U.S. 97 South - Chemult to Klamath Falls

OR 58 (Willamette Highway) eastbound merges onto U.S. 97 southbound via a wye interchange. The state highway defaults onto U.S. 97 south ahead of a U-turn ramp to U.S. 97 northbound for Crescent and Bend.

04/01/05

The roadways of U.S. 97 converge south of the OR 58 junction, seven miles north of Chemult. The US highway maintains just two lanes for most of the drive southward to Klamath Falls.

04/01/05

Southbound at the intersection with Deer Butte Road on U.S. 97. Deer Butte Road meanders one quarter mile west to the Haring Sno-Park and 12 miles to Miller Lake near Howlock Mountain (el. 8,351 feet).

04/01/05

U.S. 97 leaves the intersection with Deer Butte Road to enter the village of Chemult (el. 4,758 feet). Chemult began its existence as a railroad stop along the Southern Pacific Cascade Line in 1926. The settlement is named after a Klamath indian chief who signed the Treaty with the Klamath of October 14, 1864.

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A small array of services are located within the community of Chemult along U.S. 97 (The Dalles-California Highway). The US route leaves Winema National Forest upon entering the unincorporated community.

04/01/05

U.S. 97 reassurance shield and distance sign assembly posted south of Chemult. Beaver Marsh lies five miles ahead at the junction with National Forest Road 86.

04/01/05

A rest area lies along U.S. 97 in both directions near Beaver Marsh. The is first such facility along southbound since the end of U.S. 197.

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U.S. 97 continues south from the Beaver Marsh area to Diamond Lake Junction and OR 138 (Diamond Lake Highway). OR 138 constitutes a trans-Cascade Range route between Roseburg and U.S. 97. The state highway also provides access to Crater Lake National Park 15 miles to the west.

04/01/05

The north access road of Crate Lake National Park is closed during the winter months. Therefore interests to the park should continue south on U.S. 97 to OR 62 west during the snowy season. OR 62 (Crater Lake Highway) remains open all year long.

04/01/05

OR 138 officially is designated the Umpqua Highway between U.S. 97 and Roseburg. The highway name is derived from the river OR 138 parallels west of the Cascades. OR 138 otherwise travels 19 miles west to OR 230, a north-south bypass route of Crater Lake National Park, and Diamond Lake. OR 230 in conjunction with OR 62 leads southwest to Medford and Grants Pass.

04/01/05

Another in the series of reassurance shields and distance signs for U.S. 97 southbound. The US route continues through undeveloped areas south 35 miles to Chiloquin.

04/01/05

U.S. 97 southbound after the split with the Sun Mountain Highway. Sun Mountain Highway leads southwest 27 miles to OR 62 at Fort Klamath Junction. Travelers must cross Sun Pass (el. 5,404 feet) before reaching OR 62.

04/01/05

Continuing southbound to the intersection with Silver Lake Road east and Boundary Road west on U.S. 97. Boundary Road comprises an unpaved highway between U.S. 97 and Sun Mountain Highway. Silver Lake Road meanwhile travels east to the Klamath Marsh and Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge> en route to Silver Lake (OR 31).

04/01/05

The scene along U.S. 97 (The Dalles-California Highway) southbound after Silver Lake and Boundary Roads. Travelers reenter the Winema National Forest along the stretch between here and Chiloquin.

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U.S. 97 jogs westward from the Collier Summit area on the six mile approach to Chiloquin. Volcanic rocks are exposed along the cuts at the 4,591 foot pass.

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U.S. 97 (The Dalles-California Highway) resumes a southerly course ahead of the Collier Memorial State Park area north of Chiloquin. Several guide signs along the highway direct motorists to the various aspects of the park.

04/01/05

Forthcoming Chiloquin Highway travels east 3.1 miles from OR 62 (Crater Lake Highway) to meet U.S. 97 near the town of Chiloquin. Interests for the Sprague River are directed onto the highway east of U.S. 97. Signs ahead reference Fort Klamath, a community along OR 62 north beyond Chiloquin Highway.

