Weed

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.

Get in

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 350 mi): 5.5 hours * Medford, OR (via I-5 for 79 mi): 1.5 hour * Redding, CA (via I-5) for 70 mi): 1 hour 15 min. * Sacramento, CA (via I-5) for 229 mi): 3.5 hours * San Francisco, CA (via I-5, 505 & I-80) for 284 mi): 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 70 mi): 1 hour 15 min * Crater Lake, OR (US Hwy 97 & OR-Hwy 62 for 139 mi): 2.5 hours * Bend, OR (US Hwy 97 for 207 mi: 3.5 hours * The Dalles, OR (at Oregon/Washington state line) (US 97 for 336 mi: 6 hours

By bus

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