State Scenic Highway System (California)

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State Scenic Highway System
California Scenic State.svg California Scenic.svg
State Scenic Highway System signage
Highway names
Interstates Interstate XX (I-XX)
US Highways U.S. Route XX (US XX)
State State Route XX (SR XX)
System links

The State Scenic Highway System in the U.S. state of California is a list of highways, mainly state highways, that have been designated by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) as scenic highways. They are marked by the state flower, a California poppy, inside either a rectangle for state-maintained highways or a pentagon for county highways. [1] [2]

Contents

The California State Legislature makes state highways eligible for designation as a scenic highway, listing them in the Article 2.5 of Chapter 2 of Division 1 of the California Streets and Highways Code. [3] For a highway to then be declared scenic by Caltrans, the local government with jurisdiction over abutting land must adopt a "scenic corridor protection program" that limits development, outdoor advertising, and earthmoving, and Caltrans must agree that it meets the criteria. The desire to create such a designation has at times been in conflict with the property rights of abutters, for example on State Route 174. [4] [5]

Any county highway that is believed to have outstanding scenic qualities is considered eligible, and the county with jurisdiction must follow Caltrans' same approval process as state highways to be declared scenic. [1]

California Historic Parkways

Entering the Arroyo Seco Parkway in Pasadena WelcomeToTheHistoricArryoSecoParkway.jpg
Entering the Arroyo Seco Parkway in Pasadena
The Cabrillo Freeway, looking south from the Cabrillo Bridge in Balboa Park Cabrillo Freeway from Cabrillo Bridge.jpg
The Cabrillo Freeway, looking south from the Cabrillo Bridge in Balboa Park

California Historic Parkways are defined in the Streets and Highways Code, sections 280–284, as a subset of the State Scenic Highway System. Such historic parkways must have been constructed prior to 1945, and have been determined by either Caltrans or the Office of Historic Preservation in the California Department of Parks and Recreation to have historical significance. They must not at time of designation be traversed by more than 40,000 vehicles per day on an annual daily average basis. They also must be "bounded on one or both sides by federal, state, or local parkland, Native American lands or monuments, or other open space, greenbelt areas, natural habitat or wildlife preserves, or similar acreage used for or dedicated to historical or recreational uses". [3]

List of eligible and designated scenic state highways

SR 1 and State Scenic Highway markers California State Route 1 All American Road sign.jpg
SR 1 and State Scenic Highway markers
SR 2 entering Angeles National Forest from the south Entering Angeles National Forest on SR2 from the south 2014.jpg
SR 2 entering Angeles National Forest from the south
Subalpine meadow at SR 4/Ebbetts Pass Ebbetts Pass 04 (4894171880).jpg
Subalpine meadow at SR 4/Ebbetts Pass
SR 24 running through Lafayette, with Mount Diablo in the distance View of Mount Diablo and CA Highway 24 from Lafayette Heights.jpg
SR 24 running through Lafayette, with Mount Diablo in the distance
View northeast from near Pine Mountain Summit on SR 33 SR33-Pinos.JPG
View northeast from near Pine Mountain Summit on SR 33
SR 49 through the historic mining community of Downieville. Downieville, California, at Main and Commercial St., looking south.jpg
SR 49 through the historic mining community of Downieville.
View from US 50/Echo Summit towards Lake Tahoe US 50 from Echo Summit towards Lake Tahoe.jpg
View from US 50/Echo Summit towards Lake Tahoe
SR 62 and State Scenic Highway markers in Whitewater. CA62s2 20150913.jpg
SR 62 and State Scenic Highway markers in Whitewater.
SR 68 eastbound approaching the Monterey Peninsula. CA 68 approaching Monterey.jpg
SR 68 eastbound approaching the Monterey Peninsula.
SR 75/San Diego-Coronado Bridge, 2016 San Diego-Coronado Bridge by Frank Mckenna.jpg
SR 75/San Diego–Coronado Bridge, 2016
SR 78 in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, looking east CA 78 Anza-Borrego.jpg
SR 78 in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, looking east
SR 88 in Alpine County near Red Lake Hwy 88 near Carson snow park just past Red Lake - panoramio.jpg
SR 88 in Alpine County near Red Lake
SR 89 through Emerald Bay State Park overlooking Lake Tahoe Emerald Bay State Park - panoramio (4).jpg
SR 89 through Emerald Bay State Park overlooking Lake Tahoe
US 101 northbound near Gaviota Tunnel. The open road (4944517055).jpg
US 101 northbound near Gaviota Tunnel.
SR 116 bridge over the Russian River in Guerneville. Route 116 bridge from historic Guerneville Bridge.jpg
SR 116 bridge over the Russian River in Guerneville.
SR 154 and State Scenic Highway markers CA154w3 20150917.jpg
SR 154 and State Scenic Highway markers
SR 160 southbound about 5 miles (8.0 km) north of Rio Vista. On CA State Route 160 S 1.JPG
SR 160 southbound about 5 miles (8.0 km) north of Rio Vista.
SR 168, heading up Bishop Creek. Highway-168.jpg
SR 168, heading up Bishop Creek.
SR 190/Death Valley Scenic Byway in Death Valley National Park. Death Valley Scenic Byway, California, USA (49099071942).jpg
SR 190/Death Valley Scenic Byway in Death Valley National Park.
San Gorgonio Mountain seen from SR 243 near Banning. San gorgonio from SR 243 2010.jpg
San Gorgonio Mountain seen from SR 243 near Banning.
I-280 and State Scenic Highway markers Cal poppy scenic route sign.jpg
I-280 and State Scenic Highway markers
US 395 descending south into Owens Valley US395descending intobishop.JPG
US 395 descending south into Owens Valley
Descending from Mission Pass on I-680 northbound View from I-680 (2).jpg
Descending from Mission Pass on I-680 northbound

