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Dead Indian Memorial Road, Southern Cascades, Oregon
Photo: Bureau of Land Management · Public domain

Drives Oregon Southern Oregon

Dead Indian Memorial Road

Southern Cascades, Oregon · Ashland → Lake of the Woods

Sweeping32 mi55 min4,600 ft climbHigh point ≈ 5,400 ftOne way
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The drive

Dead Indian Memorial Road climbs east from Ashland, where it meets OR 66 near I-5, and crosses the Cascades to Lake of the Woods and OR 140. It began as a wagon road in the late 1850s, and tourists once took it toward Crater Lake.

The road passes the turn for Howard Prairie Reservoir. The name comes from Dead Indian Prairie, a place name dating to the 1850s.

Along the way

  1. Ashland (OR-66)
  2. Lake of the Woods (OR-140)
Elevation
4,600 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 5,400 ft
AshlandLake of the Woods
Curves
Mostly gentle, with two twisty stretches
AshlandLake of the Woods
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • Check TripCheck before a winter drive: the road crosses the Cascades and conditions can change.
  • The road passes the turn south to Howard Prairie Reservoir.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check ODOT TripCheck.

Questions about this drive

How long does Dead Indian Memorial Road take?

Dead Indian Memorial Road from Ashland to Lake of the Woods is 31.6 miles and takes about 55 minutes.

Where does Dead Indian Memorial Road go?

It runs from OR 66 on the east edge of Ashland across the Cascades to OR 140 at Lake of the Woods.

Is the road twisty?

It is rated Sweeping, with mostly open curves as it climbs the Cascades.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
Preview it in 3DFly the whole drive over satellite and terrain before you go.
Drive it with no signalAPEXDownload the map and every turn before you go.
Live Group TrackingAPEXEveryone on the route, on the map, by name.
Road conditionsAPEXWet or dry, ice, fog and wind along the road before you go.
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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Dead Indian Memorial Road, from Ashland to Lake of the Woods