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John Cletheroe's
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The same reference says that California State Highway 1 between Las Cruces (south of Lompoc) and San Francisco is called the Cabrillo Highway, presumably named in honour of the Spanish explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo who discovered large parts of America's Pacific Coast.
[Incidentally, the same reference also says that relevant sections of I-280, Ca 82, US101, I-5 and Ca 72 from San Francisco to the Mexican border form El Camino Real (which is Spanish for "The Royal Road" or "The King's Highway"), since they follow the approximate route of the old Spanish road of that name. This road mostly runs inland to some extent.]
However, in practice California State Highway 1 and US101, the highways which run closest to the Pacific Ocean all the way from the Mexican border to Washington State's Olympic Peninsula, are commonly referred to as the Pacific Coast Highway and that informal meaning is used here for convenience.
California State Highway 1 from where it leaves US101 just north of San Francisco to where it leaves the coast before joining US101 at Leggett is known as the Shoreline Highway.
Alvin Chiu of Glendale, California kindly informs me that:
California State Highway 2 over the San Gabriel Mountains is commonly (or at least, locally) known as the Angeles Crest Highway.California State Highway 18 through the San Bernardino National Forest is known as the Rim Of The World Drive.
US101 in California from San Francisco north to the Oregon border is called the Redwood Highway.
For convenience I have also included roads near the Pacific coast in British Columbia on this page, although none of these are ever referred to being the Pacific Coast Highway.
However, ferries and cruise ships travel through the Inside Passage from Seattle and Vancouver north to Alaska.
Maurice Drew kindly sent me the following comment:
The "Sea to Sky" highway from Vancouver to Squamish is more scenic and a longer stretch of highway than in Pacific Rim National Park.
California State Highway 1 between Las Cruces (south of Lompoc) and San Francisco is officially called the Cabrillo Highway. Between San Simeon and Big Sur this road passes through the Los Padres National Forest.
California State Highway 1 from where it leaves US101 just north of San Francisco to where it leaves the coast before joining US101 at Leggett is known as the Shoreline Highway.
US101 in California from San Francisco north to the Oregon border is called the Redwood Highway.
Heading north from San Diego, there is an alternative to I-5 which runs close to the Pacific until just south of Oceanside. This road passes through a number of small seaside resorts, and you get some good views of the ocean. This road hasn't got a number marked on my road atlas, but it is almost certainly California State Highway 1.
California State Highway 1 also runs alongside the ocean on its run through the southern part of Los Angeles, but we haven't driven on this section. Through the northern part of Los Angeles the road runs some way from the coast.
At Santa Monica California State Highway 1 rejoins the ocean and runs alongside it for some considerable distance except for a brief stretch through Oxnard. There are numerous bathing beaches here. When we drove along this road some years ago a number of offshore oil or gas rigs could be seen but I don't know if they are still there.
In the Santa Barbara area the Los Padres National Forest lies inland.
At the little town of Gaviota the road leaves the ocean for quite some time until Morro Bay, except for a brief section near Pismo Beach. This inland stretch is relatively uninteresting.
Progressing northwards the country becomes wilder and towns less frequent until the most spectacular part of the road is reached from just south of Big Sur to Monterey. The road hugs the side of the coastal mountains here, with excellent views. This far north the weather on the coast is often cloudy, rainy and cool even in summer. One can often see how the coastal mountains catch the rain brought by the clouds rolling in from the Pacific.
At Monterey the Seventeen Mile Drive toll road is probably worth taking. It runs alongside the ocean for most of its distance. It is probably best described as pleasant rather than spectacular. According to an unofficial source the toll (as at Dec-97) is $7.50, and I think that this is per car rather than per person.
From Monterey to San Francisco the scenery is pleasant but not so spectacular.
At Santa Cruz the Boardwalk is probably worth a stop. It's a seaside promenade with various rides, amusements, gift shops and snack food kiosks. Parking may be difficult in the summer especially at weekends.
California State Highway 1 merges with US101 to cross the Golden Gate Bridge. A few miles north of the bridge it heads west past Muir Woods National Monument and Mount Tamalpais back out to the ocean.
At the small town of Point Reyes Station a road branches off west to Point Reyes National Seashore.
The road deviates away from the coast for a few miles before rejoining it at Bedega Bay.
Going north from here the country gets bleaker and wilder, and often so does the weather even in summer. In many places the road is narrow and has many bends and gradients, making for slow going.
In June 1998 a short section of the road between Jenner and Fort Ross State Park was still closed due to landslides caused by the El Niño storms of early 1998. There was a signposted diversion involving some moderately steep hills, all on paved roads. I think the main road has now been repaired.
The only town of any size on this part of the coast is Fort Bragg.
Once the road leaves the coast north of Fort Bragg it crosses the coastal mountains. From the coast to Leggett is an extremely winding, hilly, tortuously slow drive.
At Leggett California State Highway 1 rejoins US101, the Redwood Highway.
Continuing north, US101 runs alongside the Avenue of the Giants and then through Humboldt Redwoods State Park.
North of Eureka US101 passes through Redwood National Park and several associated adjacent California State Parks.
Smith River National Recreation Area, inland a bit and just south of the Oregon border, might well be worth exploring.
A report of the current condition of this and any other road in California can be obtained from the excellent official California Department Of Transportation (CalTrans) Current Highway Conditions web site (external link verified Nov-02). For the entire length of the Pacific Coast Highway in California enter 1,101 to get a report on California State Highway 1 and US Highway 101.
For long stretches in Oregon the views of the ocean are excellent, with pounding waves rolling in over small islands and rocky outcrops and past seastacks. Of all the sections of the Pacific Coast Highway, that in Oregon impressed us the most.
Along the central Oregon coast the Siuslaw National Forest lies inland.
The northernmost section, between Tillamook and Astoria, is wild and desolate country and the weather often matches it. There are however quite a few small seaside resort towns here.
Just south of Astoria is Fort Clatsop National Memorial where the members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition made their winter camp before starting their return journey.
At Astoria there is a magnificent bridge over the Columbia River to Washington State.
A relatively short diversion inland allows for a visit to Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument and Mount Rainier National Park.
In the north, the coast road progresses around the Olympic Peninsula and between the inland and coastal units of Olympic National Park, passing through the town of Forks. Sections also pass through parts of the Olympic National Forest.
You can then take a car ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria on Vancouver Island (British Columbia) or alternatively head round towards Seattle.
Historic Trails, Named Roads, etc
Pacific Northwest Geographical Features
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Most recently modified 21-Dec-02