This was about 75 miles from camp and would take the better part of the afternoon to traverse. The difficult roads were not difficult, just extremely dusty - with a section or two with loose cinders.
Along the way, I found a old cinder pit and captured some unique photos.
It was much hotter in the valley than it was up on the mountain and extremely dry, but beautiful.
After arriving at the headwaters, I parked next to the sign and walked 50-yards or so to see the water bubbling up out of the ground. Like many large river systems, this headwater bubbled up out of the ground over a large stretch before forming a pool nearby. That pool then feeds the Williamson River on its path for Upper Klamath Lake.
Headwaters of the Williamson River in Klamath County, Oregon.
After an hour or so of exploring, it was time to move on. I had pinned a nearby fire tower site on Applegate Butte. So that site was next on the list.
Another hour or so later, I was at the top of the butte with views looking toward the Klamath Marsh in the north. The butte was pretty overgrown so not much else could be seen, with the exception to some communications towers and buildings.
The old fire tower was long gone, but the concrete footings remained.
By this time it was getting late in the day and it was time to once again return back to basecamp.
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