State Scenic Highway 197 197
State Scenic Highway 197 is a scenic drive in California. Within California it covers roughly 7 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along State Scenic Highway 197 with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
State Scenic Highway 197 is a short bypass in Del Norte County known as North Bank Road, running along the Smith River's north side. It connects U.S. 199 at Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park to U.S. 101 near Crescent City, paralleling the Smith River, one of California's few major undammed rivers, through evergreen forest with several local roads branching off toward the water, offering a quieter alternative to the more heavily traveled highways it connects. Unlike its neighbor U.S. 199, which carries the official Smith River National Forest Scenic Byway designation, Route 197 itself has not been documented as part of California's eligible or officially designated scenic-highway lists, so its recognition rests more on local use as a scenic backroad than on any formal state or federal program. It remains a useful, low-traffic connector for travelers exploring the redwood parks around Crescent City.
- North Bank Road, Del Norte County
- parallels the undammed Smith River
- connects US 199 and US 101 near Crescent City
- quieter alternative route
- no formal scenic-highway program listing found
Plan a drive on State Scenic Highway 197 →
About this drive
This is a scenic drive — a road worth taking for the views and the journey itself rather than the quickest line between two points.
Where to Stay along State Scenic Highway 197
1 campground or RV park sits within about 5 miles of State Scenic Highway 197.
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