Klamath Basin Refuges
 Photography
Blind Map
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Waterbird
blinds Hill Road Marsh #1 Tulelake Sump #3 Lower Klamath Marsh & Waterbird Blind #6 |
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Eagle
Blinds Hill Road Upland Bird Blind #4
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The varied wildlife and habitats of Klamath Basin Refuge
Complex are a photographer's delight as photographic opportunities abound. A
limited number of blinds are available on Tule Lake and Lower Klamath Refuges
by advanced reservation. Contact Refuge Headquarters for further information.
General Information
Wildlife photography opportunities at the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges
are excellent. Seven photography blinds have been made available, five on Tule
Lake Refuge and two on Lower Klamath Refuge. These are available for use by
reservation only. A refuge season pass is required for anyone using
photo blinds on the Refuges. You may only reserve one blind per day,
but may reserve a given blind for up to two days per week. Blind reservations
are on a first-come, first-served basis and accepted only within six months
of the first date the blind will be used.
Three blinds (Blinds # 2 and # 5 on Tule Lake Refuge and Blind # 7 on Lower Klamath Refuge) are located to facilitate bald eagle and raptor photography. During December through March these blinds must be entered before 7a.m. Blinds # 1 and # 3 on Tule Lake and Blind # 6 on Lower Klamath provide opportunities to photograph water birds. Blind # 4 on Tule Lake provides opportunities to photograph upland birds (primarily passerine species including towhees, sparrows and wrens). Warm clothing, a telephoto lens and tripod enhances use of these blinds. Although unusual, winter temperatures occasionally fall to 0 degrees F. All blinds are situated for morning photography.
Making a
Reservation
Blind reservations may be made in person, by telephone, or mail at the Klamath
Basin National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, located 5 miles west of Tulelake,
CA, on Hill Rd. Telephone: (530) 667-2231. Visitor Center hours are 8 am - 4:30
pm, weekdays and 10 am - 4 pm weekends and holidays. The Refuge Visitor Center
is closed Christmas and New Year's days. Reservations by mail or telephone should
be made at least 10 days prior to intended use.
No permit will be released until payment has been received. The fee is $25 per person for an annual season pass which is good for one year from date of purchase ($12.50 per person for those in possession of a Golden Age/Access Passport and full time students 21 years and under). For those requesting a permit by phone, credit cards are accepted. Please make checks payable to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The permits include a slip to display on the vehicle dashboard. There is no need to return the permits.
Reducing
Disturbance to Wildlife
Please conduct your activities so as to keep disturbance to wildlife at a minimum.
For example, make a genuine effort to exit the blind/area when there is no wildlife
present. Such actions will not only benefit wildlife but will help ensure continued,
high quality photographic opportunities. Photographers are encouraged
to enter blinds prior to sunrise which reduces disturbance and helps
achieve the best photographic results.
Blind
Descriptions and Locations
Blind locations along roads and access trails are each marked with a white fiberglass post
which includes the blind number, a directional arrow, and two red reflectors.
1 Hill
Road Marsh and Waterbird Blind
A one or two-person blind with 4 lens ports located on Tule Lake. From the Refuge
Visitor Center travel 2.7 miles south on Hill Road to the boat ramp parking
area on the left. Park at the ramp. The blind is a short walk (700 feet) out
the dike on the north side of the boat channel. A minimum 200mm lens is suggested.
The blind faces the water in a north/northwest direction. Best Times:
Spring and Summer. During waterfowl hunting season (generally mid-October through
mid-January) the boat ramp area is used extensively by hunters and few birds
may be present. NOTE: This blind is wheelchair accessible.
2 Tule
Lake Sump Raptor Blind
A one-person blind for photographing hawks and eagles located along the south
shore of Sump 1-B off the Auto Tour Route. From the Refuge Visitor Center travel
4.8 miles south on Hill Road, then turn left onto the Auto Tour Route for 4.8
miles. At the Tour Route junction turn right for 1.1 mile and then left for
1.5 miles along the south shore of Sump 1-B to the Authorized Vehicles Only
road. Turn left onto this road and travel .25 miles. Park here leaving room
for other vehicles to pass. The blind is located approximately 200 yards to
the north across the grassland near a tree (eagle perch). A minimum 300mm lens
is suggested. The blind faces north. Best Times: Mid to late
Winter. REMINDER: This blind must be entered before 7am from January
through February.
3 Tule
Lake Sump/Waterbird Blind
A two-person blind located on the south shore of Sump 1-B along the Auto Tour
Route. From the Refuge Visitor Center, travel 4.8 miles south on Hill Road,
then turn left onto the Auto Tour Route for 4.8 miles. At the Tour Route junction
turn right for 1.1 mile and then left for 2.4 miles along the south shore of
Sump 1-B. You will see a boardwalk leading to the blind across the grasslands.
Park here leaving room for other vehicles to pass. A minimum 300mm telephoto
lens is suggested. The blind faces the water with several openings to photograph
waterbirds. An opening also faces the willow tree. Best Times:
Spring and Fall. NOTE: This blind is wheelchair accessible.
4 Hill
Road Upland Bird Blind
This one-person blind is located on the uphill side of Hill Road 7.4 miles south
of the Refuge Visitor Center. The blind is marked with a small white plaque
marked with a #4 and two red reflectors located on a transmission line support
pole on the downhill side of the road. Park off the road just north of this
pole. The blind is on the uphill side of the road about 50 feet from the road
edge. A small watering pool attracts passerine species to branches and rocks
spaced 15 to 25 feet from the blind. Best Times: Spring, Summer
and Fall.
5Tule
Lake Eagle Blind
A one-person blind located on the south shore of Sump 1-B along the Auto Tour
Route. From the Refuge Visitor Center, travel 4.8 miles south on Hill Road,
then turn left onto the Auto Tour Route for 4.8 miles. At the Tour Route junction
turn right for 1.1 mile and then left for 2.4 miles along the south shore of
Sump 1-B. Park at the white post marking blind #5 leaving room for other vehicles
to pass. A minimum 300mm telephoto lens is suggested. An opening faces a willow
tree where raptors frequently perch during the winter months. Best Times:
Mid to late Winter. REMINDER: This blind must be entered before 7am.
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6 Lower
Klamath Marsh and Waterbird Blind
A one-person fiberglass cylinder blind located along the water's edge near the
northwest corner of Lower Klamath Refuge. From the Refuge Visitor Center travel
3.9 miles north on Hill Road to the intersection with State Line Road (Highway
161). Turn left onto Stateline Road and continue 11.2 miles. Park just off the
highway on the left at the chain link fence near the group of trees. Your permit
allows you to cross the fence and hike the 500 yards along the dike to the blind.
The blind is located near the first lone tree you encounter and is positioned
for photographing waterfowl and other waterbirds in the channel in front of
the blind. The blind faces west and a minimum 300 mm telephoto lens is suggested
with subject distances varying from about 15 to 100 feet. Best Times:
Spring, Summer, and Fall (waterfowl, grebes, pelicans, herons, egrets)
7 Lower Klamath Eagle Snag Blind
A one-person blind for morning photography of eagles and raptors. This blind
shares the same driving directions and parking area as Blind #6 described above.
The blind is located 100 yards beyond blind #6. Hike approximately 600 yards
along the dike to the fiberglass blind on the dike top located near a dead tree
where eagles and raptors perch in the winter. The distance from the blind to
the snag is approximately 75 feet. A minimum 300 mm telephoto lens is recommended.
Best Times: Mid- December through mid-March. REMINDER: This
blind must be entered before 7 am. {top of page}
