Summer at Running Y is one of those rare stretches of the year when you genuinely don’t have to leave the property to have a full, satisfying day. The weather is warm, the Arnold Palmer Signature Course is in peak condition, the pool is open, the trails are dry, and the evenings are long enough that you can do a lot and still feel like you rested.
The trick is pacing yourself. Peak summer is one of the most active periods on property—which means the best experiences go to guests who have a loose plan rather than no plan at all. Here’s a guide to the activities worth building your days around, and a few thoughts on how to sequence them so the trip doesn’t fly by before you’ve taken it in.
On Property: More Than Enough for a Full Day
Golf on the Arnold Palmer Signature Course
This is the anchor for most summer stays, and it earns that status. The Arnold Palmer Signature Course is Oregon’s only course of its kind—a layout that moves through marshland, forest, and open meadow alongside Upper Klamath Lake, with conditions in July and August that are about as good as the course gets all year.
If you’re planning to play, book your tee time early. Summer mornings go quickly, and the early slots—when the light is soft on the lake and the course is quiet—are worth protecting. Walk-up availability exists but can be tight on weekends. If you’re staying three or more nights, a replay round on the second day is one of the most popular ways to extend the trip without adding anything to the planning list.
Mini Golf
Don’t underestimate it. Running Y’s mini golf course has sneaky breaks and blind putts that humble experienced golfers and level the playing field for everyone else. It’s one of the easiest ways to fill an afternoon between bigger activities, and it works for every age and skill level. Pricing is $17 for adults, $12 for ages 6–17, and free for age 5 and under with an adult.
The Pool and Sports & Fitness Center
The indoor pool at Running Y’s Sports & Fitness Center is a resort-exclusive amenity—open only to guests, which keeps it from ever feeling crowded the way a public pool does. Family swim hours run daily, and the adjacent hot tub and wet sauna are there for anyone who wants to take the recovery a step further after a round of golf or a long hike.
Pool hours are 6:30 AM to 9:30 PM daily, with family swim starting at 10 AM on weekdays and 9 AM on weekends. Water aerobics classes run Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 8 to 9 AM for those who want a structured workout with a view.
Tennis and Pickleball
Courts are available for both tennis and pickleball, and summer is prime time for both. Tennis courts can be reserved through the Sports Center front desk. Pickleball is open throughout the day—guests can use PlayTime Scheduler to view session times and connect with other players on property. All players check in at the Sports & Fitness Center before heading to the courts.
Birding on the Course and Around the Property
Running Y is home to 245 species of birds, and summer brings some of the most spectacular activity of the year. In July, Great Blue Herons work the golf course ponds in their characteristic “wade and wait” style, and Great Egrets gather along the shoreline. American White Pelicans—iconic on Upper Klamath Lake—are cooperative feeders and a thrill to watch from the course or the property’s water edges in August.
You don’t need binoculars or a checklist to enjoy it. But if wildlife is a draw for your trip, the resort’s birding and nature guidebook—compiled by resident nature enthusiast Gary Vequist—is worth downloading before you arrive.
Stargazing After Dark
This one is easy to overlook and worth not overlooking. Running Y and the surrounding Klamath Falls area are a designated dark sky community. Klamath Falls is called the City of Sunshine for a reason—the clear skies that define summer days here become exceptional stargazing conditions after dark. Bring a blanket, find a quiet spot away from the lodge lights, and let the Milky Way do the rest.
Off Property: Day Trips Worth Planning Around
Hiking: Moore Mountain, Brown Mountain, and Beyond
Moore Mountain’s 32-mile multi-use trail system is one of the closest trail networks to the resort, with routes through forest and open terrain and views of Upper Klamath Lake and the Cascade peaks. It’s a good fit for hikers at every level, open year-round to non-motorized users, and close enough that a morning hike fits cleanly into a day that still includes golf or a pool afternoon.
For hikers who want something more technical, Brown Mountain offers the High Lakes Trail and the Rye Spur—a less-traveled route that tops out on a rocky, scenic outcrop, making it a satisfying out-and-back or mountain bike loop. And for those who want a real objective, Mt. McLoughlin—the highest peak in Southern Oregon at over 9,000 feet—is less than an hour from the resort.
Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake is one of those places that photographs well but stuns in person. The deepest lake in the United States—formed more than 7,700 years ago from a collapsed volcano—sits at elevation and glows an almost surreal shade of blue on clear summer days. Running Y is a natural basecamp for it: the drive is scenic, the park rewards a full morning to afternoon visit, and coming back to the resort after a day like that is part of what makes the trip feel complete.
The Cleetwood Cove Trail is the only trail in the park that reaches the water’s edge, and it’s worth the effort if you’re up for the descent (and climb back out). Leave the resort by 8 AM on busy summer days to get ahead of the crowds at the rim.
How to Pace a Summer Stay Without Over-Scheduling It
The instinct when planning a resort trip is to fill every hour. Resist it. The guests who come away from Running Y feeling genuinely rested are usually the ones who gave themselves enough time—three nights is the threshold where the trip shifts from a quick visit to something you actually feel.
A rhythm that works: one full activity day on property (golf, pool, mini golf, tennis), one day trip off property (Crater Lake or a longer hike), and one slow day where you do a little of everything without committing to any of it. Dinner at the Ruddy Duck on the nights you’re back early. Stargazing on at least one night. That’s it.
The days that tend to feel the best are the ones where the agenda is light enough that something unexpected can happen.
Make It a Stay, Play & Explore Trip
If you’re planning a summer visit and want a little structure built in, our Stay, Play & Explore package is a good starting point. It includes a three-night minimum stay, a round of mini golf, a Crater Lake National Park pass, and a family packing checklist at check-in. Book direct with promo code SOPLAY.
View availability and explore all current offers at runningy.com/offers. Questions? Reach us at (541) 850-5500 or ryfrontdesk@runningy.com.
