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

Elk Valley, Oregon

ZERO YOUR ODOMETER at O’Brien Store.

This is the last opportunity for purchasing fuel for the next 40 miles.

NOTE: At the California border you will be required to stop at an Agricultural Inspection Station. There are several types of fruit and vegetables that are not allowed over the border into California. Fruit and vegetables purchased in a grocery store are generally allowed into California but locally grown fruits and vegetables may not be allowed if they are deemed an agricultural threat. Cherries from local fruit stands AND those purchased in grocery stores are prohibited. If you have cherries, you may want to start eating them now. The state does not allow these products into California as a measure to prevent the spread of crop damaging disease and insects.

0.0 O’Brien Store:
As you leave O’Brien you will be entering Elk Creek Valley. There are 39 Elk Creeks in the state of Oregon as well as numerous elk flats, mountains, meadows, and springs. These animals must have been plentiful in the day of fur traders and early pioneers. There are less than a dozen elk known to be in Illinois Valley. Much larger herds are found in other parts of this region including Crater Lake National Park and Redwood National Park.

0.3 West Fork Illinois River Bridge

1.5 Passing lane starts

1.7 Moores Lumber Mill was located about 500 feet to the right. It was one of the larger mills in the valley during the lumber boom of the late 1940s and closed down in 1954, as many others did in this region, at the end of the lumber boom. In May of the following year, a fire started as the result of spontaneous combustion deep in the mill’s massive sawdust pile. The pile burned for several years.

1.8 Passing lane ends

A black bear at Twin Pines Hotel was a prominent memory for may people who traveled Highway 199. Twin Pines, Oregon. 4.0 Elk Creek Bridge - Deering School (site):
The small community of Deering was located about a half a mile away to the left just before the Elk Creek Bridge. The Deering School was a local landmark and was located closer to Highway 199.

4.4 Sharp curve. During the winter months, watch out for this curve. Ice often forms here resulting in frequent accidents.

5.1 Twin Pines:
A black bear at Twin Pines Lodge was a prominent memory for may people who traveled Highway 199. Twin Pines, Oregon.

5.5 Oregon-California State Line

5.6 California State Welcome sign

6.1 Agriculture Inspection Station:

Highway 199 went over a pass before dropping into the Smith River watershed. The siskiyou Wilderness is in the distant background. Highway 199, California.

6.8 Oregon Mountain Road (left):
The road on the left is the old Highway 199 route over the mountain and into the Smith River Drainage. The road now goes through a tunnel about a mile ahead. Most of this route is paved but there may be unexpected road hazards such as rock on the road and other debris after rain storms. The road may be closed by snow in the winter. The picture above shows the switchbacks on the other side of the pass from here. In the middle right background is Broken Rib Mountain and to the right of that is Wounded Knee Mountain. The mountain on the left is in the Siskiyou Wilderness.

7.2 Passing lane. Use the right lane to allow faster moving traffic to pass.

8.0 Collier Tunnel begins

8.4 Collier Tunnel ends

8.5 ZERO ODOMETER at the driveway into the rest area on the right immediately after exiting the tunnel.

After exiting the tunnel you will be entering the Smith River National Recreation Area (NRA), which contains the largest single undammed Wild and Scenic River system in the United States. The Smith River is regarded as having World Class fishing and holds records for the size of the fish that migrate and spawn in this watershed. The largest steelhead caught in this river weighed 27 pounds and the largest Chinook salmon was 86 pounds!

The are four botanical areas in the Smith River NRA, all of which can be accessed by some of the suggested side trips mentioned in this road guide.

The Siskiyou Wilderness borders Smith River National Recreation Area along most of its eastern border. Highway 199 passes three roads that can be used to access trails into this wilderness area. Each of these roads has its own road guide.

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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...