Gerber is set on a vast plateau in the high desert about one hour’s drive east of Klamath Falls, Oregon. Mountain ridges and scattered Ponderosa Pine forests add variety and texture to the area. Gerber offers opportunities for camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking, along with access to 100,000 acres of backcountry suitable for exploring, hunting, wildlife viewing, and scenic OHV driving. Developed campsites are available at Gerber North and South Campgrounds. The area also offers primitive campsites, a horse camp, and a day-use area as well as two boat ramps.
Motor Vehicle Travel Map (MVTM) of Southwest Green Diamond Resource Co. Travel Management Area (TMA) in Oregon. Published by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
Motor Vehicle Travel Map (MVTM) of Central Green Diamond Resource Co. Travel Management Area (TMA) in Oregon. Published by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
Brochure and Map of Gerber Recreation Area (RA) in the BLM Lakeview District area in Oregon. Published by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Gerber RA
https://www.blm.gov/visit/gerber-recreation-area
Gerber is set on a vast plateau in the high desert about one hour’s drive east of Klamath Falls, Oregon. Mountain ridges and scattered Ponderosa Pine forests add variety and texture to the area. Gerber offers opportunities for camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking, along with access to 100,000 acres of backcountry suitable for exploring, hunting, wildlife viewing, and scenic OHV driving. Developed campsites are available at Gerber North and South Campgrounds. The area also offers primitive campsites, a horse camp, and a day-use area as well as two boat ramps.
While Gerber North and South Campgrounds are open yeararound, full amenities such as restroom maintenance, garbage
collection, and host services are only available from mid-May
to mid-September.
Gerber Campgrounds have level parking, an RV dump station,
drinking water, toilets, picnic tables, fire grates, concrete
boat ramp and floating dock, gravel boat ramp, fish cleaning
stations, garbage service, and day-use areas. Fees are charged
for camping and day use at the Gerber North and South
Campgrounds. Primitive campsites have toilets, fire grates,
and picnic tables. There is no garbage service for these sites,
so please pack it out. No fees are charged for these sites.
If you find an archeological or historic site during your visit,
please leave it undisturbed and contact the Bureau of Land
Management Klamath Falls Resource Area office. It is against
Federal law to disturb these sites or remove artifacts.
Geology
This area is a basaltic plateau rising 600 feet above Langell
Valley to the west, and is bordered by the Oregon-California
state line and the Modoc National Forest to the south, and the
Fremont National Forest to the north and east. The rugged
Miller Creek canyon, located just south of Gerber Dam, offers
scenic views of these basaltic outcrops and surrounding lands.
Recreation Activities
There are a number of outlying primitive camps in the Gerber
area. A concrete boat ramp and picnic areas are also located at
Willow Valley Reservoir near the south end of the Gerber area.
Plants and Wildlife
The area is a mosaic of Ponderosa pine forests, juniper
woodlands, wetlands, riparian meadows, and sagebrush flats.
These habitats provide an abundance of wildflowers and
native plants. Common plants found in Ponderosa pine forests
include Idaho fescue, Indian paintbrush, and lupine. Most
The Gerber Recreation Area is a great place to view wildlife.
There are nine wildlife viewing sites on the Gerber Watchable
Wildlife tour route and Gerber Reservoir is a site on the
Klamath Basin Birding Trail. Bald eagle, osprey, sandhill
crane, and American white pelican are common birds found
around Gerber Reservoir. If you’re observant, you may see
bobcat, coyote, antelope, or mule deer.
Gerber
Recreation
Area
Cultural
In early times, this area had large open meadows with streams
flowing through. Prior to the pioneer settlers, the Klamath
and Modoc Indians came to hunt and gather plants in small
family bands from early spring through fall. The first pioneer
settlers were the Gerber family, and they owned a considerable
amount of property in the area. Louis C. Gerber encouraged
the Federal Government to establish a grazing district. This
area, the “Bonanza Unit,” became the first grazing district in
the United States under the Taylor Grazing Act.
Directions to the Site
Gerber Reservoir and developed campgrounds are located
about 42 miles east of Klamath Falls, Oregon. From Klamath
Falls, take Highway 140 east 15 miles to Dairy. Turn right
on Highway 70 and travel for five miles to the community of
Bonanza. From Bonanza, continue past Big Springs Park on
East Langell Valley Road for approximately 11 miles. Turn
left at the intersection of Gerber Road (90 degree corner).
Follow Gerber Road for approximately 8.5 miles to the Gerber
Recreation Site entrance.
Lakeview
District
Lakeview
Distict
Camping, fishing, and quiet relaxation in a beautiful grove
of Ponderosa pines are the main attractions at the Gerber
Reservoir. North and South Campgrounds are located close
to the water’s edge. A concrete boat ramp allows anglers and
boaters easy access to the water. There is warm water fishing
in the Gerber area for crappie, sunfish, bass, and perch. An
eight-mile non-motorized trail connects North and South
Gerber Campgrounds with three of the primitive camping
areas.
areas of juniper woodlands and Ponderosa pine forests are
being thinned and receiving prescribed fire to maintain healthy
plant communities and reduce the incidence of catastrophic
wildfire.
BLM
Know Before You Go
District Contact Information
Lakeview District
Klamath Falls Resource Area
Bureau of Land Management
2795 Anderson Avenue, Building 25
Klamath Falls, OR 97603
(541) 883-6916
www.or.blm.gov/lakeview
BLM/OR/WA/GI-05/033+1122.32
Public Lands USA:
Use • Share • Appreciate
WELCOME
TO GERBER
RECREATION
AREA
The diversity of this rued
and remote area offers unique
oortuniti for fishing, hiking,
wildlife viewing, and camping.
The two developed campgrounds,
hiking trails, many rervoirs,
and primitive campsit found
here make this an excellent
dtination for a weekend jaunt
or a day trip.