Iron Gate Lake is a reservoir on the Klamath River east of Interstate 5 just south of the Oregon border. Sprinkled around the lake are hundreds of rural, undeveloped lots ranging from two and a half to approximately ten acres. These rural properties are affordable and surrounded by opportunities to hunt, fish, boat, hike, and explore some beautiful, rugged far Northern California Territory.
2.5 acres highlighted in yellow in foreground and Mount Shasta in the background in this southerly facing view of the subject property.
Located in rural Siskiyou County, property taxes for parcels in this area are some of the lowest in the state and the estimated taxes on this parcel are $800 per year. Yes, you read that right – estimated to be eight hundred dollars. This part of the state is quite remote; cell phone coverage in the area has increased dramatically in the last several years, but many locations still do not have high speed internet access. In order to build on these lots the county requires percolation tests to determine if the soil is suitable for a traditional septic and leech field system or if a modified, or “engineered” system will be necessary to ensure proper drainage. This process is not complicated but a certain amount of annual rainfall must have occurred before natural saturation of the soil will allow for adequate test results. Once this phase is completed, typically a landowner seeks his well permit and has a well drilled and tested. Well depth in this area can vary from approximately 75′ to a few hundred feet. At an asking price of only $8,000, the investment in a well and septic system for these 2.5 acres to build a country cabin less than a mile from the lake seems like the opportunity to put high performance tires on a Ferrari that only cost $8,000!
2.5 acres highlighted in yellow in foreground, Iron Gate Lake just above, and Mount McLaughlin in the background in this northerly facing view of the subject property.
Horseback riding is especially enjoyable because the various landscapes in each direction have something to offer whether you like riverside rides, mountain views, or wide open prairie.
Image credit to Instagram user @jamie.hayden
Love fishing in Northern California on the Klamath River? According to NorCalFishReports.com you can fish Striped Bass, Channel Catfish, Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Common Carp, Smallmouth Bass, Blue Catfish, and Bluegill in Iron Gate Lake. Check out their 2018 report here. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife also notes Yellow perch, salmon, and steelhead trout on their page here. There’s also information about the Iron Gate Fish Hatchery and salmon spawning observation which happens between October and December.
Photo credit to Instagram user @chehalismargurite
If fishing and horseback riding aren’t right for you, maybe camping is your jam. This lot, even if you never built on it, would be a terrific camp site. You could spend roughly 9 months a year here because the weather is so nice. Real hardcore outdoorsmen could camp all year round here as there’s not much snow in the winter. For those who might like to build a cabin or a yurt or just park their RV for the summer, Ashland, Oregon offers theatre and cultural events, and many folks enjoy shopping in Medford, Oregon just north of Ashland on Interstate 5 because there’s no sales tax. Yreka, California 30 minutes away, is a historic gold mining town with true crime stories of notorious theft, arson, and unsolved old west murders from around the region memorialized in museums and historical plaques on the old stage coach-traveled roads. If you’re into history, you’ll really enjoy exploring this area and learning about the long-decimated towns of Klamathon and Deadwood.
Kayaking and tubing down the Klamath River is also a great time – locals as well as visitors love to get in the river at the Collier’s Rest Stop and get out at Trees of Heaven Campground. I’ve floated on inner tubes along that stretch of river many times over many summers and would be hard pressed to name anything else in the area half as fun.
No matter what your favorite hobby, if you like the outdoors and the rugged old west, this property is a great homebase while you explore and relax. Call Jessica today to get maps and driving directions and write your offer on these two and a half acres near Iron Gate Lake.
530-941-6061
DRE License 01777426
