Weed

Weed is a city of 2,700 people (2019) in Siskiyou County in the Shasta Cascades region of California, at the western foot of Mount Shasta.

Understand
Despite what you might think, the city's name has nothing to do with cannabis—instead, it comes from the founder of the local lumber mill and pioneer Abner Weed, who discovered that the area's strong winds were helpful in drying lumber. Weed was home to a thriving lumber industry from its founding in 1901 to as late as the 1980s. The historic industrial area at the northeast corner of town has been plagued with environmental concerns and clean-up efforts as a result of chemicals used for wood treatment and glue.

As the wood-product-related industry has been scaled back, Weed's economy has become more reliant on tourism, light industry, and manufacturing of bottled water.

By car

 * Interstate 5: Weed is accessed from I-5 at Vista Dr (Exit #745) and Chaparral Dr (#748). There are three exits to Weed. US Hwy 97 can be accessed "S Weed Blvd/Klamath Falls" Exit (#747).
 * Portland, OR (via I-5 for ): 5.5 hours
 * Medford, OR (via I-5 for ): 1.5 hour
 * Redding, CA (via I-5) for ): 1 hour 15 min.
 * Sacramento, CA (via I-5) for ): 3.5 hours
 * San Francisco, CA (via I-5, 505 & I-80) for ): 5 hours


 * US Hwy 97 Starts from US Hwy 97 & N Weed Blvd and goes up through the high desert of Central Oregon and the plains of Eastern Washington.
 * Klamath Falls, OR (US Hwy 97 for ): 1 hour 15 min
 * Crater Lake, OR (US Hwy 97 & OR-Hwy 62 for ): 2.5 hours
 * Bend, OR (US Hwy 97 for : 3.5 hours
 * The Dalles, OR (at Oregon/Washington state line) (US 97 for : 6 hours

Get around
Weed is served by Siskiyou County's STAGE bus service.

Go next

 * Lava Beds National Monument northeast of Weed
 * Southern Oregon is just an hour north—take I-5 to Ashland or Medford, or follow Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway to Crater Lake National Park