Category Archives: Roads

New Video – Piru Gorge and Pyramid Lake

Former US 99 followed a very scenic path over the mountains north of Los Angeles. Follow the Historic Highway 99 Association of California on a journey through the mountains, down the canyons, and beneath Pyramid Lake. Learn what was there before I-5 and what it took to build both roads.

Ridge Route February 2024 Update Video

In early and mid-February 2024, the Ridge Route Preservation Organization went on a field survey trip over the Ridge Route to assess damage. They took a lot of videos and put together an overview of what they saw.

Come join the Ridge Route Preservation Organization on their journey over the Ridge Route.

New History Video

The Historic Highway 99 Association of California is starting a new series on the history of US 99, historic sites along the way, and information about the Association. Join them on their YouTube Channel – @highway99 – to learn more. Their first video is on The Grapevine.

Historic Highway 99 Association of California YouTube Channel

Ridge Route Preservation Organization Begins Pothole Project

From the Ridge Route Preservation Organization:

The Ridge Route Preservation Organization was cleared by the Angeles National Forest to repair potholes along the north section of the Old Ridge Route from the 138 to the Tumble Inn.

The intent is to preserve the road and make it more accessible to the public as well as emergency services. Filling the potholes can reinforce crumbling sections of the road as well as prevent further damage to the original road surface.

The Ridge Route Pothole Project will begin in spring of 2024.

These improvements don’t only serve to protect the history of the Ridge Route, the repairs will also serve everyone who passes through the area. It’s a large stretch of open land that provides recreation for hikers, cyclists and hunters as well as being a heavy fire danger area. It’s important that emergency vehicles have quick and easy access when mere seconds matter.

A donation of $15 buys a 50 pound bag of asphalt cold patch.

For volunteer and donation info visit https://ridgeroute.org/pothole-project.

NPS National Historic Trails Site

A reader sent a link to this site and I thought it would be of interest to all of you. This site, produced by the National Park Service (NPS), has detailed maps showing the routing of various national historic trails. Of interest to California, it shows the National Old Trails Highway (US 66), El Camino Real (US 101 for the most part), Old Spanish Trail, and a few others. Come check it out!

National Historic Trails – NPS