04/01/05

A diamond interchange joins Chiloquin Highway and U.S. 97. Chiloquin lies just east of the US highway along the Sprague River.
Chiloquin originated as a campsite for a group of Klamath Indians. The settlement was named after the war Chief Chay-lo-quin, but was later renamed Chiloquin. The arrival of the railroad in 1910 signaled growth for the town with an establishment of the first post office in 1912.

04/01/05

"Congestion" sign posted along U.S. 97 southbound near the return of Chiloquin Highway. Signs such as these are posted when Departments of Transportation realize that roads are over capacity or unable to handle the existing traffic. It means that while the problem is admitted, nothing will be done to resolve it. Anyway, Chiloquin Highway loops two miles east to Chocktoot Street in Chiloquin before returning to U.S. 97.

04/01/05

Truck bypass lanes are installed along U.S. 97 between the Chiloquin Highway junction and OR 62 south of Chiloquin. The multi-lane configurations exist periodically along the U.S. 97 corridor throughout central Oregon.

04/01/05

OR 62 (Crater Lake Highway) ends at U.S. 97 three miles south of Chiloquin. The state highway arcs northwest through Klamath Agency, Fort Klamath, and Crater Lake National Park to OR 230 at Union Creek.

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Southbound at the OR 62 (Crater Lake Highway) eastern terminus on U.S. 97 at Lobert Junction. OR 62 provides the main entry point into Crater Lake National Park and to Rim Road.

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Leaving the intersection with OR 62 (Crater Lake Highway) on U.S. 97 southbound. The highway briefly has three lanes through this stretch.

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U.S. 97 crosses the Williamson River just south of OR 62. The river feeds Klamath Marsh and the Sprague River east of Chiloquin.

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Two westerly views of the Pelican Butte (el. 8,036 feet) area next to Upper Klamath Lake. The Southern Pacific Railroad line parallels U.S. 97 closely for the 20 mile drive south to Klamath Falls.

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U.S. 97 enters the Upper Klamath Lake area south of Modoc Point. The two lane highway hugs the eastern shoreline of the lake between the Southern Pacific Railroad line and the volcanic hillsides leading east toward Saddle Mountain (el. 6,841 feet).

04/01/05

U.S. 97 skims the western reaches of the Winema-Freemont National Forest between Modoc Point and Algoma. The highway and parallel railroad corridor traverse a marshy area near Algoma. A four lane section of U.S. 97 allows drivers to pass slower moving trucks nine miles north of Klamath Falls.

04/01/05

Continuing the drive southward into Klamath Falls along Upper Klamath Lake. Shady Pine Road and Wocus Road both loop east of U.S. 97 through the Shady Pines area north of the city. Klamath Falls is home to 19,680 residents and is the seat of Klamath County. The city boasts 300 sunny days a year, rivaling such desert cities as Yuma, Arizona.

04/01/05

U.S. 97 expands to three lanes with the addition of a center-turning lane. A weigh station lies between the Klamath Falls welcome sign and the Klamath Falls west bypass freeway. A small guide sign touts the first three exits as serving the city.

04/01/05

U.S. 97 partitions with U.S. 97 Business & OR 39 southbound (Kit Carson Way) at a wye interchange. The US highway veers southwest at the split onto a freeway bypass west of downtown Klamath Falls. The control cities of U.S. 97 southbound include Weed, California (Interstate 5), and San Francisco, California (via I-5 south, I-505 south and I-80 west).

04/01/05

Traffic splits into ramps for U.S. 97 Business & OR 39 south to downtown Klamath Falls and Altamont and U.S. 97 south for Midland and Dorris, California. U.S. 97 Business & OR 39 follow a 1.6 mile long controlled-access expressway to Esplanade Avenue east of downtown. There OR 39 continues southeast via Alameda Avenue to Altamont and U.S. 97 Business turns west onto Esplanade Avenue into the central business district. OR 39 continues east from Altamont to Merrill and Tulelake, California (via the transition to SR 139). Connections from SR 139 to SR 299 and U.S. 399 lead drivers south to Reno, Nevada.

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Turning south onto the Klamath Falls west bypass freeway on U.S. 97. The freeway varies between two and four lanes on its 4.6 mile trek to Stewart Lenox southwest of the city.

