Angeles Crest Scenic Byway
(State Highway 2)
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Best Under a Full Moon: Ponch & John's Favorite!
66 miles from La Canada (pronounced "kin-yah-da") to Alpine Cafe, Angeles Crest Highway constitutes the longest uninterrupted canyon drive in Los Angeles County (...a 66 mile right-of-way). Daytime and weekends, you'll encounter considerable traffic (... traffic of every variety) on this drive. When you're not impeded by other cars, or not dodging sport bikes, you'll spend the rest of your drive dodging falling rock. The further east you go, the more predominant becomes falling rock. Takes considerable snow. Heavily sanded during winter. We think it drives best going eastbound.
Good visability, Angeles Crest byway is a class 2 undivided Caltrans maintained road in poor to good condition that rises 5400 feet in elevation, from 1,500 feet, or thereabouts, in La Canada, to a maximum elevation of 7903 ft at the trailhead to Dawson Saddle. No dips. No Botz-Dots. No cattle bars. Prone to fog during winter months. There are few, if any, diminishing radius turns. Surface is highly variable. As of August, 2001, the segment of Angeles Crest Hwy between Angeles Forest Hwy and Upper Big Tijunga, as always, was very rough on our suspensions, but improves further east. Vistas are spectacular, especially to the north when going eastbound of San Gabriel Canyon Rd.
San Gabriel Canyon Road has yet to be repaired, so travelers congest Angeles Crest at its two endpoints. Between La Canada and Wrightwood, Newcomb's Ranch Cafe constitutes the only services available on this highway (no gasoline; no lodging). Midpoint along Angeles Crest, 33 miles west of Wrightwood Village, Newcomb's Ranch Cafe is heavily frequented on summer and autumn weekends. On any summer Sunday, every type of motorcycle ever made can be seen in one place, at one time, sitting outside Newcomb's Ranch Cafe.
The hillclimb segment of Angeles Crest Hwy between La Canada and Angeles Forest Hwy, there are four principle passing zones where a second lane briefly opens up. These four short passing zones are augmented by numerous turnouts. Nonetheless, you'll have to lean on your horn, repeatedly, for stubborn motorists who simply refuse to use the turnouts.
We don't do daytime driving events across Angeles Crest byway... too many sport bikes. Under a full moon, Angeles Crest Hwy, with no sport bikes, scores a 4.5 on our 5 scale. I prefer going east, because I like driving Big Pines Hwy as a downhill. And, since I prefer having it all to myself, I prefer Angeles Crest during late evening or early morning hours. In a sports car, traveling at a leisurely pace, Angeles Crest can be driven at mostly highway speeds without reliance upon brakes (I've done so several times, in my daily driver).
There are few surprises on Angeles Crest Hwy. One turn is pretty much the same as the next. It's not too tough on brakes. It's not a very exciting drive. Not because it's so technical a canyon road (quite to the contrary), but that it's uninterrupted and lengthy, exotic or boutique sports cars (Ferraris and Porsches) do tend to get their drivers into big trouble from time to time on this road (brain fade; they forget how fast they're going), and on summer and autumn weekends, there always seems to be a sport bike down someplace. The most significant problem we have on Angeles Crest are fatigued drivers in pick-ups, multiple passenger vans, or SUVs inadvertently going over the double yellow. Going over the double yellow is one thing; doing so inadvertently is quite another.
Angeles Crest is infrequently patrolled. Government extracts a double tariff on each traffic ticket they write on Angeles Crest byway. End to end, it's a double fine zone, but to no avail. Double fine zones are ineffective. Everyone knows it. Domestic policy does not alter physical law (...it's the money they care about). But, Angeles Crest Byway is never patrolled at night... Similarly, there's nothing sport bike aficianados hate worse than doing canyons at night... all the better for us. Right?
Also, consider Big Tujunga and Upper Big Tujunga as a viable alternative to bypass the rough segment of Angeles Crest Byway between Upper Big Tujunga and Angeles Forest Hwy.
Speed Trap Advisory (XXX): Reports from the sports bike contingent in reference to speed traps abound (see Pashnit's report; link below). With no way out between Upper Big Tujunga and Big Pines, you're "Ponch and John's" sitting duck. Be careful what you choose to reveal to the locals in the Angeles National Forest. It's a small world up there. News travels light speed up there in the mountains. We suspect the locals at Newcomb's Ranch cafe are tipping off the CHP. So, never preannounce your driving events to the mountain locals. Even when we didn't preannounce, we had problems up there in the Angeles National Forest. If you must make reservations, never reveal that they're in tandem with a sports car driving event. If you're planning a spirited drive across Angeles Crest Byway, then we recommend you do so late at night, and preferably under a full moon.
ADVISORY, From Slideways John, 06 Apr. '04 (Guestbook): "...Just giving out a heads-up; stepped up sheriff presence on Angeles Crest, Little and Big Tujunga (...yes Little; that page needs to be updated, folks) on weekdays and especially at weekends, the sheriff have increased their patrols to cover late nites and early mornings. I got pulled over driving... excessively. But, was let go, with a warning. Spotted two more patrol cars idling in deep turnouts, and other hides. Let's be careful out there..." Thank you, John! Beers to you, pal.
Last Period Problems: Top off at the Shell Station in La Canada, or use the major retailers at Cajon Junction. Beware of refueling in Wrightwood Village. Scuttlebutt that shenanigans are ongoing in Wrightwood Village attributable to clogged fuel lines in brand new sports cars; turbochargered cars detonating to death shortly after refueling there... Although we have no first hand knowledge of this, buyer beware... economic indications are consistent with the aforementioned concerns. This community lost all it's major gasoline retailers (Chevron, Shell, et.al.), leaving independent service stations with little to no nonslavagable capital, who know full well they service a transient cliental. Avoid those shit-hole gas stations like the plague. Avoid the service station's on Pearblossom Hwy, when possible. We suspect many a traveler pays unnecessarily for premium octane. Mountain communities tend to be laden with a disproportunate nonbasic industry ratio. By definition, they must draw income elsewhere to perpetuate their viability. Economic fundementals of these rustic hamlets and villages are a painful proposition... Heart ache prone economies, indeed. Stick to major retailers for your fuel when you're up in the mountains; stick to firms with high, value added levels of non-salvagable capital. There should be no reason for your people to refuel in Wrightwood Village.
- ~ Pashnit's
Roadbook: Angeles Crest Hwy
- ~ Elevations in the Angeles National Forest
- ~ Elevation Profile along Angeles Crest Hwy
- ~ Road Conditions in the Angeles National Forest
- ~ Angeles National Forest Home Page
- ~ Some Photos of Angeles Crest Byway
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- ~ Elevations in the Angeles National Forest