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
InterstatesInterstate XX (I-XX)
US HighwaysU.S. Route XX (US XX)
StateState 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]

The California State Legislature makes state highways eligible for designation as a scenic highway, listing them in the Streets and Highways Code, sections 260-284.[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

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]

State Route 110
  • Arroyo Seco Parkway (also a National Scenic Byway), the first freeway in the Western U.S.
    • Designated 1994-01-01 in Los Angeles County: Figueroa Street/Avenue 26 in Los Angeles to Glenarm Street in Pasadena[3]
State Route 163
  • Cabrillo Parkway, historic parkway through Balboa Park in San Diego

List of eligible and designated scenic state highways[]

Sign on SR 1
State Route 1
Entering Angeles National Forest on SR 2 from the south
State Route 2
State Route 3
Subalpine meadow at Ebbetts Pass
State Route 4
  • SR 160 in Antioch to SR 84 near Brentwood
  • SR 49 in Angels Camp to SR 89 near Markleeville
    • Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway (also a National Scenic Byway), crossing of the Sierra Nevada via Ebbetts Pass past giant sequoia groves
      • Designated 1971-11-09 in Calaveras County: Arnold to Alpine County
      • Designated 1970-09-14 in Alpine County: Calaveras County to SR 89 near Markleeville
Interstate 5
San Luis Reservoir, viewed from SR 152 in July 2021
  • SR 152 near Los Banos to I-580 near Tracy
    • West Side Freeway, follows the western edge of the agricultural areas of the Central Valley, paralleling the California Aqueduct and the Delta–Mendota Canal
      • Designated 1968-10-25 in Merced County: SR 152 near Los Banos to Stanislaus County
      • Designated 1968-10-25 in Stanislaus County: Merced County to San Joaquin County
      • Designated 1974-06-07 in San Joaquin County: Stanislaus County to I-580 near Tracy
  • SR 44 in Redding to Shasta Lake
  • SR 89 near Mount Shasta to US 97 in Weed
  • SR 3 in Yreka to Oregon
Interstate 8
  • Sunset Cliffs Boulevard in San Diego to SR 98 near Ocotillo
State Route 9
  • SR 1 in Santa Cruz to SR 17 in Los Gatos
    • Saratoga-Los Gatos Road, scenic drive through suburban areas in and near Saratoga at the foot of the Santa Cruz Mountains
      • Designated 1979-10-18 in Santa Clara County: SR 35 at Saratoga Gap to Saratoga Sunnyvale Road in Saratoga
      • Designated 1968-05-02 in Santa Clara County: Saratoga Sunnyvale Road in Saratoga to Los Gatos
Interstate 10
  • SR 38 in Redlands to SR 62 near White Water
State Route 12
  • US 101 in Santa Rosa to SR 121 near Sonoma
    • Valley of the Moon Highway, passes through various wineries and vineyards of Sonoma Valley
      • Designated 1974-12-17 in Sonoma County: Santa Rosa to Agua Caliente
State Route 14
Interstate 15
  • SR 76 near Pala to SR 91 in Corona
  • SR 58 in Barstow to SR 127 at Baker
State Route 16
  • SR 20 near Rumsey to Capay
State Route 17
  • SR 1 in Santa Cruz to SR 9 in Los Gatos
State Route 18
  • SR 138 at Crestline to SR 247 at Lucerne Valley
State Route 20
  • SR 1 in Fort Bragg to SR 16 near Rumsey
  • SR 49 in Grass Valley to I-80 near Emigrant Gap
View of Mount Diablo and SR 24
State Route 24
State Route 25
  • SR 198 near to SR 156 near Hollister
State Route 27
  • SR 1 at Topanga Beach to Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles
    • Topanga Canyon Boulevard, runs through Topanga Canyon and part of Topanga State Park
      • Designated 2017-03-22 in Los Angeles County: Topanga Canyon[6]
State Route 28
  • SR 89 in Tahoe City to Nevada
State Route 29
  • SR 37 in Vallejo to SR 221 near Napa
  • Trancas Street in Napa to SR 20 near Upper Lake
View northeast from near Pine Mountain Summit on SR 33
State Route 33
  • US 101 in Ventura to SR 166 near Cuyama
    • Jacinto Reyes Scenic Byway (also a National Forest Scenic Byway), scenic drive through Los Padres National Forest past pine forests and semi-desert landscapes
      • Designated 1972-02-18 in Ventura County: Wheeler Springs to near Sespe Gorge
      • Designated 1988-07-11 in Ventura County: near Sespe Gorge to near Pine Mountain Ridge Road
      • Designated 1972-02-18 in Ventura County: near Pine Mountain Ridge Road to near Lockwood Valley Road
      • Designated 1988-07-11 in Ventura County: near Lockwood Valley Road to Santa Barbara County
State Route 35
State Route 36
State Route 37
  • SR 251 near Nicasio to SR 29 in Vallejo
State Route 38
State Route 39
Interstate 40
State Route 41
  • SR 1 in Morro Bay to US 101 in Atascadero
  • SR 46 near Cholame to SR 33 at Reef Station
  • SR 49 at Oakhurst to Yosemite National Park
