OREGON - If you live in Oregon, you know the beauty of the state comes with a price: the roads are often carved into cliffs, mountains, or rain-slicked forests. While Portland commuters complain about the "Terwilliger Curves," the real danger lies to the south. The Siskiyou Summit on Interstate 5 is widely considered one of the most treacherous mountain passes on the West Coast. At 4,310 feet, it is the highest point on I-5 and serves as a gatekeeper between Oregon and California, frequently trapping unprepared drivers.
But the mountains aren't the only threat. From the pedestrian hazards of Portland's "Orphan Highways" to the crumbling cliffs of the Coast Range, here are the red zones you need to watch out for in 2026.
1. The Winter Monster: I-5 Siskiyou Summit
This isn't just a hill; it's a weather system. The stretch of I-5 just north of the California border (near Ashland) is legendary among truckers and locals.
The Danger Zone:
- The Elevation: You climb over 2,000 feet in just 6 miles. This rapid change means you can leave sunny California and hit a blizzard in Oregon within minutes.
- The "Black Ice" Trap: Because the summit is so high, it freezes long before the valley floor. Drivers doing 70 mph hit an invisible layer of ice on the steep 6% grade.
- The Result: It is the site of frequent chain-reaction pileups involving semi-trucks. If the "Chain Requirement" lights are flashing, do not try to "wing it." State Troopers will turn you around, and if you slide out, you block the entire West Coast trucking artery.
2. The "Deceptive" Drive: US Highway 101
It is one of the most beautiful drives in the world, but US 101 (The Oregon Coast Highway) is statistically lethal.
- The Problem: It functions as both a high-speed highway and a Main Street for coastal towns.
- The Risk: Tourists watching the ocean instead of the road drift across the center line. Add in heavy fog, massive logging trucks around blind corners, and crumbling shoulders, and you have a road that demands 100% focus.
- Spot to Watch: The stretch near Depoe Bay and the cliffs of Neahkahnie Mountain are unforgiving if you lose traction.
3. The Intersection List: 2 Spots to Watch
In Portland, the danger isn't usually speed—it's design. The city is famous for its "Orphan Highways" (state highways that act like city streets).
A. SE 82nd Avenue & Powell Boulevard (Portland)
If you live in East Portland, you know this intersection.
- Why it's dangerous: It is the meeting point of two major "stroads" (US-26 and OR-213). It is wide, confusing, and aggressive.
- The Risk: It consistently ranks among the city's highest for severe crashes, particularly those involving pedestrians trying to cross seven lanes of traffic to catch a bus.
B. TV Highway & SW 185th Ave (Aloha/Beaverton)
In Washington County, Tualatin Valley Highway (TV Hwy) is the local headache.
- The Problem: It is a high-volume commuter route lined with driveways and strip malls.
- The Danger: The intersection at 185th is a "crash magnet" for rear-end collisions and side-swipes as drivers make sudden lane changes to avoid turning traffic.
4. The "Portland Twist": I-5 Terwilliger Curves
This is the spot every Portland commuter dreads.
- The Design: Just south of downtown, I-5 suddenly twists like a snake through the hills.
- The Crash Pattern: Traffic slows down instantly here because the curves are sharp and blind. If you are speeding as you approach the Terwilliger exit, you will slam into stopped traffic.
- The Stat: It is the #1 crash location on the Portland freeway system.
How to Survive the Drive
- Check the Cameras on Siskiyou: Before you leave Ashland or Yreka, check the ODOT TripCheck cameras. If the road is white, pull over and wait it out.
- Watch for Pedestrians on 82nd: If you are driving 82nd Avenue at night, stay in the center lanes. Pedestrians often cross mid-block in the dark.
- Slow Down at Terwilliger: Even if traffic looks light, assume there is a stopped car around the next bend. There usually is.
