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State Route 266

Click here for a key to the symbols used. An explanation of acronyms may be found at the bottom of the page.


Routing Routing

Rte 266From the Nevada state line easterly of Oasis to the Nevada state line northerly of Oasis.

Post 1964 Signage History Post 1964 Signage History

In 1964, the segment from Oasis to then NV 3, now NV 266, was part of Route 168. The portion from Oasis NW to NV 3A, now NV 264, was Mono County Road 101.

In 1965, Chapter 1875 defined Route 266 as “Route 168 near Oasis to the Nevada state line via Mono county road 101.” The adoption of Route 266 included the 7 miles of paved highway from Route 168 in Oasis north to NV 3A (now NV 264) at the Nevada State Line. 

In 1984, Chapter 409 relaxed the definition: “Route 168 near Oasis to the Nevada state line via Mono county road 101.”

In 1986, Chapter 928 extended the route with a transfer from Route 168: “Route 168 near The Nevada state line easterly of Oasis to the Nevada state line northerly of Oasis.”

Note that Route 266 continues into Nevada as NV 266. The NV 266 numbering in Nevada dates back to Nevada's state route renumbering in 1976 (pre-1976 NV 3); the NV 266 designation predates the transfer of that segment from Route 186 in 1986. The 1965 portion of Route 266 (former Mono County Road 101) continues N from the NV border NV 264 (pre-1976 Route 3A).

Pre 1964 Signage History Pre 1964 Signage History

The eastern segment of Route 266 began as part of the National Roosevelt Midland Trail.  The National Roosevelt Midland Trail was a ocean-to-ocean Auto Trail established during 1913. It entered California via what is now Nevada 266 westward from Lida to Oasis in Fish Valley of Mono County.  From Oasis the Roosevelt Midland Trail continued westward over Gilbert Pass and Westgard Pass towards Owens Valley.  Westgard Pass lies in a gap between the White Mountains and Inyo Mountains at an elevation of 7,313 feet above sea level.  Westgard Pass is named after Anton L. Westgard who made a cross country journey in his Pioneer Freighter truck circa 1911.
(Source: Gribblenation Blog (Tom Fearer), “California State Route 266”, 11/1/2021)

The portion from Oasis to Southern Nevada was an extension of LRN 63, defined in 1933. LRN 63 had been first defined in 1919 as running from Big Pine to Oasis (present-day Route 168). In 1931, Chapter 82 extended LRN 63 from Oasis to California-Nevada State Line to close the 2½ mi gap over Fish Lake Valley to bring the route to the California-Nevada state line, where a Nevada state highway (pre-1976 NV 3, current NV 266) proceeds northeasterly. As such it closed the gap between the California and Nevada highway systems, and provided a complete interstate connection and corrected an obvious error in State highway designation. In 1935, the route was codified into the highway code as the route from Big Pine to the Nevada State Line via Oasis. At this time, the portion from Oasis NW to pre-1976 NV 3A, now NV 264 was a local road.

In 1964, LRN 63 became Route 168.

Status Status

Rte 266 AdoptionIn September 2012, the CTC adopted the remaining portion of Route 266 as a State Route highway location. This route adoption addressed the lack of continuity of this route east of Oasis to the Nevada State line, owing to the fact that when the segment from Route 168 was transferred to Route 266 in 1986, there was never a formal route adoption. The proposed route adoption will extend existing Route 266 from the intersection with Route 168 to the California-Nevada state line easterly of Oasis. The route adoption allows Caltrans to construct a curve correction project within this segment and complete the route for Route 266 in Mono County.

Route 266 is a rural two-lane conventional highway located in the remote southeast corner of Mono County. It begins at the California-Nevada state line east of Oasis and connects Nevada (NV) 266 and US 95 (the northwestern access into Las Vegas) to Route 168 and the Eastern Sierra region of California. From the intersection with Route 168, it continues to the north to connect with NV 264 and provides access to the town of Dyer and Fish Lake Valley, in the state of Nevada. Route 266 travels primarily through public lands used for open range grazing. Other than several alfalfa ranches in the Oasis area, there is no development along the highway. The route is used primarily for rural goods movement and interregional access, but also connects with many dirt roads providing access to the surrounding foothills and open range lands for local and recreational use.

This segment of Route 266 was brought into the State Highway System in 1931 as former LRN 63 from Oasis easterly to the California-Nevada state line. In 1963, LRN 63 was designated as Route 168. In 1986, this segment of Route 168 was transferred to Route 266 and the limits of Route 266 were redefined as “The Nevada state line easterly of Oasis to the Nevada state line northerly of Oasis.” However, a route adoption was never sought for approval by the Commission for the transferred portion. The original segment of Route 266, from Route 168 to the California-Nevada State line to the north, was adopted on November 1, 1965.

Within the project limits, the existing highway consists of two 12-foot paved lanes and paved or unpaved shoulders that vary from zero to four feet in width. The horizontal alignment consists of long approach tangents connected by a nonstandard horizontal curve. The proposed route adoption is consistent with a proposed curve correction project that will realign an existing nonstandard curve near PM 2.5. The existing curve has been posted for a reduced speed limit, but due to the high approach speeds and limited sight distance at the curve location, the accident rate at the curve is much higher than the statewide average for a similar facility. The proposed project will construct a new curve with an appropriate radius for the existing approach speeds and will correct existing deficiencies in the vertical profile, thus improving sight distance. The estimated cost of the project is approximately $1,100,000, which includes construction and right of way costs escalated to the year of construction. The project is fully funded in the State Highway Operation and Protection Program through the Collision Reduction Severity Program and is scheduled to begin construction in FY 2014/2015.

Scenic Route Scenic Route

[SHC 263.7] From the Nevada state line easterly of Oasis to Route 168 at Oasis.

Other WWW Links Other WWW Links

Statistics Statistics

Overall statistics for Route 266:

Pre-1964 Legislative Route Pre-1964 Legislative Route

In 1959, Chapter 1062 defined LRN 266 as “[LRN 9] near Sunland to [LRN 58], including a connection to [LRN 61] north of La Canada”. This route includes portions of Route 118 (from Route 118 to Route 249, unconstr.); Route 249 (from Route 118 to Route 14, unconst.); and Route 122 (from Route 14 to Route 58, unconst.).


Acronyms and Explanations:


Back Arrow Route 265 Forward Arrow Route 267

© 1996-2020 Daniel P. Faigin.
Maintained by: Daniel P. Faigin <webmaster@cahighways.org>.