The Southern California segment of US 99 is probably the most diverse of them all. The routing of old US 99 passed through major metropolitan areas and empty deserts. There is a lot to see and do along Historic Highway 99. This page will give a description of some of the highlights along the highway. Come see some of the rich and vibrant history and geological features along the highway!
Points of Interest
Los Angeles County
Old Ridge Route
Castaic to Gorman
Original State Highway from Los Angeles to Bakersfield. Completed in 1915, paved with concrete between 1917-1920. Bypassed in 1933 by the Ridge Route Alternate.
Piru Gorge
Golden State Highway north of Templin Highway (I-5 Exit 183)
Scenic section of old US 99 that bypassed the Old Ridge Route in 1933. The roadway is closed to motor vehicles from Frenchman’s Flat to Pyramid Rock, about 2.2 miles. Fishing is quite popular along Piru Creek as is hiking. Worth the walk!
St. Francis Dam Disaster National Memorial and Monument
Approximately 10 miles north of Santa Clarita on San Francisquito Canyon Road
Site of the St Francis Dam, a dam and reservoir along the Los Angeles Aqueduct, which collapsed just before midnight on March 12, 1928. The ensuing flood, which went all the way to Ventura, killed over 500 people. Only scattered remains of the dam exist today. The disaster was the second largest by loss of life in California and was the impetus for certifying engineers and geologists.
Saugus Cafe
25861 Railroad Ave, Santa Clarita, CA 91350
(661) 259-7886
Oldest restaurant on US 99 in California. Located in Saugus, California, it originally opened as the Tolfree’s Saugus Eating House within the Saugus railroad station. In 1905, it moved across the street to its current location. The current building dates to 1952. Their window seats offer a view of old US 99 and the railroad, now mostly Metrolink commuter trains with some freight. Stop by and tell them the Historic Highway 99 Association sent you!
Saugus Station
24101 Newhall Ave, Santa Clarita, CA 91321
(661) 254-1275
1887 Southern Pacific Railroad Saugus Station building, moved from its original location in 1980 to the current site in Newhall. Home to the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society and Museum.
Mentryville
Approximately 5 miles west of the 5 Freeway and Pico Canyon Road (27201 Pico Canyon Road, Stevenson Ranch)
Mentryville was an oil boomtown centered around CSO number 4, the first commercially successful oil well in the west and was in operation from 1876-1900. What remains of the town itself is the Felton School built in 1885 in use until 1932, the Pico Cottage built circa. 1896, the superintendents home for the “Pico Oil Field”, and well as the 1890s Mule Barn.
Oak of the Golden Dream at the Placerita Canyon Nature Center
4.6 miles east of Newhall on Placerita Canyon Road
Site of the first major gold discovery in California in March 1842. As the legend goes, Francisco López found gold in the roots of wild onions after having slept under the tree dreaming about that very same thing. The adjacent Placerita Canyon Nature Center has exhibits about local flora and fauna as well as hiking trails.
Valley Relics Museum
7900 Balboa Blvd – Hangar C 3&4
Lake Balboa, CA 91406
(818) 616-4083
Newer museum in the San Fernando Valley filled with historical artifacts from all over the San Fernando Valley and Santa Clarita Valley. They have many bright neon signs from businesses throughout the area as well as other memorabilia. This is a really great museum and worth the visit. It is a bit off of old US 99 but does cover some of the history along the way.
In-N-Out Burger
13850 Francisquito Ave, Baldwin Park, CA 91706 (Exit 32B on I-10)
(800) 786-1000
While most have heard of this place, many may not know it was started on US 99 in 1948. The original location was on Garvey Ave at Francisquito Ave, which is now covered by I-10, which was US 99 from 1935 to 1956. They are more famous for what isn’t on their menu than what is, known as the “Secret Menu” where you can make all sorts of changes to your meal. Try some “animal-style” fries for a change of pace.
San Bernardino County
Granada Theater
303 N Euclid Ave, Ontario, CA 91762
(909) 906-0571
Historic theater built in 1926 just off old US 99 on Euclid Ave in Old Town Ontario. It was the second “Fox Theater” built in the West and is now home to Granada Theater Ontario, a performing arts organization.
Colton Area Museum
380 N. La Cadena Drive, Colton, CA 92324
(909) 824-8814
Small local museum located just north of old US 99 on old US 91 / 395. It is housed in a 1908 Carnegie Library, one of many built across the country. Museum highlights local history including an exhibit on Virgil Earp, Wyatt Earp’s brother, who was the city’s first marshall.
San Bernardino County Museum
2024 Orange Tree Lane, Redlands, CA 92374
(909) 798-8608
Great museum with exhibits on the history, geology, and paleontology of San Bernardino County. The museum is a mixture of indoor and outdoor exhibits complete with a steam locomotive.
Redlands Visitors Center
14 Fifth Street, Redlands, CA 92373
(909) 255-1436
Learn about the history of the Redlands area, where to shop, and more. Redlands was founded in 1888 along a branch of the Santa Fe Railroad and the mainline of the Southern Pacific Railroad. Early growth was fueled by extensive orange groves, some of which still remain to this day. Downtown Redlands retains a few old buildings along the original alignment of US 99 on State Street, with the later alignment being on Redlands Blvd.
Riverside County
Cabazon Dinosaurs
50770 Seminole Drive, Cabazon, CA 92230
(909) 272-8164
Small collection of very large dinosaur statues along I-10 in Cabazon. Built in 1975 after US 99 was decommissioned, they harken back to the days of small roadside attractions like the Giant Oranges and places like Pollardville. This place makes a nice stop on the road between Los Angeles and Palm Springs.
Whitewater Bridge
Whitewater Road just north of Exit 114 off I-10
Intact 1923 bridge spanning the Whitewater River with 1922 concrete paving approaches. Popular spot in summer to dip your toes in the cold waters below.
Shields Date Garden
80225 Highway 111, Indio, CA 92201
(760) 347-0996
Serving up Date Shakes and everything else dates since 1924, this place is one of the last of its kind. There used to be more along US 99 itself, but the last one in Valerie Jean closed many years ago. Come here to see the hit movie “The Romance & Sex Life of the Date” and learn about how dates are produced.
Imperial County
Wister Road Mud Volcanoes
Corner of Wister Road and Schrimpf Rd near Mullet Island (6 miles NW of Calipatria)
Small collection of mud volcanoes, steamaroles, and fumaroles accessible to the public. Best time to visit is in early spring before the area dries out. The nearby hills, Salton Buttes and Mullet Island, are volcanoes which erupted as recently as about 200 CE. Come witness the power of the geologic heat below as the region is slowly splitting apart.
Pioneers Museum
373 E Aten Road, Imperial, CA 92251
(760) 352-1165
Great museum featuring many aspects of the history of the Imperial Valley from railroads, agriculture, and the people that built the region. Worth a visit, even if a bit off of old US 99.
Southern Terminus of US 99
1st Street and Heffernan Ave, Calexico, CA
In 1931, US 99 was extended from El Centro to the Mexican Border at Calexico. In 1972, after US 99 was decommissioned, the border crossing was moved a few blocks to the west. Today, the old crossing is closed but you can still see the 1932 customs house which processed travelers heading north for many years. Historic Route signage commemorating the southern terminus can also be seen. There are many interesting shops in the vicinity, so why not take a walk around the downtown area and see what you might find.