Siskiyou Pass facts for kids
Siskiyou Pass (also known as Siskiyou Summit) is a famous mountain pass in the Siskiyou Mountains in Jackson County, Oregon. It's the busiest pass in the state of Oregon.
Long ago, the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) created the Siskiyou Trail over this pass. Later, pioneers used it for their wagons. Over time, it became a road for stagecoaches, then a railroad line, and finally a highway. The name "Siskiyou" might come from a Native American language, meaning "bob-tailed horse." The pass is just west of the highest point of Interstate 5, which is also called Siskiyou Summit.
Where is Siskiyou Pass?
This pass is located in Jackson County, Oregon. It's an important connection for roads and trains between Oregon and California. The pass is about 4,129 feet (1,258 meters) above sea level. You can find it along Oregon Route 273 (also known as Old Highway 99). It's about 5 miles (8 kilometers) north of the California border.
A mountain called Ogden Hill is to the west, reaching 5,837 feet (1,779 meters) high. Nearby is Pilot Rock, a tall rock formation. It was named because it helped travelers find their way across the pass.
History of the Pass
People from Europe started using Siskiyou Pass in the late 1820s. The first person known to cross it was Peter Skene Ogden, a fur trader from the Hudson's Bay Company. He led his group from south to north in February 1827.
In 1829, another traveler named Alexander Roderick McLeod faced a huge snowstorm here. He had to turn back because of the harsh winter weather. The Hudson's Bay Company later used the pass for wagons. Then it became a stagecoach road, and eventually a railroad line.
In the early 1900s, special snowplows on trains helped clear the pass. This made travel much faster. By the 1940s, guardrails were added to the highway to make it safer. Today, it remains the most used pass in Oregon.
Driving on the Pass
The part of Interstate 5 that goes over Siskiyou Pass can be tricky. Heading north, there's a steep downhill section that drops 2,000 feet (610 meters) in just 6 miles (9.7 kilometers). This downhill stretch is known for being dangerous, especially when it's foggy and hard to see.
Even with the challenges, about 13,000 trucks use this route every day. To help drivers in emergencies, there are special escape ramps. A warning system also tells truck drivers what to expect. Drivers are advised to put chains on their tires in winter. They should also check weather reports and road conditions before and during their trip.
Railroad on the Pass
In 1887, Tunnel 13 was finished under Siskiyou Pass. This finally created a train connection between Oregon and California. Later, in the 1920s, the Southern Pacific Railroad built a faster route called the Natron Cutoff.
Today, the rail route over the pass is owned by the Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad. For about ten years, trains didn't cross the pass. But in 2015, the pass was reopened for train traffic. It now connects Weed, California and Eugene, Oregon.
