A flat, a warning light or a missing set of chains does not have to end the trip. Here is who to call near Etna, California, and how to get here ready for winter roads.
Etna, California sits in Scott Valley in Siskiyou County, about 35 minutes off I-5 at Yreka by way of Highway 3 and Fort Jones. Most drives up are easy: a long run up I-5, the turn at Yreka, and the slow climb over the hill into the valley with the Marble Mountains ahead. But this is rural mountain country. The nearest big-city service center is hours away, cell coverage drops in places, and winter brings chain controls. A little planning keeps a small car problem from turning into a lost day. Save this page to your phone before you leave, and if anything goes wrong during your stay, text our concierge at 530 572 1122. We will help you sort it out.
In an emergency
Call 911 for a crash, an injury or a car stopped in a dangerous spot.
California Highway Patrol, Yreka Communications Center: 530 841 6000, open 24 hours. It dispatches for all of Siskiyou County (CHP).
Road conditions: Caltrans at 1 800 427 7623, or Caltrans QuickMap for live chain controls, closures and cameras.
Roadside assistance: if you have it through your insurer, your auto club or your rental company, call them first. They will dispatch a local tow truck.
Towing
Bruce's Towing, Yreka: 310 Greenhorn Road. Phone 530 842 4559. Listed as open 24 hours, with strong reviews from travelers.
Valley Towing, Fort Jones: Phone 530 468 5600. The towing company based right here in Scott Valley. Call for hours.
Black Butte Towing, Weed: Phone 530 938 1110. Open 24 hours and serves all of Siskiyou County, a good call if you break down on I-5 near Mount Shasta.
Etna is about 35 minutes from Yreka, so give the driver your exact location, mile marker or cross street, and expect some wait on a winter night.
Mechanics in Yreka
Etna is a small town, so for repairs plan on Yreka, the county seat, about 35 minutes north. These three are well reviewed and rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau. Call ahead, describe the problem, and ask how soon they can look at it.
Finwall's Diagnostic and Auto Repair: 1532 S Oregon Street. Phone 530 842 3435. Weekdays 8 AM to 4 PM. In business since 1982, and reviewers say they look after out-of-town drivers. A good first call for a warning light.
Dunn Automotive: 221 N Main Street. Phone 530 842 4454. Weekdays 8 AM to 5 PM. Known for quick turnaround and next-day appointments.
American Diesel and Auto: 323 Greenhorn Road. Phone 530 842 1700. Weekdays 8 AM to 5 PM. The pick for diesel trucks and RVs, and cars too.
Source for these listings: BBB auto repair directory. Hours change, especially around holidays, so confirm by phone before you drive over.
Coming up I-5 past Mount Shasta? Brooks Complete Auto Repair, a AAA Approved shop, is at 530 926 6190, and Bjers Modern and Classic Auto Repair is at 530 926 0500.
Auto parts
NAPA Auto Parts, Fort Jones: 11215 N Highway 3, the closest parts store to Etna. Phone 530 468 5483. Weekdays 8 AM to 5:30 PM, Saturday 8 AM to 5 PM.
O'Reilly Auto Parts, Yreka: 1904 Fort Jones Road. Phone 530 842 6080. Open every day, Sundays included. Batteries, wipers, bulbs and fluids.
Tires and chains
Les Schwab Tire Center, Yreka: 1508 Fairlane Road, east of I-5 at exit 773 by the fairgrounds. Phone 530 842 6035. Open Monday to Friday 7 AM to 6 PM and Saturday 7 AM to 5 PM. Tires, flat repair and tire chains, with some of the best reviews on the I-5 corridor. Les Schwab will refund unused chains returned in their original packaging after April 1, so buying a set is low risk (Les Schwab chain policy).
Valley Tire and Tackle, Fort Jones: 11211 N Highway 3, about 15 minutes from Etna. Phone 530 468 2432. The closest tire shop to the house, open weekdays and Saturday mornings. Call ahead for hours and to ask about chains for your size.
