California State Route 89

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State Route 89 marker

State Route 89

Map of northern California with SR 89 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by Caltrans
Length243 mi[1] (391 km)
Tourist
routes
RestrictionsSegments through Monitor Pass and Lassen Volcanic National Park closed in winter
Major junctions
South end US 395 near Coleville
Major intersections
North end I-5 BL near Mount Shasta
Location
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountiesMono, Alpine, El Dorado, Placer, Nevada, Sierra, Plumas, Tehama, Shasta, Siskiyou
Highway system
← SR 88→ SR 90

State Route 89 (SR 89) is a state highway in the U.S. state of California that travels in the north–south direction, serving as a major thoroughfare for many mountain communities in the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade Range. It starts from U.S. Route 395 near Topaz Lake, winding its way up to the 8,314-foot (2,534 m) Monitor Pass, down to the Carson River, and up again over the 7,740-foot (2,359 m) Luther Pass. From that point on, the route generally loses elevation on its way past Lake Tahoe, through Tahoe and Plumas National Forests until Lake Almanor. For roughly nine miles the route is then a part of State Route 36. The route then ascends to the 5,753-foot (1,754 m) Morgan Summit. After it enters Lassen Volcanic National Park it continues to gain elevation until it reaches its highest point in an unnamed pass in the middle of Lassen Peak and Bumpass Mountain. The road then descends and heads northwest, finally terminating at Interstate 5 at the foot of Mount Shasta at around 3,600 feet (1,100 m).[3][4]

Route description[edit]

Start of SR 89 at Mt. Shasta

SR 89 begins at an intersection with US 395. The highway goes west through a few switchbacks before crossing into Alpine County and the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.[5] The route over Monitor Pass is typically closed during the winter due to snow accumulation.[6] SR 89 continues by Heenan Lake before intersecting with the eastern end of SR 4 and turning northwest, passing through Markleeville. SR 89 continues northwest to the town of Woodfords, where it turns west, running concurrently with SR 88 for a brief distance before turning into El Dorado County.[5] The section of SR 89 from SR 88 north to US 50 is co-signed as US 50 Alternate for use as a detour for when US 50 closes.[citation needed]

The highway continues north to Meyers, where it runs concurrently with US 50 into the city of South Lake Tahoe. SR 89 continues along the western shore of Lake Tahoe, where it passes through Camp Richardson, Emerald Bay, Meeks Bay, Pomins, and Tahoma. After crossing into Placer County, SR 89 passes through Chambers Lodge, Homewood, Tahoe Pines, Skyland, Timberland, Pineland, and Tahoe Tavern before coming to an intersection with SR 28, where SR 89 continues to the west, away from the lake. The road curves to the north through Tahoe National Forest before crossing into Nevada County and the town of Truckee.[5] This portion of the highway has been designated the "10th Mountain Division Memorial Highway", honoring the US Army division that lost 992 soldiers during the Italian Campaign in World War II.[7]

SR 89 (South) briefly joins SR 49 (North) in Sierra County, an example of a wrong-way concurrency

SR 89 runs concurrently with I-80 eastbound briefly before exiting to the north and continuing through Truckee and passing near Prosser Creek Reservoir outside of the town limits. SR 89 continues through Hobart Mills before crossing into Sierra County and continuing northwest to Randolph and Sierraville, where it shares a wrong-way concurrency with SR 49 through the town of Sattley; they then intersect CR A23 before SR 89 splits off to the northwest. SR 89 continues through Calpine before crossing into Plumas County.[5]

SR 89 continues through Clio and Graeagle before running concurrently with SR 70 through Plumas National Forest, passing through Blairsden, Feather River Inn, Cromberg, Spring Garden, Massack (where SR 70 and 89 have a rest area), East Quincy, and the city of Quincy. SR 70 and SR 89 continue north through Keddie before SR 89 splits off to the north and passes through Indian Falls, Crescent Mills, Greenville, and Canyondam.[5] The section of SR 89 from SR 70 north to Crescent Mills was built over the abandoned railway bed of the Indian Valley Railroad.[citation needed] SR 89 intersects with the south end of SR 147 before paralleling the southern shore of Lake Almanor and running concurrently with SR 36 westbound, crossing into Tehama County and Lassen National Forest.[5]

SR 36 and SR 89 intersect the northern terminus of SR 32 and SR 172 before SR 36 splits off to the west and SR 89 enters Lassen Volcanic National Park.[5] The SR 89 state designation officially does not run through the national park, and this segment is directly under the park's jurisdiction instead of Caltrans. When it is open, a park fee is charged. The segment through the park is typically closed during the winter due to very heavy snowfall and snowpack.[8] Outside the other park entrance in the northwest corner in Shasta County, SR 89 forms a concurrency with SR 44, heading northeast to Old Station.[5]

