Road Updates & Articles
Ridge Route Articles
VIDEO: The Old Ridge Route – An Engineering Marvel
The 1915 Old Ridge Route was a turning point for California history and a grand endeavor of the time. As we started transitioning from stagecoaches to automobiles, the old gold rush era Stockton-Los Angeles Road would no longer do for the modern needs of the automobile. The groundbreaking Ridge Route was the solution. Designed forContinue reading “VIDEO: The Old Ridge Route – An Engineering Marvel”
PHOTOS: The (official) Ridge Route Tour!
When I heard the Ridge Route Communities Museum was doing a Ridge Route Tour, I jumped at the opportunity! How awesome is it to do a tour with actual Ridge Route historians! While I won’t spoil the whole tour for y’all , I’ll give you an idea of what it’s like. We all met upContinue reading “PHOTOS: The (official) Ridge Route Tour!”
PHOTOS: History Hidden in Plain Sight – The Ridge Route
Lots of history is hidden on the Ridge Route… you just have to keep an eye out for it! Here are some of the cool things I’ve found on my most recent trip. Liebre State Maintenance Camp While at first glance it looks like and empty dirt clearing, there’s a lot hidden in plain sight.Continue reading “PHOTOS: History Hidden in Plain Sight – The Ridge Route”
From the Archive: Freshly Paved Section of the Old Ridge Route
The Old Ridge Route, south or Reservoir Summit, has lots of spots that have been repaved recently. This particular stretch was done between November of 2018 and August of 2019, according to Google Earth’s imagery. The road is constantly being fixed but I’m not sure who’s maintaining it. Possibly Angeles National Forest as an accessContinue reading “From the Archive: Freshly Paved Section of the Old Ridge Route”
VIDEO: Culverts & Guard Rails on the Ridge Route
Up on the North end of the Ridge Route. Looking for Culverts and stumbled on some old guard rails! Pretty cool! Some photos from yesterday:
Ridge Route Travel Guide
Here’s our updated Ridge Route Travel Guide with clear maps of what exactly is open and locations of historical significance. Disclaimer: I do not encourage anyone to drive the closed off section of the road. It is, however, accessible on foot, bike, scooter, horseback, unicycle… whatever creative way you could get back there without aContinue reading “Ridge Route Travel Guide”
Ridge Route Fire Closure Lifted! Where to go?
We made it through 2020! So in celebration, let’s go on a little tour of the Ridge Route! The road has been closed since the Lake Fire but is back open again (well not the whole thing, but back to what was open before the fire). Here’s a little tour of what’s what. You’ll exitContinue reading “Ridge Route Fire Closure Lifted! Where to go?”
Places to see the 1915 Ridge Route… While Closed
The closure put into effect after the Lake Fire covers most of the Ridge Route but is set to end on December 31st. Until then, where can you see the original concrete of the Ridge Route? ALL THREE ROADS! This is s super cool spot! All 3 roads, the 1915 Ridge Route, the 1933 RidgeContinue reading “Places to see the 1915 Ridge Route… While Closed”
Ridge Route Fire Closure Information
The Lake Fire did not burn any part of the Ridge Route, however most of the road is closed until December 31st of this year. It is closed to rehabilitate the area and allow the fire department to clean up any equipment (like hoses) in the area and due to the extreme fire risk. CLOSURES:Continue reading “Ridge Route Fire Closure Information”
Loading…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Behind The Photo
Behind the Photo: “Climb to Reservoir Summit”
The Old Ridge Route climbing up to Reservoir Summit. The original concrete is partnered with pavement, added later to straighten the curves of the road. There’s something so beautiful about the original 100+ year old pinkish concrete though! Yuccas and native brush surround the road. Waiting around the corner is a sweeping new view! LocationContinue reading “Behind the Photo: “Climb to Reservoir Summit””
Ridge Route Alternate
Ridge Route & Ridge Route Alternate in the Snow!
We had a pretty good rainstorm and it snowed in Castaic! Here’s a dashcam video driving from Martins to the lookout by Castaic lake. We don’t get snow here too often but it’s cool when we do! Photos of the Ridge Route and its original curbing The Ridge Route Alternate stretch of Highway 99
The Ridge Route Alternate
As traffic increased in car technology improved, the 1915 Old Ridge Route just didn’t cut it anymore. The need for higher speeds and a better flow of traffic pushed for a new and improved road. The Ridge Route Alternate opened in 1933. The goal was to have a highway that could handle a lot moreContinue reading “The Ridge Route Alternate”
Waterfalls on the Ridge Route Alternate
With all the rain we’ve been getting, I went to go check the creek that runs along the Ridge Route Alternate. There were a few little waterfalls down there! Super foggy driving down the road itself. Nice and quiet and peaceful.
A Drive Down the Ridge Route and Ridge Route Alternate
Ridge Route, Highway 99 and the 5 Freeway – all going to and from the same place, just from different eras. In my social distancing adventure outside the house, I drove on all 3 of these roads. Starting out on the Ridge Route in Castiac, I headed north towards Templin Highway. Continuing on to HighwayContinue reading “A Drive Down the Ridge Route and Ridge Route Alternate”
Ridge Route Alternate
At a point, we outgrew the original Ridge Route and that’s when Highway 99/the Ridge Route Alternate came into play. It was the next step, followed by our modern day 5 Freeway. It was built in 1933, only 18 years after the original Ridge Route, but was made to handle more traffic and trucks. TheseContinue reading “Ridge Route Alternate”
Other History
Frazier Mountain Lookout
The Frazier Mountain Lookout now sits abandoned and gutted. Originally put into service in 1905, it was the first lookout in what was the Santa Barbara National Forest and served as a way to spot wildfires. At 8013ft above sea level, you have quite a view of the area! The building that currently stands wasContinue reading “Frazier Mountain Lookout”
St. Francis Dam
Out taking photos of the St. Francis Dam up San Fransisquito Canyon. Photos are form Powerhouse 2, all the way up to the dam site. Pretty eerie! More about the St. Francis Dam Disaster here
Follow My Blog
Get new content delivered directly to your inbox.
8N04 - Ridge Route Digital Gallery 