State Route 44
State Route 46
  • SR 1 near Cambria to SR 41 near Cholame
SR 49 through the historic mining community of Downieville.
State Route 49
  • SR 41 at Oakhurst to SR 89 at Sattley
    • Part of the Yuba-Donner Scenic Byway (also a National Forest Scenic Byway), scenic drive through the Yuba River canyon past several historic mining communities of the California Gold Rush
      • Designated 1971-07-14 in Sierra County: Yuba County to Yuba Pass
View from Echo Summit towards Lake Tahoe
U.S. Route 50
  • SR 49 in Placerville to Nevada
    • Route 50, crossing of the Sierra Nevada via the American River Canyon and Echo Summit towards Lake Tahoe
      • Designated 1985-04-02 in El Dorado County: Placerville Drive in Placerville (west of SR 49) to Echo Summit
      • Designated 1986-04-01 in El Dorado County: Echo Summit to South Lake Tahoe
State Route 52
  • I-5 in San Diego to SR 67 in Santee
State Route 53
  • SR 29 at Lower Lake to SR 20 near Clearlake
State Route 57
  • SR 90 in Brea to SR 60 near Industry
State Route 58
Sign on SR 62
State Route 62
  • I-10 near White Water to Arizona
    • Twentynine Palms Highway, runs through scenic high desert country and Joshua Tree National Monument
      • Designated 1972-09-14 in Riverside County: I-10 near White Water to San Bernardino County
SR 68 approaching Monterey
State Route 68
  • Monterey to US 101 in Salinas
    • Route 68, runs through areas of oak, sycamore, and pine trees east of Monterey
      • Designated 1968-06-19 in Monterey County: SR 1 in Monterey to Salinas River
State Route 70
  • SR 149 at Wicks Corner to SR 89 at Blairsden
State Route 71
  • SR 91 near Corona to SR 83 in Chino Hills
State Route 74
State Route 75
  • I-5 in southern San Diego to I-5 near Downtown San Diego
    • Silver Strand Highway, scenic drive along the Silver Strand and across the San Diego-Coronado Bridge
      • Designated 1974-03-04 in San Diego County: Imperial Beach to Avenida del Sol in Coronado
      • Designated 1969-12-17 in San Diego County: San Diego-Coronado Bridge
State Route 76
State Route 78
SR 78 in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, looking east
State Route 79
Interstate 80
  • I-280 in San Francisco to SR 61 in Oakland
  • SR 20 near Emigrant Gap to Nevada
State Route 84
  • SR 238 in Fremont to I-680 near Sunol
    • Niles Canyon Road, runs through Niles Canyon
      • Designated 2007-07-27 in Alameda County: SR 238 in Fremont to I-680 near Sunol
State Route 88
  • SR 49 in Jackson to Nevada
    • Carson Pass Highway, (also a National Forest Scenic Byway), crossing of the Sierra Nevada via Carson Pass
      • Designated 1986-07-30 in Amador County: Dew Drop Ranger Station to Alpine County
      • Designated 1970-09-14 in Alpine County: Amador County to Nevada
SR 89 through Emerald Bay State Park overlooking Lake Tahoe
State Route 89
  • US 395 near Coleville to I-5 near Mount Shasta
    • Monitor Pass and Luther Pass Highways, and Lake Tahoe Road, scenic drive through the forests of Sierra Nevada and along the southwestern side of Lake Tahoe
      • Designated 1971-11-09 in Mono County: to Alpine County
      • Designated 1970-09-14 in Alpine County: Mono County to El Dorado County
      • Designated 1986-04-01 in El Dorado County: Alpine County to Placer County
State Route 91
  • SR 55 in Anaheim to I-15 in Corona
    • Riverside Freeway, runs along the banks of the Santa Ana River past riparian areas and chaparral vegetation
      • Designated 1971-11-15 in Orange County: SR 55 in Anaheim to Anaheim east limit
State Route 92
State Route 94
State Route 96
  • SR 299 at Willow Creek to I-5 near Yreka
U.S. Route 97
  • I-5 in Weed to Oregon
U.S. Route 101
State Route 108
  • SR 49 in Sonora to US 395 near Bridgeport
State Route 111
State Route 116
  • SR 1 near Jenner to US 101 in Cotati
    • Route 116, scenic drive along the Russian River
      • Designated 1988-09-20 in Sonoma County: SR 1 near Jenner to Sebastopol east limit
State Route 118
  • SR 23 in Moorpark to De Soto Avenue in Los Angeles
State Route 120
  • Yosemite National Park to US 395 near Mono Lake
State Route 121
  • SR 37 near Sears Point to SR 12 near Sonoma
  • SR 221 in Napa to Trancas Street near Napa
State Route 125
  • SR 94 near Spring Valley to I-8 in La Mesa
    • Route 125, passes through scenic areas west of
      • Designated 1971-03-01 in San Diego County: SR 94 near Spring Valley to I-8 in La Mesa
State Route 126
  • SR 150 in Santa Paula to I-5 in Santa Clarita
State Route 127
  • I-15 at Baker to Nevada
State Route 138
  • SR 2 near Wrightwood to SR 18 at Crestline
State Route 139
  • SR 299 near Canby to Oregon
State Route 140
  • SR 49 at Mariposa to Yosemite National Park
