Virtual Tour of US 99
Piru Gorge and Los Alamos Canyon
Piru Gorge : Beneath Pyramid Lake
This lake was created in 1972 as a holding reservoir for the California State Water Project. Unfortunately for highway buffs, it conceals one of the best sections of US 99. There were many bridges and cuts in this section as well as deep canyons and tall mountains. This section of highway was originally built with three lanes in 1933 and widened to a four lane divided highway from 1949-1951. In 1968, I-5 bypassed this segment from Violin Summit to Smokey Bear Road (Formerly known as Hungry Valley Road). There were plans to put a reservoir here since the days of the Ridge Route but the Ridge Route Alternate was put though here as it was easier at the time.
Video on Piru Gorge and Pyramid Lake by the Historic Highway 99 Association of California
Go North on US 99 to Bakersfield
Go South on US 99 to Los Angeles
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