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One half mile north of the Oregon Avenue parclo interchange on U.S. 97 south at the Lakeport Boulevard and Southern Pacific Railroad under crossing. Oregon Avenue travels north from Upham Street to Nevada Street and the west Klamath bypass.

04/01/05

Drivers bound for Oregon Avenue south or Nevada Street west depart U.S. 97 southbound. Nevada Street continues Oregon Avenue west to Lakeshore Drive and Moore Park. Oregon Street resumes between Montelius Street and Front Street in northwest Klamath Falls. Lakeshore Drive straddles the southern shorelines of Upper Klamath Lake between the city and OR 140 (Lake of the Woods Highway).

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U.S. 97 continues south one mile to the Klamath Falls downtown interchange (U.S. 97 Business). U.S. 97 Business returns to its parent via Main Street.

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Replacement of the Greensprings Bridge along U.S. 97 necessitated the installation of a temporary traffic signal to relegate one-lane of traffic. The span deteriorate to the point where inspectors determined that it must be replaced. Construction began in 2004 and should be complete by early 2006. The bridge itself travels over the Link River and Green Springs Lane along the western shore of Lake Ewauna.

04/01/05

Lake Ewauna comes into view along U.S. 97 southbound ahead of the Main Street off-ramp. Main Street travels west from downtown to its end at Riverside Drive south, Mill Street north, and Carroll Street west. Posted temporarily within the median due to construction is an auxiliary guide sign for U.S. 97 Business referencing a tourist information center and the Favell Museum.

04/01/05

Southbound at the Greensprings Bridge on U.S. 97 southbound ahead of the Main Street parclo interchange. Main Street itself spans the Link River underneath the freeway between downtown and Riverside Drive. The Link River joins Upper Klamath Lake with Lake Ewauna west of the freeway.

04/01/05

Drivers bound for U.S. 97 Business north (Main Street) or Main Street west across the Link River depart the freeway. U.S. 97 Business partitions into the one way street couplet of Klamath Avenue (north) and Main Street (south) through the central business district.

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Continuing south toward the Greensprings Bridge and southwest Klamath Falls along U.S. 97.

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U.S. 97 southbound next meets OR 66 west & 140 at a parclo interchange in one mile. Weed, California lies another 70 miles to the south.

04/01/05

OR 140 travels south of Klamath Falls along the Southside Expressway east 3.2 miles to Klamath Falls International Airport and 5.8 miles to OR 39. OR 140 is also part of the greater Winnemucca to the Sea Highway, between Crescent City, California and Winnemucca, Nevada.

04/01/05

OR 66 (Greensprings Drive) begins at the U.S. 97 interchange with OR 140 and travels west nine miles to Keno. OR 140 (Lake of the Woods Highway) ventures northwest 31 miles to Lake of the Woods. OR 66 comprises the main route between Ashland and Klamath Falls, a distance of 57 miles.

04/01/05

Drivers bound for OR 66 west or OR 140 leave U.S. 97 southbound. OR 140 merges with OR 39 briefly south of Altamont. The state highway links the Klamath Falls area with Lakeview in southeast Oregon and Winnemucca in northwestern Nevada via Nevada 140 and U.S. 95.

04/01/05

Shield and guide sign assembly posted at the end of the OR 66 & 140 off-ramp from U.S. 97 south. OR 140 ventures northwest 24 miles alongside Upper Klamath Lake before turning west on the drive to Lake of the Woods, Eagle Point and Medford. The state highway ends at OR 62 five miles north of downtown Medford and 69 miles to the west of Klamath Falls.

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U.S. 97 crosses the Klamath River and the parallel Southern Pacific Railroad line on the drive out of the Klamath Falls area. The span lies 1.2 miles south of OR 66 & 140.

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U.S. 97 next encounters the intersection with Joe Wright Road south of the Klamath River. Joe Wright Road leads 2.6 miles east to Klamath Falls International Airport (Kingsley Field).

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Southbound at Joe Wright Road east on U.S. 97. Joe Wright Road intersects Tingley Lane one mile to the east. U.S. 97 crosses the Amtrak line ahead on the 12.5 mile drive to the California state line.

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