Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway - California
Department of Transportation.
Explore the wonder and beauty of a dramatic volcanic landscape from Crater Lake in Oregon to Lassen Peak in California. Encounter the ancient natural forces that shaped exquisite mountain lakes. Along with spectacular scenery, including the world-famous Mount Shasta, you'll enjoy history, charming towns and extraordinary recreational and cultural opportunities.
Directions
Getting to the Byway:
###From Sacramento, CA###
* Get on I-5 north toward Redding.
* Turn right on CA-44.
* You will join the byway at the intersection of CA-44 and CA-89.
Navigating the Byway:
The California Volcanic Legacy corridor is an extension of the
Oregon Volcanic Legacy All-American Road, which reaches the
Oregon/California border via Highway 97, three miles north of the
town of Dorris. From this point, you can choose to go east toward
the Modoc section of the byway, or south on the Shasta section,
continuing to the Lassen section.
The Modoc Section
- From Highway 97, near the California / Oregon border, head east
on Highway 161 for roughly twenty miles, past the Lower Klamath
Wildlife Refuge, to the junction with Highway 139.
- From the junction of Highway 161 and 139, head southwest - you
are now at the beginning of the Modoc section. From the junction of
Highway 161 and 139, head south for roughly 3.5 miles. The byway
turns onto Main Street in the town of Tulelake.
- Continue on Main Street until you reach the junction of Main
Street and East-West Road. Head west on East-West Road for 4.4
miles where you will reach Hill Road.
- Head south on Hill Road for 18.9 miles, past the Tule Lake
National Wildlife Refuge.
- At the junction of Hill Road and Main Monument Park Road, head
east on Monument Road for 8 miles to the Lava Beds National
Monument Visitor Center. The Monument marks the end of this leg of
the byway.
Please Note: For adventurers, there are forest roads that lead
south from Lava Beds National Monument to reconnect with the byway
on Highway 89, roughly 15 miles east of the town of McCloud.
However, these roads are quite narrow and rough in places. Buses or
RVs should not take this route. The forest roads are closed in the
winter.
The Shasta Section
- On Highway 97, continue south from the Oregon/California
border, through Klamath National Forest, Butte Valley National
Grasslands, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, and Mt. Shasta
Wilderness until you reach the junction with I-5.
- From the I-5/Highway 97 junction, continue south from Weed to
Highway 89, south of the town of Mt. Shasta.
- Head east on Highway 89, past McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial
State Park and Lake Britton.
- Then, head south on Highway 89 to the Hat Creek Valley portion
of the Lassen National Forest.
The Lassen Section
Portion of Highway 89 from north entrance of Lassen Volcanic
National Park to its junction with Highway 36 near Mineral.
- From here the byway takes two alternate routes which converge
near the town of Chester:
- Highway 36 from Highway 36/89 junction west of Chester to
junction with Highway 147 near town of Westwood.
- Highway 89 from Highway 36/89 junction west of Chester to its
junction with Highway 147 near town of Canyondam.
- Continuing on Highway 147 along east shore of Lake Almanor,
passing through the town of Clear Creek and on to its junction with
Highway 36 near the town of Westwood.
- Highway 36 from its junction with Highway 147 near Westwood to
its junction with Highway 44 and
- Highway 44 from its junction with Highway 36 to its junction
with Highway 44/89 near the town of Old Station. This completes the
byway loop.
Additional Information
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