Plan Your Visit to Modoc County

Weather: Cool to mild, 40-70°F. Can be wet.

Highlights:

• Wildflowers blooming
• Migratory birds returning
• Fishing season opens
• Fewer crowds

Challenges: Muddy roads, lingering snow at higher elevations

Weather: Warm to hot days, 75-90°F. Cool nights.

Highlights:

• Best hiking and camping weather
• All roads and trails accessible
• Long daylight hours
• Modoc District Fair, late August in Cedarville

Challenges: Can be hot, fire season, busier (though still quiet by most standards)

Weather: Mild days, cool nights, 50-75°F

Highlights:

• Peak hunting season
• Stunning fall colors
• Comfortable temperatures
• Excellent wildlife viewing

Challenges: Lodging fills up during hunting season (book early)

Weather: Cold, snowy, 20-45°F

Highlights:

• Snowmobiling and cross-country skiing
• Bald eagle viewing
• Peaceful, uncrowded
• Winter photography

Challenges: Road closures, limited services, extreme cold, 4WD required

Held each August at the fairgrounds in Cedarville — the county's signature gathering, with livestock, exhibits, food, and music. Admission is free. Confirm this year's dates with the Modoc District Fair.

Modoc Harvest runs two certified farmers markets on Saturday mornings, 9 AM–noon, through July, August, and September: Alturas on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays at Veterans Memorial Park, and Cedarville on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays at Bonner and Main — so there's a market most Saturdays of the season. Produce, eggs, baked goods, flowers, and handmade goods, with music and children's activities. EBT, WIC, SunBucks, CalFresh, and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program benefits are accepted, and Market Match matches EBT spending up to $15 per market. Check the current calendar on the Modoc Certified Farmers Markets Facebook page.

Alturas's hometown summer celebration, held around the Fourth of July — a parade down Main Street, live music, and community events downtown. Dates shift year to year, so check the Alturas Chamber for the current schedule.

The Alturas Chamber's community-wide flea market and yard sale takes over Main Street for a Saturday each June, 9 AM–3 PM — a good day to wander downtown and meet locals. Details via the Alturas Chamber of Commerce.

Main Street in Cedarville comes alive on the first Friday evening of the month, 5–9 PM — live music, food, drinks, games, and shops staying open late. The October edition adds a pumpkin-growing contest. Details on the SV First Fridays page.

Fort Bidwell’s two-day community celebration each October, opening with a Saturday-morning parade down Main Street and continuing with events at the reservation gymnasium. Confirm the weekend with the Surprise Valley Chamber calendar.

New for 2027: the Alturas Chamber is replacing its long-running Balloon Fest with a Fall Festival on the same September weekend. The Balloon Fest ended after decades as balloon pilots retired and travel costs climbed. Watch the Alturas Chamber of Commerce for the first year’s details.

The Alturas Chamber screens a film in the park once a month through the summer, starting in June, with the final showing at the Fall Festival in September. Free and family-friendly; titles and dates come out through the Alturas Chamber of Commerce.

• Modoc County Chamber of Commerce
  530-233-4434
• Modoc National Forest
  530-233-5811
  fs.usda.gov/modoc
• Emergency Services
  911 (limited cell coverage)
• Road Conditions
  roads.dot.ca.gov
  1-800-427-7623

• Medical: Modoc Medical Center in Alturas (expanded in 2025 with a skilled nursing facility and additional staff)
• Gas Stations: Primarily in Alturas and Cedarville
• ATMs: Available in Alturas
• Cell Service: Available in Alturas; limited or none in remote areas. A Verizon tower has been approved near Davis Creek to improve coverage in that area
• Internet: Available at hotels, some cafes
• Post Office: In Alturas and Cedarville