Grants Pass to Crescent City Highway 199 Road Guide - Oregon & California Redwood Highway

Oregon Caveman Country

Prior to the establishment of Grants Pass, the Rogue River Valley was the home of the Native American tribe that became known by early explorers as the Rogue Indians. The name “Rogue” was first given to the tribe by the French fur trappers in the early 1800s, likely because of troubles the French encountered with the Natives. The name “Les Coquins” (The Rogues) and “La Riviere aux Coquins” (The Rogue River) was given to the country by these men. By 1833, trappers of the Hudson Bay Company were using the term River Coquin and the Wilkes Expedition of 1841 was the first to use Rogue River, the name it has been known by ever since.

By the 1840s, settlers had started to move cross country on the Oregon Trail to the new Oregon Territory on the Oregon Trail. Cattle were needed for the region and these were purchased from Spanish land owners in California and herded into Oregon over the Siskiyou Trail, a route that follows closely to Interstate 5. In the late 1840s, the Applegate Pioneer Trail was established as an alternate route to the Oregon Trail. This trail entered the Rogue Valley near Medford and then continued north along the same general route as Interstate 5.

In 1851, gold was discovered in the Siskiyou Mountains and several towns were established in the Illinois Valley, the central region of the Highway 199 corridor. Supplies for communities in southwest Oregon were carried over pack trails and wagon roads from the port of Crescent City, some of which will be pointed out during the tour. Grants Pass did not exist as a community at this time.

C&OC Railroad bridge over the Rogue River, Grants Pass, Oregon Grants Pass was established in 1885 when construction of the Oregon and California Railroad from Portland arrived in this area. The line was completed when it connected to the line at Dunsmir, California near Mount Shasta in 1887 and became the main north-south transportation route on the west coast. From the time of its establishment and up to 1926, Grants Pass was a railroad town.

In 1902, construction began on the California and Oregon Coast Railroad (C&OC), a spur line that was to extend between Grants Pass and Crescent City. A portion of the line was completed along Highway 199 a short distance out of Grants Pass and another section was constructed in Crescent City. The two lines were never connected but Highway 199 appears to follow closely to the same route proposed for the railroad. As you begin the tour, you will be following part of this railroad until mile 2.2 where it veers off to the left for a few miles before returning back along side the highway.

Equipment that was used to construct Highway 199. Grants Pass, Oregon Around 1920 and just after World War One, several things happened that would change the course of Grants Pass’ future. This included news that the railroad would be rerouted through Klamath Falls a project that would start about the same time that two new roads would be constructed in this region; the Redwood Highway (Highway 199) to Crescent City and the Oregon Caves Highway (Highway 46) to Oregon Caves National Monument. Business owners realized that tourism appeared to be one of the best options for the future economy of Grants Pass and it was from this series of events that the Oregon Cavemen were formed, one of history’s most innovative tourism promotion organizations.

ZERO ODOMETER at the intersection of Sixth Street and Highway 199

0.0 Intersection of Sixth Street (Williams Highway 238) and Highway 199

0.4 Ringuette Street: During the salmon spawning season in late September and early October, the foot bridge over the Rogue River at the end of Ringuette Street is a good place to see salmon swimming up the river. It is less than a half mile drive from Highway 199 to the bridge. Follow Ringuette Street to where it curves to the left and drops down to the river and a small park where the bridge is located.

0.5 Fair Grounds (right)

0.6 Old Redwood Highway (right): The tour continues straight ahead but the original Redwood Highway veers off to the right at this point offers a good opportunity for those who enjoy the nostalgia of following historic roads. The old highway parallels Highway 199 for about four and a half miles and then returns to Highway 199. When you get back to Highway 199, turn right to continue the tour.

2.2 Up to this point, you have been driving along the route used by the C&OC Railroad. The old railroad route goes off to left along the same curve followed by the on-ramp for traffic from Demaray Road. Demaray was the name of the owner of the railroad.

Schroeder County Park to right. Schroeder Park is a county park next to the Rogue River and is located about a mile down this road.

Diorite, Siskiyou Mountains, Grants Pass, Oregon 2.5 Grants Pass geology: The large valley around Grants Pass marks the perimeter of what was once the molten roots of ancient volcanic activity that occurred in this region about 135 million years ago. The molten rock was originally located 3-4 miles below the surface where it cooled slowly and crystallized into a type of rock called diorite, a rock that looks like granite but has a different composition. Over the millennia, the surrounding terrain was uplifted and erosion weathered the landscape down until eventually these ancient volcanic roots were brought to the surface. Diorite is susceptible to weathering and the individual crystals break down to sand that is more easily and quickly washed away than the other rocks in the region. The rapid erosion of these ancient volcanic roots has resulted in the creation of the Rogue River Valley with the walls of the valley marking the perimeter of these ancient volcanic roots. In the next part of the tour, you will leave these rocks behind and enter a different geologic realm of ancient ocean basins and volcanic island chain.

5.0 The old Redwood Highway returns to Highway 199 on the right and crosses to continue on the left.

Applegate River Bridge, Highway 199, Grants Pass, Oregon 6.3 The old Redwood Highway returns back to Highway 199 on left and crosses to the right to the old bridge crossing. The old Redwood Highway originally crossed the Applegate River down stream (to the right) from the bridge you are about to cross. A portion of this bridge washed out in the 1955 flood, the same flood that washed out the C&OC Railroad bridge over the Rogue River. The picture to the right shows the section of the Applegate Bridge that was washed out in 1955. The caption in the newspaper said “The south approach to the bridge broke when a truck and trailer started to cross. The trailer hurtled into the raging river as the span gave away, but pulled loose from the truck. The rear end of the truck was pulled out from the strain but the driver walked to safety”.

6.8 Applegate River Bridge:

7.0 ZERO ODOMETER at River Bank Road immediately after crossing the bridge.

There are a number of things to see and do on River Bank Road. Griffin County Park on the Rogue River is located about six miles from Highway 199 and has camping, picnicking, and a play ground.

Limpy Creek Interpretive Trail, Grants Pass, Oregon Limpy Creek Botanical Trail offers an interesting one mile loop hike located about five miles from Highway 199. Limpy was a prominent leader of the local Native Americans during the Rogue Indian War of 1855-1856. The Creek was named after him because his encampment was near where this creek merges with Rogue River.

Shan Creek Road Guide, Grants Pass, Oregon

The Shan Creek Road Guide (above) takes you on a scenic backcountry road to the crest of the mountains where you can turn left and follow the pave Onion Mountain Road (Briggs Valley Road) back to Highway 199 at mile 9.1 in the next section. These routes provide access to the Onion Mountain Fire Lookout, Briggs Valley campgrounds, several hiking trails, and Spaulding Pond campground. The total distance to follow this backcountry route and return to Highway 199 is about 30 miles and includes about 10 miles of gravel road and 20 miles of paved road.

The Applegate Bridge marks the boundary where the crystallized rock from the deep roots of the ancient Grants Pass volcano ends and the region of fragmented ocean crust and rock from the upper mantle of the earth begin.

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Disclaimer: All information in Highway199.org is accurate to the best knowledge of the author. However, conditions in outdoor settings can change dramatically after storms or fires. For this reason, travelers are advised to check current road conditions before traveling through the area, drive responsibly and take measures to understand safety issues in the region. When participating in outdoor activities, always plan and prepare for safe hiking, swimming or any other activities mentioned in the Highway 199 website. More on disclaimer and copyright...