01
Best close-to-town stroll
Modoc National Wildlife Refuge
South Edge Of Alturas • Wetlands Wildlife Refuge With Levee And Dike Walks • Easy Nature Walk With Big-Sky Views
Gentle paths along ponds and marshes make this the go-to place for an after-work leg-stretcher and birdwatching near town.
Just a few minutes’ drive from Daphnedale Park, the refuge offers flat walking on gravel roads and levees beside cattail-lined ponds and open water. Expect to see ducks, geese, sandhill cranes in season, and raptors cruising over the Modoc Plateau. Sunrise and sunset walks here feel especially wide open, with big skies and snowcapped Warner Mountain views when the air is clear.
02
Best mountain escape
South Warner Wilderness
Warner Mountains Southeast Of Alturas • Alpine Wilderness With Lake, Meadow, And Ridge Trails • Classic Full-Day Adventure
Granite ridges, high meadows, and cool forested canyons make the South Warners the region’s signature backcountry hiking area.
Trailheads south and east of Alturas climb quickly into a very different world of fir forest, wildflower basins, and small alpine lakes. Many routes start from campgrounds and follow well-established paths that can be tailored to anything from a half-day outing to a long, steep summit push. It’s the spot locals mention when you ask where to go for a real mountain hike without leaving Modoc County.
03
Best short scenic drive-and-hike
Cedar Pass High Country
Cedar Pass On Highway 299 East • Pine Forest Pass With Roadside Viewpoints And Short Paths • Scenic Short-Hike Option
A winding drive up to Cedar Pass leads to cool air, tall pines, and easy pullouts where you can wander short paths along the ridge.
East of town, Highway 299 climbs out of the open sage into denser forest as it tops Cedar Pass in the Warner Mountains. Several wide pullouts and old roadbeds near the pass make natural starting points for brief rambles through the trees and out to overlooks. It’s a good choice when you want mountain air and views without committing to a long, rugged trail day.
04
Best mellow wetland wander
Ash Creek Wildlife Area
Southwest Toward Adin • Quiet Marshland And Riparian Habitat • Laid-Back Half-Day Ramble
Low-key dike roads, meadows, and viewing platforms invite slow walking, wildlife spotting, and big-sky photography.
About an hour’s drive from Daphnedale Park, this large wildlife area offers broad marshes, seasonal ponds, and open fields broken by bands of willows and cottonwoods. Walking is mostly on gently graded dirt and gravel roads, so you can choose your own distance while keeping navigation simple. It’s ideal if you like long, unhurried walks with a good chance of seeing raptors, waterfowl, and pronghorn on the surrounding flats.
05
Best dramatic day trip
Lava Beds National Monument
Day Trip Toward Tulelake • Volcanic Monument With Lava Caves And Rim Trails • Most Adventurous Outing
Lava tubes, cinder cones, and short but striking rim hikes turn this monument into an unforgettable day out from the Modoc Plateau.
A longer but rewarding drive from Daphnedale Park brings you into a stark landscape of black rock, sage, and scattered pines. Well-signed trails lead to cave entrances, volcanic craters, and viewpoints over the lava flows, so you can mix above-ground hiking with careful, flashlight-in-hand cave exploring. It’s a good pick when you want something entirely different from the wetlands and pine forests closer to Alturas.