California 45

California 45 rolls to its northern terminus at its junction with California 32 in Hamilton City. This route stays close to the Sacramento River's west bank via Knights Landing, Colusa, and Hamilton City. Photo taken 01/15/06.

Routing

California 45 is a north-south highway that serves the Sacramento Valley between Knights Landing (Junction California 113, which is Historic Alternate U.S. 40) and Hamilton City (Junction California 32) via Colusa.

Highway Guide

California 45 north
This is the first reassurance route marker on California 45 north in Knights Landing. Photo taken 01/01/05.
California 45 north and California 20 west
California 45 north
California 45 north and California 162 west
California 45 north
California 45 reaches its northern terminus at the intersection with California 32 in Hamilton City. An END shield is posted for the route just prior to the signalized intersection between the two state routes. Photo taken 01/15/06.
California 32 travels east to Chico (right turn) and west to Orland (left turn). To Interstate 5, use California 32 west. To California 99, Chester, Susanville, and other points east via California 36, use California 32 east. Photo taken 01/15/06.

California 45 south
We begin our journey traveling south along California 45 after the California 32 intersection in Hamilton City. From here, California 45 will generally follow the Sacramento River's west bank from Hamilton City south to Colusa and ultimately Knights Landing. Almost the entire route is two lanes, with no freeway segments. Photo taken 01/15/06.
As seems to be typical for state routes in the northern Central Valley, the first reassurance shield for California 45 is signed without a "south" banner. Cardinal directions are not routinely posted on most state highways in this region. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Leaving Hamilton City, this mileage sign provides the distance to Glenn (16 miles), Princeton (23 miles), and Colusa (39 miles) via California 45 south. Photo taken 01/15/06.
With its proximity to the Sacramento River, California 45 passes through some very fertile terrain used primarily for farming and orchards. A canal parallels California 45 on the right side of the highway until the Stony Creek bridge. Photo taken 01/15/06.
California 45 crosses over Stony Creek on this 1974 bridge. Photo taken 01/15/06.
After the turnoff to Road 24 west to Old U.S. 99W, southbound California 45 next approaches Road 26, which travels east to Rotavele (no services). Photo taken 01/15/06.
Southbound California 45 proceeds into the unincorporated community of Ordbend. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Turn left on Road 32 to Ordbend Park, which features a boat ramp and fishing opportunities along the Sacramento River. Photo taken 01/15/06.
A California 45 south reassurance shield is posted after Road 32 in Ordbend. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Southbound California 45 approaches Road 39 (Bayliss Blue Gum Road) west to Bayliss, Blue Gum, and Interstate 5 at Exit 607. Photo taken 01/15/06.
The Sacramento River comes into view as California 45 comes alongside a levee, then angles away from the river again. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Southbound California 45 approaches its junction with California 162 in the unincorporated community of Glenn. California 162 travels west from this intersection to meet Interstate 5 in Willows. Ahead, California 45 south and California 162 east will merge for a few miles between Glenn and Codora, then separate. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Shortly thereafter, California 45 south meets California 162 west to Willows. Photo taken 01/15/06.
A California 45 trailblazer is posted at the southwestern corner of the California 162 intersection. Photo taken 01/15/06.
California 45 south and California 162 east
This mileage sign along California 45 south and California 162 east provides the distance to Butte City (seven miles), Princeton (eight miles), and Colusa (22 miles). Photo taken 01/15/06.
A pair of route markers for California 45 south and California 162 east are posted shortly thereafter. Photo taken 01/15/06.
A few miles south of Glenn, California 45 south and California 162 east will split in Codora. A left turn connects to California 162 east to Butte City and Oroville, while California 45 continues straight ahead toward Princeton and Colusa. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Trailblazer route markers for California 162 east and California 45 south are posted at the intersection here in Codora. Turn left for California 162 east or straight ahead for California 45 south. Photo taken 01/15/06.
California 45 south
A California 45 reassurance route marker is posted after the southern California 162 intersection. Photo taken 01/15/06.
A towering pylon carries power lines over the Sacramento River. This power line will mark where California 45 will leave Glenn County and enter Colusa County. Photo taken 01/15/06.
California 45 leaves Glenn County and enters Colusa County. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Southbound California 45 enters the unincorporated community of Princeton. Turn right (west) on Norman Road from Princeton to Interstate 5 Exit 595. Photo taken 01/15/06.
South of Princeton, California 45 continues through farms, ranches, and orchards. The state highway passes by towering farm buildings from time to time. Photo taken 01/15/06.
