Question about trip from CA to OR

[Justinemw]

Hi there,
In a few weeks my husband and I will be driving from the Bay Area to Chiloquin, OR. I think there might be some snow on the roads at that time and I知 getting a little anxious. I was wondering if anyone familiar with this route knows if I should expect a lot of cliff hugging roads or just anything a city girl would get nervous about. My husband isn稚 worried but I just like to know what to expect.
299E-139-97N is the stretch I知 not familiar with. I appreciate any input!
Sincerely,
A Wuss!

[Utahtea]

Hi there,
In a few weeks my husband and I will be driving from the Bay Area to Chiloquin, OR. I think there might be some snow on the roads at that time and I知 getting a little anxious. I was wondering if anyone familiar with this route knows if I should expect a lot of cliff hugging roads or just anything a city girl would get nervous about. My husband isn稚 worried but I just like to know what to expect.
299E-139-97N is the stretch I知 not familiar with. I appreciate any input!
Sincerely,
A Wuss!

It has been SO many years since I traveled those roads and I have no fear of driving mountain roads, so I'm of no use in that area but I did want to point out that before you leave you should check the Caltrans Road Conditions to make sure the roads are open! This storm we are having has closed many sections of the route you mentioned.

https://roads.dot.ca.gov/

I'm sure someone else will chime in on the roads you mentioned.

Utahtea

[AZBuck]

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

Much as we'd like to be, and as much as we are collectively, it is simply impossible for us to be familiar with all the roads in America at every time of the year. However, we do have some tools and a lot of experience that we are happy to share with you to make your trip a little easier and stress-free. First, I'd suggest that you reconsider the timing of this trip. It is VERY unusual for an Interstate Highway to be closed as I-5 seems to be at the moment in northern California. There's no guarantee that CA-299, CA-139, or US-97 are going to be in any better shape, indeed they're probably not. It's just that state and local roads don't get officially closed like interstates do. If I were going to take this trip, I'd wait until I-5 was fully back up and running and then take I-5/US-97 and eschew any three digit state highways altogether. "A few weeks" is a lifetime in a weather cycle and I would suggest that you make no decisions at all until just a couple of days before your intended departure when you will have a much better handle both on the current condition of the roads and the weather you can expect to encounter.

AZBuck

[glc]

I would completely avoid CA-299 and CA-139, or any other roads that cross the Coastal Range and northern Sierras in the winter unless you know for a fact they are clear and dry. Take I-5 to US-97. They are both well maintained in winter, are safer, and take less time.

Right now, I-5 and US-97 are closed and CA-299 is requiring chains. Wait till the current storms are gone and they get the roads cleared. That probably won't be till next Wednesday.

[Midwest Michael]

I-5 to US-97 at Weed really is the most logical and direct route to take. It appears google is telling you to take CA-299/CA-139 because I-5 and US-97 are currently closed because of snow.

As others have indicated, I would also suggest that you stick to I-5/US-97 and if the weather is so bad that they've closed the interstate, then you would be best to delay your trip until the conditions improve. It is impossible to say what the weather will be in a few weeks, but it is worth noting the recent storm is rather unusual, especially with how much snow has fallen in low elevation areas, so I wouldn't let this one event today cause too much concern about something weeks away.

[Justinemw]

I知 sorry I am just seeing these replies. All of the above is really helpful input!
If a storm closes roads we will be postponing the trip! I値l keep an eye on the sea and hope for the best. I値l also plan on 5 and 97. Very good info to know those are better maintained roads. Thanks so much to each of you that took the time to reply