SR 36 is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System, and east of SR 44 is part of the National Highway System, a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by the Federal Highway Administration. SR 36 is eligible for the State Scenic Highway System, but it is not officially designated as a scenic highway by the California Department of Transportation. Both the SR 36/SR 86 concurrency, and the segment of SR 36 between SR 86 near Chester and SR 44 near Susanville, are part of the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, a National Scenic Byway.