Klamath Falls marks the Oregon border crossing and the return of daylight for northbound passengers on Train 14 after the overnight section through Northern California, sunrise arrives somewhere around Dunsmuir or Redding and the train arrives at Klamath Falls in the morning.
The Cascade Scenery
The section to the north of Klamath Falls passes through dramatic scenery including dense pine forests and the broad high-desert basin along the shore of Upper Klamath Lake. On Train 14 northbound this section is experienced mid-morning. For southbound passengers on Train 11, they skirt the lake in twilight or darkness, arriving at Klamath Falls later in the evening around 9:58 PM.
Klamath Falls Town
Klamath Falls is a small city of around 22,000 in southern Oregon. It sits at 1,260 metres above sea level in a volcanic plateau. The area is known for the Crater Lake National Park (70 miles north) and the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges. The train station is a simple facility in the downtown area.
Why It's a Highlight
Klamath Falls represents the inflection point of the journey. When travelling Northbound the train has crossed from California into Oregon and with the return of morning light Pacific Northwest section of the route begins. Sleeper passengers often wake here to find dramatically different scenery from the California valleys of the previous day.