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Ridge Route of California

This is a picture of the Tejon Road, near the Ridge Route.

The Ridge Route is a historic California highway and only one of two California highways on the National Register. It begins near Castaic at Templin Highway and ends past Grapevine. It was the main highway from Los Angeles to Bakersfield used from 1915 to the 1930s.

The road was opened as a dirt road in 1915 and paved with 4½ inches of concrete in 1919. If the Ridge Route had not existed, California would probably have split into two parts: northern and southern. The road has not been maintained since 1933, but it is in good shape. There were many businesses along the way to serve the truckers who used the road but only ruins exist today.

The Ridge Route was built at the top of the mountain range for a few reasons. First of all, World War I had just ended and there was a lack of men and supplies, so it was easier to build on top rather than cut through a mountain. It was also built that way to minimize washout damages. (There were 697 curves built, each one going around a hill!)

Ridge Route Web Site
This is the OFFICIAL Ridge Route website - it has lots of information, pictures, and directions on traveling the road!

RidgeRoute@compuserve.com
This is Mr. Harrison Scott's e-mail address. He has researched the Ridge Route for 6½ years and can answer most of your questions about the Ridge Route, as well as provide interesting facts!

Virtual Tour of the Ridge Route
This is a tour of the Ridge Route, including information about its history and great pictures!


The scenic mountains in the Tejon area, near the Ridge Route.

Interesting Fact: In the early days, gas tanks were located in front of the windshield, and gas flowed by gravity into the motor. That worked fine, except when going up a steep hill (and there are many of them on the Ridge Route!) Therefore, the gas couldn't flow up into the motor! Many truckers had to back up so the gas would flow. The speed limit was 15 miles per hour and it took all day to drive from Los Angeles to Bakersfield.
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