Highway 395 - Oregon Border to Bishop Highway 395 - Oregon Border to Bishop Route Description - Interstate 395 between Alturas and Haiwee Reservoir parallels 400 miles of shorebird and waterfowl flyway migration routes. This interior segment of the Pacific flyway runs the entire length of the eastern escarpment between the high rugged Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges and the Great Basin. The variety of wildlife and plant communities that can be seen - along this route ranges from cranes and pronghom antelope on the northern end to bighom sheep and Clark's nutcrackers of the steep, glacier carved eastern Sierra. To the south, you can view some of the oldest living trees, the Bristlecone pine near Bishop, in the White Mountains or catch a glimpse of a unique native fish, the California Golden trout in Cottonwood creek. Many varieties of resident and migrating species are best observed during the spring and fall migration periods. Summers are hot and dry while winters can be snow-covered and windy. Remote, small towns and long distances between them necessitate keeping the gas tank full and planning ahead for accommodations. The trip is well worth the time it requires to see this rugged, eastern portion of California. The wide open spaces and panoramic vistas along this route will be remembered for many years to come. Kelly Reservoir file://///MYPC/SharedDocs/ALL_PROJECTS/circle%20design/cww/cww/pdfs/hywy1_num6_pv.htm (1 of 9) [9/4/2003 9:03:05 PM] Highway 395 - Oregon Border to Bishop Location: From State Highway 299 at Canby, take Modoc County Road 54 south/southeast for eight miles. Turn south onto unmarked road, pass through a metal gate, then drive .25 miles. Reservoir is located to the east. Best Season to View: Waterfowl and shorebird viewing is excellent in spring and early summer. Antelope are common in spring and winter. What to See: In an arid region punctuated by volcanic ridges and sagebrush grasslands, this seasonal reservoir flanking Portuguese Ridge is an oasis for wildlife. During the spring, the water teems with Canada Geese, green-winged teal, mallards, and northern pintail. American avocets and willets probe along the marshy shallows. Many birds of prey perform aerial acrobatics, including golden eagles. Bald eagles appear occasionally during winter. The surrounding knolls offer great views, including occasional pronghorn antelope. Visiting Tips: Bring binoculars or spotting scope. Recommend using high clearance vehicle. The dirt road may be wet and impassable during winter. Contact: Bureau of Land Management (530) 233-4666 www.ca.blm.gov/caso/wf-kellyres.html Local Accommodations and Travel Information: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Assocation (Modoc County) www.shastacascade.com/modoc/mopage.htm Modoc National Wildlife Refuge Location: From Highway 395/Main St. at south end of Alturas. Turn east on County Road 56. Go .5 miles, turn right on County Road 115. Go one mile, turn left on headquarters/entrance road. What to See: The rugged Warner Mountains rise dramatically above remote ponds, marshes, wet meadows, and sage uplands that border the Pit River. Redheads, gadwalls, hundreds of tundra swans, and other waterfowl gather on extensive marshes. Pond mudflats and shallow water are probed by scores of shorebirds. Dense wetland vegetation hides several secretive nesting species, including black-crowned night heron, Virginia, and Sora rails. Threatened greater sandhill cranes perform elaborate spring courtship dances before nesting. Canada geese, cinnamon teal, willets, and others provide broods of summer viewing, mixed among American white pelicans, great egrets, and white-faced ibis. Resident mule deer gather near headquarters and along the two-mile auto tour that encircles Teal Pond. Jack rabbits, cottontails, and muskrats are common, as are migratory songbirds. Best Season to View: More than 230 bird species; seventy-six nest here. Waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds, excellent in spring and fall, including cranes. Bald eagles, good in winter. South of Alturas, look for cranes on east side of highway 395; pronghorn antelope on west side in spring. Visiting Tips: Excellent birding near headquarters, on auto-tour. file://///MYPC/SharedDocs/ALL_PROJECTS/circle%20design/cww/cww/pdfs/hywy1_num6_pv.htm (2 of 9) [9/4/2003 9:03:05 PM] Highway 395 - Oregon Border to Bishop Contact: U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife (530) 233-3572 http://modoc.fws.gov/ Local Accommodations and Travel Information: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (Modoc County) www.shastacascade.com/modoc/mopage.htm Biscar Wildlife Area Location: From Litchfield, drive twenty miles north on Highway 395. Turn west on Karlo Road and drive about six miles to site. Stay on main road and cross railroad tracks. Best Season to View: Waterfowl, excellent, spring through fall. Upland birds, good, spring and summer. Osprey, spring and fall. Wading birds, good in summer. Dirt road can be rough, impassable when wet. Suggest 4x4 or call for road information. On drive to and from site, watch