Sometimes all you want is to get in your car and drive around experiencing the incredible beauty Northern California has to offer. The route featured here may just be the highest road in the state and is perfect for seeing gorgeous mountain vistas. Oftentimes, the high road means a more difficult and cumbersome journey. It’s true that this mountain drive may take a little bit more effort than flatter route. However, the views make the journey totally worth it!
State Route 89 is a north-south California Highway that makes its way through many mountain communities. It starts at the junction of U.S. Route 395 near Topaz Lake and eventually ends up at Mt. Shasta.
As the drive continues on from Topaz Lake, you'll climb all the way up to Monitor Pass which peaks at an elevation of 8,314 feet. This is just the beginning of many high elevation points on this incredible journey!
After Monitor Pass, you'll start to descend until you reach the Carson River. This is a good place to get out of the car, stretch your legs, and enjoy the scenery before you continue on this amazing drive!
After leaving the Carson River, you'll notice the route starting to climb in elevation again. This time you'll get up 7,740 feet as you drive over Luther Pass.
Hopefully by this point you aren't getting too sick from the rapid changes in elevation. Here, the route starts to decline again and you'll find yourself at Lake Tahoe. The road continues on through the beautiful Tahoe and Plumas National Forests.
The route begins to make another ascension as you approach 5,753 foot Morgan Summit. The views are simply breathtaking here. Be sure to get out and take a deep breath of that fresh mountain air before you continue on!
The route continues to ascend as you pass through Lassen Volcanic National Park near Redding. Here you'll witness awesome views of lava domes, steaming sulfur vents, and jagged craters.
At last, you'll reach the peak point of elevation on State Route 89 as you drive through numerous passes around Bumpass Mountain, which reaches an elevation of 8,753 feet! The views from this area are simply unparalleled.
State Route 89 makes an end at the bottom of Mt. Shasta in Siskiyou County. The sight of the fifth highest peak in California is such a glorious way to end the journey on the highest road in Northern California!