The rural scene continues as we proceed south through farms and ranches. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Southbound California 45 approaches Reservation Road east (left turn). Photo taken 01/15/06.
The next major intersection along California 45 south is Maxwell Road, which travels west to Interstate 5 and Maxwell (right turn). Colusa is five miles ahead via southbound California 45. Photo taken 01/15/06.
A California 45 south reassurance shield is posted after the Maxwell Road intersection. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Southbound California 45 approaches a series of marked side roads that connect to the state highway, including Reese Avenue, Wintun Road, Harbison Road, and Fruitvale Avenue. We pass by the Colusa Casino Resort on the left side of California 45. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Southbound California 45 approaches a series of marked side roads that connect to the state highway, including Reese Avenue, Wintun Road, Harbison Road, and Fruitvale Avenue. Photos taken 01/15/06.
California 45 enters the city of Colusa. The city had a population of 5,971 as of the 2010 Census, sits at an elevation of 52 feet above sea level (due to its proximity to the Sacramento River), and incorporated on June 16, 1868. Photo taken 01/15/06.
After crossing the city limits, California 45 curves from 13th Street south onto Market Street east. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Passing by 11th Street, southbound California 45/Market Street approaches its junction with California 20/10th Street west to Williams and Clear Lake. Ahead, California 20 east and California 45 south will share pavement through the rest of Colusa, then split southeast of town. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Southbound California 45/Market Street meets California 20/10th Street. Turn right on California 20 west to drive to Williams, Clearlake, Lakeport, Ukiah, Willits, and Fort Bragg on the coast. Continue ahead for California 20 east and California 45 south through Colusa to Yuba City-Marysville, Grass Valley-Nevada City, and Truckee via California 20 east and Knights Landing and Woodland via California 45 south. Photo taken 01/15/06.
California 45 south and California 20 east
California 45 enjoys a rare four-lane segment as it passes through downtown Colusa. California 45 and California 20 proceed southeast along Market Street toward Bridge Street, where the state highway will turn right (south). Photo taken 01/15/06.
A California 20 reassurance shield is posted between 8th Street and 7th Street in downtown Colusa. California 45 is not posted here. Photo taken 01/15/06.
In downtown Colusa, California 20 and California 45 (Market Street) meet 5th Street. The historic Colusa County Court House is located on the south side of Market Street. Photo taken 01/15/06.
California 20 and California 45 continue along Market Street in Colusa. Photo taken 01/15/06.
At Bridge Street, California 20 east and California 45 south will turn off Market Street and proceed south out of Colusa. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Note that only California 20 is signed through this turn, although California 45 will follow California 20 through this turn from Market Street onto Bridge Street. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Now on Bridge Street, California 20 and California 45 are cosigned once again. Photo taken 01/15/06.
This mileage sign along California 20 east and California 45 south provides the distance to three destinations all along California 20 east: Meridian (seven miles), Yuba City (23 miles), and Nevada City (63 miles). Photo taken 01/15/06.
South of Colusa, this view looks east toward Sutter Buttes. Photo taken 01/15/06.
The two state routes divide about six miles south of Colusa. Bear left for California 20 east to Meridian, Yuba City-Marysville, and Nevada City-Grass Valley, or turn right ahead for the continuation of California 45 south to Grimes and Knights Landing. Photo taken 01/15/06.
California 20 and California 45 split at this point. California 20 will cross the Sacramento River and proceed east to meet California 99 in Yuba City. California 45 will continue to parallel the Sacramento River on the west bank. Photo taken 01/15/06.
California 45 south
California 45 resumes on its own course south after splitting from California 20. The state highway will continue south into Grimes and Knights Landing. Photo taken 01/15/06.
A California 45 south confirming route marker is posted shortly thereafter as we continue south near the west bank of the Sacramento River. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Agriculture continues to dominate on both sides of California 45. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Southbound California 45 approaches Dry Slough Road, which travels west and then south to provide local and ranch access. Use Dry Slough Road west to Grimes-Arbuckle Road en route to Williams and Arbuckle. Photo taken 01/15/06.
California 45 enters the unincorporated community of Grimes. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Southbound California 45 meets Grimes-Arbuckle Road, which travels west to College City, Arbuckle, and Interstate 5 Exit 569 between Arbuckle and Williams (via Hahn Road) and Exit 566 in Arbuckle (via Grimes-Arbuckle Road). Photo taken 01/15/06.
A California 45 reassurance route marker is posted after the Grimes-Arbuckle Road intersection. Photo taken 01/15/06.