private wetlands for cormorants, waterfowl. What to see: This small, high desert lake tucked in an arid, rimrock canyon attracts American pelican, osprey, and other water birds. Muskrats and marsh wrens inhabit this isolated marsh. Shoreline tracks reveal the presence of mammals; pronghom and mule deer come to water during the summer, near dawn and dusk. Surrounding junipers, rabbitbrush, and sage conceal chukars, sage grouse, and other upland species. Visiting Tips: Dirt road can be rough, impassable when wet. Suggest 4x4 or call for road information. On drive to and from site, watch private wetlands for cormorants, waterfowl. Contact: Bureau of Land Management (530) 257-0456 www.ca.blm.gov/caso/wf-biscar.html Local Accommodations and Travel Information: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (Lassen County) www.shastacascade.com/lassen/lapage.htm Honey Lake Wildlife Area file://///MYPC/SharedDocs/ALL_PROJECTS/circle%20design/cww/cww/pdfs/hywy1_num6_pv.htm (3 of 9) [9/4/2003 9:03:05 PM] Highway 395 - Oregon Border to Bishop Location: From Highway 395, about 3 miles east of Litchfield, turn south on Mapes Road. Drive 1.8 miles and turn left on Fish and Game Road. Continue 1 mile to entrance of Fleming unit. OR< from US Highway 395 just south of Janesville and 1.9 miles north of the rest area, turn righ (east) on Standish-Buntingville Rd.(old County A3). Go about five miles and turn east onMapes Lane. Drive 3 miles and turn south at the entrance. Best season to View: The nearby sage uplands offer excellent winter and spring views of pronghorn.More than 200 bird species. Waterfowl, shorebirds, excellent, spring; good, fall. Hundreds of tundra swans. Wading birds, good, spring through fall; crane courtship displays, April. Bank swallows, winter. What to see: Alkali vegetation fringes this sprawling, shallow lake in the Great Basin desert near the Sierra Nevada and Diamond Mountains. This wetland is a major breeding,foraging, and staging area for migratory birds, ranging from snowy plovers to tundra swans. Shorebirds and resident Canada geese nest on man-made islands. Waterfowl and threatened greater sandhill cranes nest on nearby grasslands or among marsh vegetation that also hides secretive species, such as white-faced ibises. Threatened bank swallows nest in burrows along the Susan River. Visiting Tips: No viewing Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays during waterfowl hunting season. Contact: California Department of Fish and Game (530) 254-6644 Local Accommodations and Travel Information: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (Lassen County) www.shastacascade.com/lassen/lapage.htm Bizz-Johnson Trail/Susan River Location: ln Susanville. Take Highway 36/Main St. to South Weatherlow St. Turn south and follow 0.5 mile to railroad tracks, where South Weatherlow St. becomes Richmond Rd. Park at Susanville Depot, 601 Richmond Rd. Best season to View: Nearly 100 bird species. Songbirds, excellent, spring and fall, though summer is also good. Look for birds of prey, deer, predators and aquatic mammals year round, mostly mornings and evenings. What to see:This twenty-five mile trail parallels a river canyon through three bioregions- the Sierra Nevada, Cascade Ranger, and Great Basin desert. The trail, linking Susanville and Westwood, follows an old railroad grade through tunnels and across bridges and skirts the Susan River for sixteen miles. It moves from high desert, through south-facing grasslands and oak woodlands, past north-facing firs and pines, and ends in a dense pine and cedar forest. River vegetation shelters many birds, from belted kingfishers and hooded orioles to calliope hummingbirds and canyon wrens. Brushy dams and grassy mounds along the river are evidence of beavers and muskrats. Watch the skies for turkey vultures, American kestrels, great horned owls, and other birds of prey. Patient observers may see bats, raccoons, porcupines, coyotes, even bears. file://///MYPC/SharedDocs/ALL_PROJECTS/circle%20design/cww/cww/pdfs/hywy1_num6_pv.htm (4 of 9) [9/4/2003 9:03:05 PM] Highway 395 - Oregon Border to Bishop Visiting Tips: Nine access points to trail, travel on foot, horseback, bicycle or cross-country skis. Contact: Bureau of Land Management (530) 257-0456 www.ca.blm.gov/caso/wf-bizzwild.html or U.S. Forest Service, Lassen National Forest, (530) 257-2151 www.fs.fed.us/r5/lassen/ Local Accommodations and Travel Information: Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association (Lassen County) www.shastacascade.com/lassen/lapage.htm Lee Vining/Tioga Lake Location: From Lee Vining on Highway 395, drive south to Highway 120 west and turn right, toward the entrance to Yosemite National Park. Proceed up Tioga Pass for 5.5 miles to pullout, continue 6.5 miles to Tioga Lake. Best Season to View: High probability of seeing shorebirds, gulls, and small mammals from April through October. Songbirds are seen from May through August. Birds of prey appear year-round. Bighorn sheep are well camouflaged and elusive. In spring and fall, stop at pullout 5.5 miles from Lee Vining, look north, near springs, for bighorn.