SR 44 and SR 89 intersection

After splitting from SR 44 at Old Station, SR 89 continues north through Hat Creek and Doyles Corner before intersecting SR 299. The highway passes through Four Corners and Cayton before intersecting CR A19 and crossing into Siskiyou County. SR 89 briefly passes through the Klamath National Forest and Bartle and McCloud before coming to an interchange with I-5. SR 89 then merges with Mount Shasta Boulevard and terminates just outside the Mount Shasta City city limits.[5]

One point of interest along California State Route 89 includes the Pony Express remount station in Woodfords, the Lake Tahoe Outlet Gates in Tahoe City (control of these gates was the source of the two-decade "Tahoe Water War" between lakeshore owners and downstream Truckee River water users), Plumas-Eureka State Park (containing Johnsville, a well-preserved '49er town, and Pioneer Ski Area, the first sport skiing area in the Western hemisphere), Lake Almanor and Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Many other points of interest, including Brokeoff Mountain, Sulphur Works, Emerald Lake, Lake Helen, Bumpass Hell, Lassen Peak and Summit Lake are also located on this highway.

SR 89 is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System,[9] and north of the southern SR 44 junction is part of the National Highway System,[10] a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the Federal Highway Administration.[11] SR 89 is eligible for the State Scenic Highway System;[12] however, it is only a scenic highway as designated by Caltrans from the El Dorado-Placer county line to a point 3.2 miles west of the US 395 junction,[13] meaning that it is a substantial section of highway passing through a "memorable landscape" with no "visual intrusions", where the potential designation has gained popular favor with the community.[14] From the junction with SR 147, through the park and including the gap on SR 44, to its terminus at I-5, SR 89 is part of the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, a National Scenic Byway.[15] The segment of SR 89 from I-80 in Truckee to SR 49 through Sattley also forms part of the Yuba-Donner Scenic Byway, a National Forest Scenic Byway.[16]

Major intersections[edit]

Except where prefixed with a letter, postmiles were measured on the road as it was in 1964, based on the alignment that existed at the time, and do not necessarily reflect current mileage. R reflects a realignment in the route since then, M indicates a second realignment, L refers to an overlap due to a correction or change, and T indicates postmiles classified as temporary (for a full list of prefixes, see California postmile § Official postmile definitions).[17] Segments that remain unconstructed or have been relinquished to local control may be omitted. The numbers reset at county lines; the start and end postmiles in each county are given in the county column.

CountyLocationPostmile
[1][17][18][19]		Exit
[20]		DestinationsNotes
Mono
MNO 0.00-7.60		​0.00 US 395 – Carson City, Coleville, Los AngelesSouthern terminus
​0.21Northbound winter closure gate
Alpine
ALP 0.00-23.97		​1.90[21]Monitor Pass (closed in winters),
elevation 8,314 feet (2,534 m)[21]
​9.96Southbound winter closure gate

 SR 4 west – Angels Camp, Stockton		SR 4 west through Ebbetts Pass closed in winters
Woodfords21.37
19.22[N 1]
 SR 88 east – Minden		Southern end of SR 88 overlap
​13.40[N 1]
21.38
 SR 88 west – Kirkwood, Jackson		Northern end of SR 88 overlap; former southern end of US 50 Alt. overlap
​23.65[21]Luther Pass, elevation 7,740 feet (2,360 m)[21]
El Dorado
ED 0.00-27.41		Meyers8.55
70.62[N 2]
 US 50 west – Placerville		Southern end of US 50 overlap; former northern end of US 50 Alt. overlap; roundabout
South Lake Tahoe75.45[N 2]
8.56
 US 50 east (Lake Tahoe Boulevard) – Stateline		Northern end of US 50 overlap
Placer
PLA 0.00-21.68		Tahoe CityT8.57
 SR 28 east (River Road east) – Tahoe City, Kings Beach		Roundabout
Nevada
NEV 0.00-8.70		Truckee0.49
14.16[N 3]		185
 I-80 west (Alan S. Hart Freeway west) / unsigned SR 89 spur to Donner Pass Road – Sacramento		Southern end of I-80 overlap; dumbbell interchange
14.97[N 3]186Central Truckee (Donner Pass Road)No northbound entrance
16.29[N 3]188ATruckee (Truckee Way)Northbound exit and southbound entrance
16.60[N 3]
R0.62		188B

