California Route 36 is The Road With 1.811 Turns

With 140 miles of twists and turns, California Route 36 is considered by some to be among the best roads in California. If you love twisty roads, this is the route for you. It’s one of the most scenic drives in the USA.

California Route 36

Where is California Route 36?

The road crosses northern California across six counties: Humboldt, Trinity, Shasta, Tehama, Plumas, and Lassen. The origins of the road date back to the era of the California Gold Rush, in the 1860s.

How long is California Route 36?

The road is 400 km (248 miles) long, running east-west from U.S. Route 101 (in Alton, in Humboldt County) to U.S. Route 395 (just east of Susanville in Lassen County) with a long, flowing series of curves that are seemingly tailor-made for motorcycles.

Is California Route 36 paved?

The road is entirely paved. Most of the route is a two-lane conventional highway with intermittent passing lanes, with exceptions in Red Bluff, Chester, and Susanville.

How long does it take to drive California Route 36?

Plan about 6 hours to complete the drive without any stops. The road passes through a diverse range of topography and climate regions.

Is California Route 36 challenging?

The road tops out at 1,757 m (5,764 ft) above sea level, by Morgan Summit. It’s said to have 1,811 curves in 140 miles. This west-east state highway in the U.S. state of California is one of the best motorcycle roads. The drive is pretty treacherous, so stay alert. It may be a great route for adventure if you're looking for it, and it will be better if driven during the day. It’s known as a heaven of twists and turns that demands 100% focus. Watch out for trucks with long trailers. Very good road surface, though it does get a little rough in spots farther west, and the center line briefly disappears for a few miles farther west. The road has lots of places without guardrails and long drops. Every road will seem very trivial after you ride this. Not recommended at night or in bad weather or just after a heavy rain. There are sheer drop-offs with no guardrails and blind curves. Make sure you have plenty of gas and let someone know your travel plans. Very limited (if any) cell phone service.