Stop 1
Alturas
200 W North St, AlturasAs Modoc’s only incorporated city, Alturas serves as the county seat. A tight-knit community, which once marked the gateway to California for many a wagon train, Alturas still embodies the pioneer spirit. The city centre is marked by the impressive Modoc County Courthouse framed by the picturesque Warner Mountain Range. One of the last free-standing courthouses in California, the courtroom chairs feature hangers for cowboy hats underneath them. Half a dozen restaurants dot the main street, but don’t miss The Brass Rail, just a mile outside of the town centre, where Basque food is served family style, including delicacies such as roast lamb stew and picon punch. Stay for the night at the historic Niles Hotel. If you’re feeling restless, take the local approach at the Niles Saloon, where the beer-and-shot combination serves as a fail-safe nightcap.