California Hwy 299

[adelmoll]

We would like to pull our Montana from Redding to Eureka across Hwy 299 but it sure looks crooked on the map. Any advice from all you Westerners out there?

Helen

[Gypsy]

Helen,

My short answer is "It's a great motorcycle road." That's the only way I've traveled it, which was lots of years ago in another life. I don't think I'd attempt it pulling my Montana.

However, it depends on how adventuresome you and Bill are as to whether you attempt it. It's very crooked, and there are 4 major grades described in the Mountain Directory (West). One of them, Buckhorn Summit (elev. 3213') says "Tractor trailers over 30' in length between kingpin and rear axle not advised." I can give more details if you want.

Here's another consideration: I just found an RV park on the road with photos of big rigs, so evidently they made it through just fine! Check it out: www.dellomarv.com.

[Searchers]

Helen, big rigs use that route even though it is as Sharon describes. I doubt that you're over 30' between kingpin and rear axle. Here's that latest from this website concerning your route of travel. http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/

This highway information is the latest reported as of Sunday, April 30, 2006 at 10:06 .

SR 299
[NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA]
NO TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ARE REPORTED FOR THIS AREA.

[NORTHERN CALIFORNIA]
1-WAY CONTROLLED TRAFFIC AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS FROM 2.6 MI WEST TO
6.6 MI WEST OF THE JCT OF SR 3 (TRINITY CO) FROM 0700 HRS TO 1730 HRS
MONDAY THRU FRIDAY THRU 5/5/06 - DUE TO CONSTRUCTION - MOTORISTS ARE SUBJECT TO
15 MINUTE DELAYS

[kwbosch]

quote:Originally posted by adelmoll

We would like to pull our Montana from Redding to Eureka across Hwy 299 but it sure looks crooked on the map. Any advice from all you Westerners out there?

Helen

Helen,

We took that route in reverse last year. It's a windy road but otherwise in good shape. You go up and down a lot but there were no long severe grades that I recall.

Ken

[mike johnson]

hello,if i had a choice i would not take the monty over those hills unless you have to. we took a smaller 5er over 299 about 2 years ago and i thought it was very hard on my truck and will never do it again.you are putting alot of wear and tear on your truck.just my thought ,good luck whatever route you take.

[kwbosch]

Here's a Topo profile of the route:

http://i2.tinypic.com/wv4yea.jpg

Ken

[HamRad]

Hello Bill and Helen,
We've pulled our Monty over that route. No problems. It is a very nice 2 and 3 lane road. Near both ends there is even a small section of freeway. But as has already been mentioned there is a lot of up and down and lots of curves. But it is the main east west route in that part of the world. If you have time plan on stopping on your way over. There are the Whiskey Town Lakes area as well as many small towns that are historic in nature. Beautiful country you're going into.

Have a great trip.

Dennis and Mary Kay

[adelmoll]

Thanks everyone. We will be leaving this morning and taking our time across 299. We'll let you know how it turns out.

Helen

[drhowell]

You should not have any problem on 299. Buckhorn is the steepest pull. Of all the I5 to 101 connections in Northern Ca and Oregon 299 is not bad. Now 199 is very narrow and crooked. I brought the Montana through there last year even though I knew how narrow it was and I made it ok. Just had to take my time and swing wide.

Further north we have been across most of the routes with the Montana and we prefer highway 42 (Winston to Coos Bay). Last week we took 126 over to Eugene and then took 38 on the return trip. I prefer 38 from Reedsport to Cottage Grove. I thought 126 was narrow in places and very crooked. Further North in Oregon highway 20 at Newport is similar to 126 but 18 at Lincoln city is pretty smooth sailing. I am sure others can give you more info as you need it.

Have fun on the coast.

[toolmanroy]

Now what is wrong with with 199 from Grants Pass to Brookings?
There is some beautiful scenery but very winding! I agree with the rest of them. One of the easiest is going through Corvallis to Newport.

[adelmoll]

We had a great time crossing 299. It was beautiful and never even one white knuckle. Bill enjoyed driving it too. This is what RV'ing is all about. I have posted some of the best pictures on our web site. Thanks everyone.

Helen

[dsprik]

Steve Riegle would do it...

[Sweetfire]

Thanks for the pictures and the road report, they were great.

[drhowell]

Nancy, 199 is OK as long as you know what to expect and are comfortable with that Smith River stretch. I don't have a problem with it personally but someone that thinks 299 is a problem would really have one with 199? Now if you really want to have fun take highway 3 out of Yreka over to Weaverville. That one section going downhill from Scott Mountain has some interesting hairpin turns.

[adelmoll]

We took 199 a couple of years ago when we left Creater Lake and didn't have any trouble. I think we will pass on the highway 3 route.

Bill did mention that he was glad we were coming East to West on 299 when we came down the 8% grade instead of having to pull up it from the other way.

Helen

[sreigle]

quote:Originally posted by adelmoll

We had a great time crossing 299. It was beautiful and never even one white knuckle. Bill enjoyed driving it too. This is what RV'ing is all about. I have posted some of the best pictures on our web site. Thanks everyone.

Helen

Helen and Bill, I am glad you took that route. A couple of years ago we took the same route, but in the opposite direction. You know what we do, that some of these highways are the most beautiful and interesting drives we can take and make the journey as interesting as the destination.

As for the crooked roads, that's what I look for in a good road, unless we're in a hurry! If you ever get a chance, try Utah Highway 12, between Torrey, UT, and Bryce Canyon. That road is a "wow". Just be prepared for a bunch of 8 percent grades, two 10 percenters, a 12 percenter and one 14 percenter about two miles long. That's going uphill and downhill both. Great ride, though.