    • Route 140, scenic drive through the Merced River Canyon to Yosemite National Park
      • Designated 1991-08-30 in Mariposa County: Mariposa to El Portal
State Route 142
  • Brea to Peyton Drive in Chino Hills
State Route 146
State Route 150
  • US 101 in Carpinteria to SR 126 in Santa Paula
State Route 151
State Route 152
  • SR 1 in Watsonville to Hecker Pass
  • SR 156 near to I-5 near Los Banos
    • Pacheco Pass Road, runs along the northern and eastern shore of the San Luis Reservoir, and through the western edge of the Central Valley
      • Designated 1970-06-19 in Merced County: Santa Clara County to I-5 near Los Banos
Sign on SR 154
State Route 154
State Route 156
  • SR 1 near Castroville to SR 152 near
    • Route 156, traverses agricultural areas, particularly artichoke crops, between Castroville (nicknamed the "Artichoke Center of the World") and Prunedale
      • Designated 1972-09-14 in Monterey County: Castroville to US 101 near Prunedale
State Route 158
  • US 395 at June Lake Junction to US 395 at
Heading south on SR 160
State Route 160
State Route 161
  • US 97 near Dorris to SR 139 near Tulelake
The Cabrillo Freeway, looking south from the Cabrillo Bridge in Balboa Park
State Route 163
  • Ash Street in Downtown San Diego to I-8 in San Diego
    • Cabrillo Freeway, a landscaped parkway through Balboa Park in San Diego
State Route 166
SR 168, heading up Bishop Creek
State Route 168
  • SR 65 near Clovis to Huntington Lake
  • to SR 266 at Oasis
    • Part of the Ancient Bristlecone Scenic Byway (also a National Forest Scenic Byway), scenic drive through the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada
      • Designated 1970-06-19 in Inyo County: to Bishop
State Route 173
  • SR 138 in Hesperia to SR 18 near Lake Arrowhead
State Route 174
  • Bear River to Grass Valley
State Route 178
State Route 180
Death Valley and access roads to SR 190 at Hells Gate
State Route 190
State Route 197
State Route 198
U.S. Route 199
  • US 101 near Crescent City to Oregon
State Route 203
State Route 209
  • Point Loma to I-5 in San Diego
Interstate 210/State Route 210
  • I-5 in Sylmar to SR 134 in Pasadena
  • SR 330 San Bernardinoto I-10 in Redlands
State Route 221
  • SR 29 near Napa to SR 121 in Napa
State Route 236
  • SR 9 at Boulder Creek to SR 9 at
State Route 239
  • I-580 near Tracy to SR 4 near Brentwood
San Gorgonio Mountain seen from SR 243 near Banning
State Route 243
State Route 247
  • SR 62 in Yucca Valley to I-15 in Barstow
State Route 251
State Route 254
State Route 266
  • Nevada east of Oasis to SR 168 at Oasis
Sign on I-280
Interstate 280
  • I-880/SR 17 in San Jose to I-80 in San Francisco
    • Junipero Serra Freeway, nicknamed as the "World's Most Beautiful Freeway", scenic route through the hills of the San Francisco Peninsula
      • Designated 1980-04-28 in San Mateo County: Santa Clara County to South San Francisco
State Route 299
  • US 101 in Arcata to SR 96 at Willow Creek
  • SR 3 at Weaverville to I-5 in Redding
  • SR 89 near Burney to SR 139 near Canby
State Route 330
US 395 descending south into Owens Valley
U.S. Route 395
  • SR 14 near Little Lake to SR 89 near Coleville
    • Route 395, runs through the Owens Valley and high desert meadows, with views of the ranges and peaks of the Eastern Sierra Nevada
      • Designated 1970-06-30 in Inyo County: Independence to Fish Springs
      • Designated 2000-06-05 in Mono County: Inyo County to near Crowley Lake
      • Designated 1971-11-09 in Mono County: near Crowley Lake to near Mammoth Lakes
      • Designated 2000-06-05 in Mono County: near Mammoth Lakes to SR 120 near Mono Lake
      • Designated 2000-06-05 in Mono County: Lee Vining to Bridgeport
      • Designated 2000-06-05 in Mono County: Bridgeport to Walker
Interstate 580
  • I-5 near Tracy to I-80 in Oakland
    • Route 580, traverses the eastern edge of the Coast Ranges and the western edge of the Central Valley
      • Designated 1974-06-07 in San Joaquin County: near Tracy to Alameda County
      • Designated 1970-02-18 in Alameda County: San Joaquin County to I-205 near Tracy
    • MacArthur Freeway, scenic landscaped route through Oakland
      • Designated 1976-06-25 in Alameda County: San Leandro to I-980/SR 24 in Oakland
Descending from Mission Pass on I-680 northbound
Interstate 680
  • Milpitas to SR 24 in Walnut Creek
    • Route 680, crosses wooded hills and valleys of the Coast Ranges
      • Designated 1978-06-15 in Alameda County: SR 238 in Fremont to Bernal Avenue in Pleasanton
      • Designated 1982-10-22 in Alameda County: Bernal Avenue in Pleasanton to Contra Costa County
      • Designated 1982-10-22 in Contra Costa County: Alameda County to SR 24 in Walnut Creek