Tehama Tire Service, Yreka: 2007 Fairlane Road. Weekdays 8 AM to 5 PM. Well reviewed for tires and flat repair.
Buy chains before you need them. At a chain control, roadside installers are independent businesses, and they are not allowed to sell or rent chains (Caltrans). If you use one, get a receipt and write their badge number on it.
California chain controls, in plain words
R1: chains required, except on passenger cars and light trucks with snow tires on at least two drive wheels. Those cars must still carry chains.
R2: chains or traction devices required, except on four-wheel or all-wheel drive vehicles with snow tires on all four wheels. Those must still carry chains.
R3: chains required on every vehicle, no exceptions.
With chains on, the speed limit is 25 or 30 mph, and the CHP can cite drivers who skip a required chain stop (Caltrans chain control rules).
Charging an electric car
Free charging at Blossom. EV charging is free with every stay at Blossom Sanctuary. The house has a 240-volt dryer-style outlet, which works like a Level 2 charger and tops up most cars overnight. Bring your own mobile charging cable with the adapter for a dryer outlet, and text the concierge at 530 572 1122 if you want to confirm the plug type before you pack.
Fast charging on the way. The closest fast charging is in Yreka, about 35 minutes from the house. The Tesla Supercharger at Raley's, 1808 Fort Jones Road, has 12 stalls at up to 250 kW and is open 24 hours. Other drivers need a NACS adapter there. Yreka also has ChargePoint and Electrify America stations; check a charging app for live status. Plan to arrive with enough charge to reach the house, since cold weather shortens range and the valley has few public chargers. Then plug in at Blossom for the night. There is no EV repair specialist in the county, so EV drivers should call their carmaker's roadside service first.
Before you drive up: a short checklist
Check QuickMap the night before and the morning you leave.
Carry chains that fit your tires, and practice putting them on once in a dry driveway.
Fill up in Yreka before the drive into the valley, and keep the tank above half in winter.
Pack a scraper, gloves, a flashlight, water, snacks and a blanket. Caltrans has more winter driving tips.
Drive in daylight, stay together if you are traveling in two cars, and watch for deer at dusk.
Download offline maps. Cell service is patchy on some valley roads.
Common questions
Is there a mechanic in Etna, California? Etna is a small town, so most repairs happen in Yreka, about 35 minutes north. Text our concierge at 530 572 1122 and we will help you find the right shop.
Who do I call for a tow near Etna? Call your roadside assistance provider first. Valley Towing in Fort Jones (530 468 5600) is based in Scott Valley, and Bruce's Towing in Yreka (530 842 4559) is listed as open 24 hours. For a crash or a dangerous spot, call 911.
Where can I buy tire chains near Etna? Les Schwab Tire Center in Yreka (530 842 6035) carries tire chains and refunds unused sets after April 1. Buy them before you reach a chain control, because roadside installers cannot sell or rent chains.
Where can I buy auto parts near Etna? NAPA Auto Parts in Fort Jones (530 468 5483) is closest. O'Reilly in Yreka is open every day, including Sundays.
Where can I charge an electric car near Etna? Guests at Blossom Sanctuary charge free overnight from a 240-volt dryer-style outlet; bring your own mobile charging cable and adapter. For fast charging, the Tesla Supercharger at Raley's in Yreka is open 24 hours with 12 stalls, and Yreka also has ChargePoint and Electrify America stations.
Good to know
Save the CHP number, 530 841 6000, and our concierge number, 530 572 1122, in your phone before you leave.
Most shops close on Sundays and holidays. Plan around that if you notice something wrong on a Saturday.
Check-in at the house is 3 PM, so you have time to arrive in daylight even on short winter days.
Once the car is parked, you can leave it there: Main Street in Etna is a short walk from the house. See open dates and prices, read our guide to Scott Valley drives, and see what's on around Etna on our events calendar.
