Goose Lake State Recreation Area is a cool, shady destination teeming with wildlife on the Oregon-California border. Its grassy expanses make it an inviting place to camp.

The campground sits on the banks of Goose Lake, a large, seasonal lakebed that typically gets some water in spring. The park’s remote location makes camping reservations unnecessary. The Lake County railroad, which crosses the park, runs mid-day to the main line in Alturas, California.

Migratory waterfowl are most abundant in the spring and early summer when stream runoff is at its peak. Mule deer frequent the park during the morning and evening in late summer and fall to feed on fruit from an old homesteader's orchard located within the campground.

The park provides a base from which to explore areas such as Hart Mountain Wildlife Refuge, the 8,500-foot Warner Mountains just east of the park, and the obsidian beds in the Modoc National Forest of northeast California. Nearby Lakeview (15 miles north) offers fuel, groceries, vehicle repair services, and restaurants.