[UPDATE 8 p.m.: 299 Reopened but That May Changes] Traveler Alert: Highways 299 and 36 Closed; Here Are Your Options

With the Monument Fire closing Hwy 299 at Big Bar and the McFarland Fire closing Hwy 36 at Hwy 3, here are your options to reach I-5. [For simplicity sake, we assume you started at Loleta]:

• Starting in Loleta head south on Hwy 101, turn east onto Hwy 36, turn north on Hwy 3, and, finally turn east on Hwy 299 to Redding. See more precise directions here. Google estimates this to be a 3 hours and 21 minute drive. Caltrans states, “This route does have restrictions for larger vehicles (semis/big recreational vehicles and buses).” Remember there will also likely be increased traffic due to the closures of the two main routes.
• Starting in Loleta head south on Hwy 101 towards Ukiah, turn east onto Hwy 20 north of Ukiah until you reach Williams. See more precise directions here. Google estimates this is a 3 hour and 50 minute drive. Remember that travel besides the lakes in Lake County can be slowed a great deal with tourist traffic.
• Starting in Loleta head north on Hwy 101, turn northeast on 199, and stay there until I-5. See more precise directions here. Google estimates this is a 3 hour and 36 minute drive. Remember, however, that travel through Last Chance Grade can have delays up to four hours. See below for Caltrans closure times.

UPDATE 8 p.m.: Hwy 299 Reopens, But ‘Subject to Closure at Any Time’