Designated county highways

Mulholland Highway through Leo Carrillo State Park, with Sandstone Peak in the distance Mulholland Highway.jpg
Mulholland Highway through Leo Carrillo State Park, with Sandstone Peak in the distance

See also

Related Research Articles

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State Route 1 (SR 1) is a major north–south state highway that runs along most of the Pacific coastline of the U.S. state of California. At 656 miles (1,056 km), it is the longest state route in California, and the second-longest in the US after Montana Highway 200. SR 1 has several portions designated as either Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), Cabrillo Highway, Shoreline Highway, or Coast Highway. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 5 (I-5) near Dana Point in Orange County and its northern terminus is at U.S. Route 101 (US 101) near Leggett in Mendocino County. SR 1 also at times runs concurrently with US 101, most notably through a 54-mile (87 km) stretch in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, and across the Golden Gate Bridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Route 74</span> Highway in California

State Route 74, part of which forms the Palms to Pines Scenic Byway or Pines to Palms Highway, and the Ortega Highway, is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. It runs from Interstate 5 in San Juan Capistrano in Orange County to the city limits of Palm Desert in Riverside County. Stretching about 111 miles (179 km), it passes through several parks and National Forests between the Pacific coast and the Coachella Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Route 38</span> Highway in California

State Route 38 is a mostly rural and scenic state highway in the U.S. state of California, connecting Interstate 10 in Redlands with State Route 18 in the Big Bear Lake area. It is one of the primary routes into the San Bernardino Mountains. Despite the orientation of its alignment, SR 38 is assigned in a west–east direction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Route 120</span> Highway in California

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Route 2</span> State highway in California, United States

State Route 2 (SR 2) is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. It connects the Los Angeles Basin with the San Gabriel Mountains and the Victor Valley in the Mojave Desert. The highway's southwestern end is at the intersection of Centinela Avenue at the Santa Monica-Los Angeles border and its northeastern end is at SR 138 east of Wrightwood. The SR 2 is divided into four segments, and it briefly runs concurrently with U.S. Route 101 (US 101) and Interstate 210 (I-210). The southwestern section of SR 2 runs along a segment of the east–west Santa Monica Boulevard, an old routing of US 66, to US 101 in East Hollywood; the second section runs along segments of both the north–south Alvarado Street and Glendale Boulevard in Echo Park; the third section to I-210 in Glendale is known as the north–south Glendale Freeway; and the northeastern portion from I-210 in La Cañada Flintridge to SR 138 is designated as the Angeles Crest Highway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Route 116</span> Highway in California

State Route 116 (SR 116) is a state highway in the U.S. state of California in Sonoma County. The route runs from SR 1 on the Pacific coast near Jenner to SR 121 south of Sonoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Route 299</span> State highway in California, United States

State Route 299 is an east–west state highway in the U.S. state of California that runs across the northern part of the state. At 305.777 miles (492.100 km), it is the third longest California state route, after Route 1 and Route 99, and the longest east-west route. Route 299's western terminus is at US 101 at the northern edge of Arcata, and its eastern terminus is at the Nevada state line at a point east of Cedarville. Between Arcata and Redding, Route 299 intersects with State Route 96, and is briefly co-signed with State Route 3. In Redding, it intersects with State Route 273, State Route 44, and Interstate 5. East of Redding, it intersects with State Route 89, and a section is co-signed with State Route 139 before reaching Alturas. It is then co-signed with U.S. Route 395 northeast of Alturas, and then runs east through Cedarville and to the border with Nevada. A ghost town, Vya, Nevada, can be reached via this route, which after the border becomes a dirt road, which was formerly Nevada State Route 8A. The segment of SR 299 between Arcata and Redding is the Trinity Scenic Byway, a National Forest Scenic Byway.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nevada State Route 159</span> Highway in Nevada

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Route 33</span> Highway in California

State Route 33 is a north–south state highway in the U.S. state of California. It runs north from U.S. Route 101 in Ventura through the Transverse Ranges and the western side of the San Joaquin Valley to Interstate 5 at a point east of Tracy. SR 33 replaced part of U.S. Route 399 in 1964 during the "great renumbering" of routes. In the unincorporated sections of Kern County it is known as the West Side Highway. In addition, the California Legislature designated the entire Kern County portion as the Petroleum Highway in 2004. The southernmost portion in Ventura is a freeway known as the Ojai Freeway, while it is known as the Maricopa Highway from Ojai to Maricopa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Route 20</span> State highway in California, United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Route 89</span> Highway in California