 I-80 east (Alan S. Hart Freeway east) / SR 267 south – Lake Tahoe, Reno		Northern end of I-80 overlap; interchange; westbound I-80 exit 188
Sierra
SIE 0.00-29.58		​3.75[21]Little Truckee Summit, elevation 6,399 feet (1,950 m)[21]
Sierraville15.06
 SR 49 north – Loyalton		Eastern end of SR 49 overlap
​19.96
 SR 49 south – Bassetts, Sierra City, Downieville		Western end of SR 49 overlap
Plumas
PLU 0.00-R42.19		Blairsden8.71
R66.63[N 4]
 SR 70 east – Portola		Southern end of SR 70 overlap
​49.80[N 4]Massack Rest Area
​33.03[N 4]
8.72
 SR 70 west – Oroville, Marysville		Northern end of SR 70 overlap
Canyondam29.59
 SR 147 north – Westwood, Susanville, Lake Almanor East Shore Peninsula
​R42.19
6.29[N 5]
 SR 36 east – Chester		Southern end of SR 36 overlap
Tehama
TEH R0.10-4.40		​99.94[N 5]
 SR 32 west – Chico
Morgan Springs91.25[N 5]
 SR 172 west – Mill Creek
​87.68[N 5]
R0.10
 SR 36 west – Red Bluff		Northern end of SR 36 overlap
Lassen Volcanic National Park4.40
0.0[N 6]		Northern end of state maintenance at the eastern park boundary
0.9[N 6]Southwest Entrance Station; park fee or annual pass required for entry[22]
Tehama–Shasta
county line		1.9[N 6][8]–
28.0[N 6][8]		Segment one mile from each park entrance is typically closed in winters[8]
Shasta
SHA 0.00-43.35		29.0[N 6]Manzanita Lake Entrance Station; park fee or annual pass required for entry[22]
29.6[N 6]
R49.35[N 7]		Southern end of state maintenance at the western park boundary
​
 SR 44 west – Redding		Southern end of SR 44 overlap
Old Station62.69[N 7]
0.00
 SR 44 east – Susanville, Reno		Northern end of SR 44 overlap
​21.72 SR 299 – Fall River Mills, Alturas, Burney, Redding
Siskiyou
SIS 0.00-R34.62		​R34.62 I-5 – PortlandInterchange; northbound exit and southbound entrances, no exit to I-5 south; I-5 exit 736
​


 I-5 BL south to I-5 south – Redding		Interchange; northern terminus; no access to/from I-5 BL north
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  1. ^ a b Indicates that the postmile represents the distance along SR 88 rather than SR 89.
  2. ^ a b Indicates that the postmile represents the distance along US 50 rather than SR 89.
  3. ^ a b c d Indicates that the postmile represents the distance along I-80 rather than SR 89.
  4. ^ a b c Indicates that the postmile represents the distance along SR 70 rather than SR 89.
  5. ^ a b c d Indicates that the postmile represents the distance along SR 36 rather than SR 89.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Indicates that the mileage represents the distance inside Lassen Volcanic National Park, where no state maintenance exists.
  7. ^ a b Indicates that the postmile represents the distance along SR 44 rather than SR 89.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b California Department of Transportation (July 2007). "Log of Bridges on State Highways". Sacramento: California Department of Transportation.
  2. ^ California Department of Transportation (August 2019). "Officially Designated State Scenic Highways and Historic Parkways" (XLSX). Sacramento: California Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  3. ^ Google Earth elevation for GNIS coordinates.
  4. ^ California State Map, 2007.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i California Road Atlas (Map). Thomas Brothers. 2008.
  6. ^ "Winter Driving Tips". Caltrans. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  7. ^ California Department of Transportation; California State Transportation Agency (January 2021). 2020 Named Freeways, Highways, Structures and Other Appurtenances in California (PDF). Sacramento: California Department of Transportation. pp. 53, 221. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 10, 2022.
  8. ^ a b c d "Lassen Volcanic National Park Alerts & Conditions". National Park Service. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  9. ^ "Article 2 of Chapter 2 of Division 1". California Streets and Highways Code. Sacramento: California Office of Legislative Counsel. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  10. ^ Federal Highway Administration (March 25, 2015). National Highway System: California (North) (PDF) (Map). Scale not given. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  11. ^ Natzke, Stefan; Neathery, Mike & Adderly, Kevin (June 20, 2012). "What is the National Highway System?". National Highway System. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  12. ^ "Article 2.5 of Chapter 2 of Division 1". California Streets & Highways Code. Sacramento: California Office of Legislative Counsel. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  13. ^ California Department of Transportation (August 2019). "Officially Designated State Scenic Highways and Historic Parkways" (XLSX). Sacramento: California Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  14. ^ California Department of Transportation (2012). Scenic Highway Guidelines (PDF). Sacramento: California Department of Transportation. p. 5. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
  15. ^ "Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway web site". Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  16. ^ Federal Highway Administration (n.d.). "Yuba-Donner Scenic Byway". America's Byways. Federal Highway Administration. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved October 23, 2011.
  17. ^ a b California Department of Transportation. "State Truck Route List". Sacramento: California Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (XLS file) on June 30, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  18. ^ California Department of Transportation, All Traffic Volumes on CSHS, 2005 and 2006
  19. ^ "Overview of SR 89 through Lassen Natl. Park". Google Maps. Google, Inc. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  20. ^ California Department of Transportation, California Numbered Exit Uniform System, Interstate 80 Freeway Interchanges, Retrieved on 2009-02-14.
  21. ^ a b c d e f "Elevation and Location of Summits and Passes in California". California Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017.
  22. ^ a b "Lassen Volcanic National Park Fees & Passes". National Park Service. Retrieved December 31, 2021.

External links[edit]

KML file (edit • help)
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