Sunrise Highway
County Route S1
CODE WC BC MC
Drive at a Glance
Route
I-8 near Pine Valley to State 79 near Lake Cuyamaca
County
San Diego County
Region
Laguna Mountains
Road character
Two-lane road winding over the mountains
Services
Food available at Mt Laguna
Roadway advisory: Snow conditions may exist in winter.
About the Drive
Sunrise Highway (County Road S1) is a road that runs through the Laguna Mountains east of San Diego from I-8 at Laguna Summit (Exit 47) to State 79 near Cuyamaca Lake. Rising from around 4000′ to just over 6000′, the roadway is very scenic. This roadway is popular with bicyclists and motorcyclists as well. The highway was originally built in the 1920’s though the modern roadway was constructed between 1950 and 1975. Two major realignments were constructed near Wooded Hill and Kwaaymii Point eliminating two bad sections with persistent rockslide and snow problems. In winter, snow can be found along adjacent Los Huecos Road near Laguna / El Prado Campground quite some time after it has melted from the rest of the area.
Pictorial Guide
A very scenic overlook, not marked on the roadway, can be found at the summit, just north of the Desert View picnic grounds. Just turn right on the first roadway north of the picnic grounds and follow it up the mountain. It will end at a gate for the old USAF installation.
While there is no gas on the entire route, there are such services near each end at Lake Cuyamaca and Pine Valley. Food services, such as a general store and restaurant, are located at Mount Laguna. The road also offers access to the numerous trails in the Mt Laguna Recreation Area.