State Route 89 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California that travels in the north–south direction, serving as a major thoroughfare for many mountain communities in the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade Range. It starts from U.S. Route 395 near Topaz Lake, winding its way up to the 8,314-foot (2,534 m) Monitor Pass, down to the Carson River, and up again over the 7,740-foot (2,359 m) Luther Pass. From that point on, the route generally loses elevation on its way past Lake Tahoe, through Tahoe and Plumas National Forests until Lake Almanor. For roughly nine miles the route is then a part of State Route 36. The route then ascends to the 5,753-foot (1,754 m) Morgan Summit. After it enters Lassen Volcanic National Park it continues to gain elevation until it reaches its highest point in an unnamed pass in the middle of Lassen Peak and Bumpass Mountain. The road then descends and heads northwest, finally terminating at Interstate 5 at the foot of Mount Shasta at around 3,600 feet (1,100 m).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Route 156</span> Highway in California

State Route 156 is a west to east state highway in the U.S. state of California, running from State Route 1 in Castroville to State Route 152 near Hollister. It serves as part of the primary route from the Monterey Peninsula to either the San Francisco Bay Area or the California Central Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Route 36</span> Highway in California

State Route 36 is an east–west state highway in the U.S. state of California that is routed from U.S. Route 101 in Humboldt County to U.S. Route 395 just east of Susanville in Lassen County. The highway passes through Red Bluff, the county seat of Tehama County, on the northern edge of the Sacramento Valley. The portion of SR 36 travelling past Lassen Volcanic National Park and Lake Almanor is part of the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, a National Scenic Byway. Also, Route 36 between Alton and Susanville is a designated Blue Star Memorial Highway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Route 168</span> Highway in California

State Route 168 is an east-west state highway in the U.S. state of California that is separated into two distinct segments by the Sierra Nevada. The western segment runs from State Routes 41 and 180 in Fresno east to Huntington Lake along the western slope of the Sierra. The eastern segment connects Lake Sabrina in the Eastern Sierra to State Route 266 in the community of Oasis, just to the west of the Nevada border. The eastern segment of SR 168 also forms a concurrency with U.S. Route 395 between Bishop and Big Pine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Route 178</span> Highway in California

State Route 178 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California that exists in two constructed segments. The gap in between segments is connected by various local roads and State Route 190 through Death Valley National Park. The western segment runs from State Route 99 in Bakersfield and over the Walker Pass in the Sierra Nevada to the turnoff for the Trona Pinnacles National Natural Landmark. The eastern segment runs from the southeasterly part of Death Valley to Nevada State Route 372 at the Nevada state line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.S. Route 101 in California</span> U.S. Highway in California

U.S. Route 101 (US 101) is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway, stretching from Los Angeles, California, to Tumwater, Washington. The California portion of US 101 is one of the last remaining and longest U.S. Routes still active in the state, and the longest highway of any kind in California. US 101 was also one of the original national routes established in 1926. Significant portions of US 101 between the Los Angeles area and the San Francisco Bay Area follow El Camino Real, the commemorative route connecting the former Alta California's 21 missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interstate 5 in California</span> Section of Interstate Highway in California, United States

Interstate 5 (I-5) is a major north–south route of the Interstate Highway System in the United States, stretching from the Mexican border at the San Ysidro crossing to the Canadian border near Blaine, Washington. The segment of I-5 in California runs 796.77 miles (1,282.28 km) across the length of the state from San Ysidro to the Oregon state line south of the Medford-Ashland metropolitan area. It is the longest interstate in California, and accounts for more than half of I-5's total length.

There are 21 routes assigned to the "G" zone of the California Route Marker Program, which designates county routes in California. The "G" zone includes county highways in Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties.

There are 34 routes assigned to the "S" zone of the California Route Marker Program, which designates county routes in California. The "S" zone includes county highways in Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, and Santa Barbara counties.

References

  1. 1 2 District 3. "Scenic Highway Program". California Department of Transportation . Retrieved January 31, 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. "CA MUTCD 2014 Revision 4". California Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Article 2.5 of Chapter 2 of Division 1 of the California Streets and Highways Code". Sacramento: California Office of Legislative Counsel . Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  4. "Scenic Highway Concept Spurs Alarm". Sacramento Bee . March 25, 1999. p. N1.
  5. Moller, Dave (August 7, 2004). "CABPRO's Urke steps down". Union of Grass Valley .
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 California Department of Transportation (2017). "List of eligible and officially designated State Scenic Highways". Sacramento: California Department of Transportation. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
  7. Lech, Steve (2012). For Tourism and a Good Night's Sleep: J. Win Wilson, Wilson Howell, and the Beginnings of the Pines-to-Palms Highway. Riverside, California: Steve Lech. p. 230. ISBN   978-0-9837500-1-7.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 California Department of Transportation. "List of Officially Designated County Scenic Highways" (PDF). Sacramento: California Department of Transportation. Retrieved May 2, 2019.