This sign welcomes motorists into Grimes along California 45 south. Photo taken 01/15/06.
California 45 enters Grimes from the north via Main Street, turning due east upon entering town. At this intersection, California 45 turns southeast onto Second Street for the continuation of the state route toward Knights Landing and California 113. Main Street will dead end into the levee that protects Grimes from the Sacramento River behind it. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Leaving Grimes, California 45 proceeds alongside the Sacramento River levee for about a mile (until after the next picture), then curves away from the river until close to Boyers Landing. Photo taken 01/15/06.
After this turnoff to a boat landing area, California 45 will curve away from the river again. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Once away from the river again, California 45 proceeds through more farms and ranches. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Southbound California 45 approaches Browning Road south and White Road west. California 45 makes a curve toward the east. Photo taken 01/15/06.
A California 45 south reassurance route marker is posted shortly thereafter. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Briefly traveling due east, California 45 will soon pass under a 500kV Pacific Gas & Electric power line that connects power facilities in Oregon with Path 15 en route to Southern California. This particular line connects a substation at Table Mountain (near Lake Oroville) with a substation in the California Delta near Tracy. Photo taken 01/15/06.
California 45 will again curve south after passing under the power lines. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Looking north, the 500kV power lines make a path due north toward Sutter Buttes and Oroville. Photo taken 01/15/06.
As part of its turn south, California 45 approaches Wilson Bend Road northeast (parallel to the Sacramento River). Photo taken 01/15/06.
Trees line both sides of California 45 as the state highway proceeds due south once again. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Southbound California 45 meets Millers Landing Road in Boyers Landing. Photo taken 01/15/06.
A bit further south, California 45 meets Ceres Avenue south of Boyers Landing. This short road travels east a brief distance but is not a through road. Photo taken 01/15/06.
California 45 approaches County Line Road (Road 1), a gravel road which travels west to meet Interstate 5 at Exit 559. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Now in Yolo County, California 45 continues south straight as an arrow. Photo taken 01/15/06.
... That is, until California 45 makes a hard turn east at this sharp curve. Road 95B continues south from here. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Briefly traveling due east, California 45 again has straight shot through farmland. A sharp turn awaits ahead. Photo taken 01/15/06.
California 45 again turns due south. Road 8 continues straight ahead, or turn left for Road 97 north. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Again close to the Sacramento River, California 45 continues south through more rural farmland. Photo taken 01/15/06.
As we stay close to the river, California 45 again sees a few curves, more than we've seen on other parts of the route. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Sure enough, a levee rises alongside California 45 as it once again skirts along the west bank of the Sacramento River. Adjacent to this spot is Rough and Ready Pumping Plant, Reclamation District #108. This pump brings water from the river to serve agricultural needs. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Continuing south, California 45 passes by the El Dorado Plant, also part of Reclamation District #108. Water is taken from the river and channeled south to various agricultural concerns. Near here is the intersection with Yolo County Route E-11, which travels south along Road 98A, Road 108, and Road 99E to meet Yolo County Route E-10 en route to Zamora and California 113 south to Woodland. A portion of Yolo County Route E-11 is unpaved. Photo taken 01/15/06.
California 45 continues south through a treed area, just a few miles outside of Knights Landing. Photo taken 01/15/06.
This California 45 south reassurance shield is posted at the five-mile-marker. Photo taken 01/15/06.
California 45 continues south through more farmland. Photo taken 01/15/06.
After making a fairly sharp curve, California 45 crosses over Sycamore Slough via this 1939 bridge, complete with original white wooden railing and divoted curbing. Photos taken 01/15/06.
After passing over Sycamore Slough, California 45 enters the unincorporated community of Knights Landing. The southern terminus of California 45 and the junction with California 113 (historic Alternate U.S. 40) is a short distance ahead. Photo taken 01/15/06.
Turn left for California 113 north to Robbins and Yuba City; turn right for California 113 south to Woodland and Davis. Photo taken 01/01/05.
California 45 reaches its southern terminus at its junction with California 113 (historic Alternate U.S. 40) at this stop sign. Turn left for California 113 north to Yuba City, or turn right for California 113 south to Woodland and Interstate 5. No END shield is posted here. Photo taken 01/15/06.

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Page Updated January 14, 2012.

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