Oregon Route 218 (OR 218) is an Oregon state highway that runs between the small towns of Shaniko and Fossil in north-central Oregon[2] and is known as the Shaniko-Fossil Highway No. 291 (see Oregon highways and routes). OR 218 is a part of the Journey Through Time Scenic Byway,[3] an Oregon state byway.
 Oregon Route 218 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Route 218 highlighted in red | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by ODOT | ||||
| Length | 42.08 mi[1] (67.72 km) | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| West end |  US 97 in Shaniko | |||
 OR 293 in Antelope | ||||
| East end |  OR 19 in Fossil | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | Oregon | |||
| Counties | Wasco, Wheeler | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| ||||
Route description
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OR 218 is a fairly short rural highway. Its western terminus is in Wasco County, in the ghost town of Shaniko at U.S. Route 97. The road is very windy and hilly over its entire 43-mile (69 km) length and is a popular destination for motorcyclists. It runs through the small town of Antelope (population 50) and has a junction with OR 293 on the south end of town.[2]
More mountainous terrain follows, and the highway crosses the John Day River into Wheeler County at Clarno. Just east of Clarno is the Clarno Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. Between Clarno and Fossil (the largest town on the route, with a population of about 475), the road has several sharp curves, with a posted speed limit of 15 miles per hour (24 km/h) in several places. The eastern terminus is in Fossil at the junction of Washington Street and Seventh Street (OR 19).[2]
Major junctions
edit| County | Location | mi[1] | km | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wasco | Shaniko | 0.00 | 0.00 | US 97 (Sherman Highway) / D Street – Madras, Bend, Grass Valley, Biggs Junction | |
| Antelope | 7.96– 8.00 | 12.81– 12.87 |  OR 293 west (Antelope Highway) – Willowdale, Madras | Eastern terminus of OR 293 | |
| John Day River | 22.90 | 36.85 | Clarno Bridge Wasco–Wheeler county line | ||
| Wheeler | Fossil | 42.08 | 67.72 | OR 19 (John Day Highway) / Washington Street – Condon, Spray | |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
References
edit- ^ a b "Shaniko-Fossil Highway No. 291" (PDF). Oregon Department of Transportation. June 2011. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Oregon Route 218". Retrieved May 11, 2015.
- ^ "Oregon Scenic Byways map" (pdf). ODOT.
External links
edit- Bridgehunter.com - Clarno Bridge (1908–1975)
- Bridgehunder.com - Clarno Bridge (1975–)
- Motorcycle Roads NorthWest - Oregon State Route 218 'Shaniko-Fossil Highway'