Designated county highways[]

County Route A18
  • Lake Boulevard, scenic drive overlooking Shasta Lake
    • Designated 1981 in Shasta County: Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area[8]
County Route G14
County Route G20
  • Laureles Grade, a steep, winding scenic road between Carmel Valley Village and Monterey
    • Designated 1969 in Monterey County: Carmel Valley Road to SR 68 near Monterey[8]
County Route N1
Mulholland Highway through Leo Carrillo State Park, with Sandstone Peak in the distance
Mulholland Highway
River Road

See also[]

  • California 1.svg California Roads portal

References[]

  • California Department of Transportation (August 2019). "Officially Designated State Scenic Highways and Historic Parkways" (XLSX). Sacramento: California Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  1. ^ Jump up to: a b California Department of Transportation District 3, Scenic Highway Program, accessed January 2008
  2. ^ "CA MUTCD 2014 Revision 4". California Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "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. ^ Sacramento Bee, Scenic Highway Concept Spurs Alarm, March 25, 1999, p. N1
  5. ^ Dave Moller, , CABPRO's Urke steps down, August 7, 2004
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f 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, CA: Steve Lech. p. 230. ISBN 978-0-9837500-1-7.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h California Department of Transportation. "List of Officially Designated County Scenic Highways" (PDF). Sacramento: California Department of Transportation. Retrieved May 2, 2019.

External links[]

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