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  5. Road trippin': State Route 45

Road trippin': Knights Landing to Hamilton City on SR-45

California's vast network of state-operated highways has many high-profile ones, most notably State Route 1 along the coastline. All the system's roadways serve specific purposes, however, including the 70-mile-long State Route 45 in Northern California. The roadway runs north-south to the west of the world's smallest mountain range, the Sutter Buttes.

State Route 45

sr45-01 (Screen shot courtesy of Google Maps)
sr45-02 State Route 45's southern starting point is in Knights Landing. It wends 70 miles northward toward its completion in Hamilton City.
sr45-03 On a weekday morning in late January, State Route 45 was so uncluttered that CT News was able to (without fear) take this photo from mid-road.
sr45-04 Every now and then, SR-45 passes through thicker vegetation, but the predominant scenery outside vehicular windows is flat farmland or orchards.
sr45-05 Almonds are a popular crop grown in this neck of the Northern California "woods," although there also are peaches, plums and nuts farmed here.
sr45-06 The Sutter Buttes, referred to as the world's smallest mountain range and which have great meaning for native peoples, appear on the horizon.
sr45-07 Grimes is the first small town one encounters north of Knights Landing along sleepy State Route 45.
sr45-08 This mini-mission north of Grimes is one of a handful of historical oddities that motorists can explore along State Route 45.
sr45-09 This plaque explains what the mini-mission structure is about.
sr45-10 At this point, more of less midway along the north-south Highway 45, the roadway joins forces with the far-busier State Route 20,
sr45-11 As they motor through Calusa on State Route 45, people are invited to chuckle at the message on this church sign.
sr45-12 The Colusa County Courthouse stands tall beside State Routes 20 and 45 as they shoot through the city of Colusa.
sr45-13 This American Indian-operated resort just off SR-45 represents a big part of the local economy, along with agriculture.
sr45-14 No, State Route 45 is not affiliated with the Ivy League, but it does touch down in this distinguished town in Northern California.
sr45-15 There aren't a whole lot of stop signs along State Route's rural 70-mile path, but there is one at this junction north of Princeton.
sr45-16 Glenn is another small agriculture-fueled town along State Route 45, which at this point is approaching its endpoint,
sr45-17 The Sacramento River runs roughly parallel with State Route 45, but is visible from the roadway at only a few places, including this one.
sr45-18 Learn about William Brown Ide at this old marker just off State Route 45 south of Hamilton City -- or by reading the plaque in the next photo.
sr45-19 Here's the plaque that goes along with the old historical marker on the northern portion of State Route 45,
sr45-20 State Route 45 calls it a day in Hamilton City, which is about halfway between Orland (to the west) and Chico (east) on State Route 32.