Highway 299 was designated the "Trinity Scenic Byway" in October, 1991. The Theme of the route, "From the Valley Oaks to the Redwood Coast" was chosen by the Forest Service to feature the wide variety of plant and animal life that exists in the various climates zones along the highway. This scenic byway may offer some of the most diverse scenery, botanical variety, wildlife and climatic zones of any drive in far Northern California. The route encompasses from the dryer, warmer Sacramento River Valley to the cool, often foggy Redwood Coast. The drive also features the cultural and historical aspects of the region, from the prehistoric native American tribes to the gold miners and timber workers of the 20th Century.