“The West Still Lives” in This Untouched Corner of California

Remote, rural and off most travelers’ radar, the northeast corner of the state is a nature enthusiast’s dream. The region bordering Oregon and Nevada offers a geographical grab bag of mountains, lava bed and desert. Perfect for outdoor exploration, you will find ample hiking spots among the Ponderosa pines, juniper fields and waterfalls.

According to Travel + Leisure, Modoc County is “the third least populous county in the state, and you might spy its official slogan, ‘Where the West Still Lives,’ not to mention a few shotguns. Stay for the Fourth of July parade in Alturas, the county seat, for prancing cattle princesses, vintage hot rods, and loads of country music. Brave the lines for a plate of popular Native American fry bread. Modoc is named for the tribe of people that from 1872 to 1873 defended their land from the U.S. Army in a strategic lava tube stronghold. The federal government has since established several tribal reservations and a Lava Beds National Monument.”

Read more about this California corner and watch a video here.