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Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge offers a self-guided auto tour route starting 4 miles south of the Visitor Center on Hill Road, covering 9.6 miles one way. The tour ends at the northeast entrance of Lava Beds National Monument. Visitors are advised to stay in their cars for better observation, use binoculars, and be alert for vehicles and equipment. The refuge spans over 8,400 acres of high and dry land alongside 100,000 acres of wetlands. Historically, the Klamath Basin provided critical habitat for migratory birds, supporting up to six million waterfowl. By 1905, the Klamath Reclamation Project began draining wetlands, reducing Tule Lake to 13% of its original size by the 1960s. Established in 1928 as a bird refuge, the area remains jointly managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Reclamation. Currently, 17,000 acres are managed through cooperative farming units where farmers plant cereal grains or row crops, leaving one-third of harvest for waterfowl. The Kuchel Act of 1964 stabilized the wetlands, restricting Tule Lake to its current size via dikes. This stabilization has led to declining wetland quality, reduced waterfowl use, and decreased waterbird populations over the past four decades. The "English Channel" – a narrow, deep channel – supports endangered Lost River Sucker and other species. The tour concludes near Lava Beds National Monument.