The State Scenic Highway System in the U.S. state of California is a list of highways, mainly state highways, that have been designated by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) as scenic highways. They are marked by the state flower, a California poppy, inside either a rectangle for state-maintained highways or a pentagon for county highways.
The California State Legislature makes state highways eligible for designation as a scenic highway, listing them in the Article 2.5 of Chapter 2 of Division 1 of the California Streets and Highways Code. For a highway to then be declared scenic by Caltrans, the local government with jurisdiction over abutting land must adopt a "scenic corridor protection program" that limits development, outdoor advertising, and earthmoving, and Caltrans must agree that it meets the criteria. The desire to create such a designation has at times been in conflict with the property rights of abutters, for example on State Route 174.
Any county highway that is believed to have outstanding scenic qualities is considered eligible, and the county with jurisdiction must follow Caltrans' same approval process as state highways to be declared scenic.
California Historic Parkways
California Historic Parkways are defined in the Streets and Highways Code, sections 280–284, as a subset of the State Scenic Highway System. Such historic parkways must have been constructed prior to 1945, and have been determined by either Caltrans or the Office of Historic Preservation in the California Department of Parks and Recreation to have historical significance. They must not at time of designation be traversed by more than 40,000 vehicles per day on an annual daily average basis. They also must be "bounded on one or both sides by federal, state, or local parkland, Native American lands or monuments, or other open space, greenbelt areas, natural habitat or wildlife preserves, or similar acreage used for or dedicated to historical or recreational uses". State Route 110 Arroyo Seco Parkway (also a National Scenic Byway), the first freeway in the Western U.S. Designated January 1, 1994, in Los Angeles County: Figueroa Street/Avenue 26 in Los Angeles to Glenarm Street in Pasadena State Route 163 Cabrillo Parkway, historic parkway through Balboa Park in San Diego Designated September 27, 2002, in San Diego County: Balboa Park
List of eligible and designated scenic state highways
The following is a list of eligible scenic state highway segments that the California State Legislature has added to Article 2.5 of Chapter 2 of Division 1 of the California Streets and Highways Code, and officially designated segments that Caltrans has approved to be signed. State Route 1 I-5 in San Juan Capistrano to SR 19 in Long Beach State Route 128 between State Route 1 near Albion and Winters SR 187 near Santa Monica to US 101 near El Rio US 101 at Las Cruces to SR 246 in Lompoc Cabrillo Highway, scenic drive through the rocky headlands near the Pacific coast Designated December 14, 1971, in Santa Barbara County: US 101 at Las Cruces to Lompoc SR 227 near Oceano to US 101 in Pismo Beach US 101 in San Luis Obispo to SR 35 in Daly City San Luis Obispo North Coast Byway (also an All-American Road), scenic drive along the Pacific coast Designated August 13, 1999, in San Luis Obispo County: San Luis Obispo to Monterey County Big Sur Coast Highway (also an All-American Road), scenic drive along the Pacific coast Designated June 7, 1965, in Monterey County: San Luis Obispo County to Carmel River Designated May 21, 1970, in Monterey County: Carmel River to SR 68 in Monterey Cabrillo Highway, scenic drive along the Pacific coast Designated June 25, 1976, in San Mateo County: Santa Cruz County to Half Moon Bay SR 35 to US 101 in San Francisco US 101 near Marin City to US 101 at Leggett State Route 2 I-210 in La Cañada Flintridge to SR 138 near Wrightwood Part of the Angeles Crest Scenic Byway (also a National Forest Scenic Byway), runs through the San Gabriel Mountains with scenic views of the Los Angeles Basin and the Mojave Desert Designated May 12, 1971, in Los Angeles County: La Cañada Flintridge to San Bernardino County State Route 3 SR 36 near Peanut to Montague State Route 4 SR 160 in Antioch to SR 84 near Brentwood SR 49 in Angels Camp to SR 89 near Markleeville Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway (also a National Scenic Byway), crossing of the Sierra Nevada via Ebbetts Pass past giant sequoia groves Designated November 9, 1971, in Calaveras County: Arnold to Alpine County Designated September 14, 1970, in Alpine County: Calaveras County to SR 89 near Markleeville Interstate 5 Mexico to SR 75 in southern San Diego SR 75 near downtown San Diego to SR 74 in San Juan Capistrano I-210 in Sylmar to SR 126 in Santa Clarita SR 152 near Los Banos to I-580 near Tracy West Side Freeway, follows the western edge of the agricultural areas of the Central Valley, paralleling the California Aqueduct and the Delta–Mendota Canal Designated October 25, 1968, in Merced County: SR 152 near Los Banos to Stanislaus County Designated October 25, 1968, in Stanislaus County: Merced County to San Joaquin County Designated June 7, 1974, in San Joaquin County: Stanislaus County to I-580 near Tracy SR 44 in Redding to Shasta Lake SR 89 near Mount Shasta to US 97 in Weed SR 3 in Yreka to Oregon Interstate 8 Sunset Cliffs Boulevard in San Diego to SR 98 near Ocotillo State Route 9 SR 1 in Santa Cruz to SR 17 in Los Gatos Saratoga-Los Gatos Road, scenic drive through suburban areas in and near Saratoga at the foot of the Santa Cruz Mountains Designated October 18, 1979, in Santa Clara County: SR 35 at Saratoga Gap to Saratoga Sunnyvale Road in Saratoga Designated May 2, 1968, in Santa Clara County: Saratoga Sunnyvale Road in Saratoga to Los Gatos Interstate 10 SR 38 in Redlands to SR 62 near White Water State Route 12 US 101 in Santa Rosa to SR 121 near Sonoma Valley of the Moon Highway, passes through various wineries and vineyards of Sonoma Valley Designated December 17, 1974, in Sonoma County: Santa Rosa to Agua Caliente State Route 13 SR 24 in Oakland to I-580 in Oakland State Route 14 SR 58 near Mojave to US 395 near Little Lake Interstate 15 SR 76 near Pala to SR 91 in Corona SR 58 in Barstow to SR 127 at Baker State Route 16 SR 20 near Rumsey to Capay State Route 17 SR 1 in Santa Cruz to SR 9 in Los Gatos State Route 18 SR 138 at Crestline to SR 247 at Lucerne Valley State Route 20 SR 1 in Fort Bragg to SR 16 near Rumsey SR 49 in Grass Valley to I-80 near Emigrant Gap Part of the Yuba-Donner Scenic Byway (also a National Forest Scenic Byway), scenic drive through the pine forests of Tahoe National Forest Designated March 12, 1971, in Nevada County: Relief to Bear Valley State Route 24 Caldecott Tunnel near Oakland to I-680 in Walnut Creek Route 24, scenic drive through the rolling hills in Orinda and Lafayette with a view of Mount Diablo going eastbound Designated October 22, 1982, in Contra Costa County: Caldecott Tunnel near Oakland to I-680 in Walnut Creek State Route 25 SR 198 near Priest Valley to SR 156 near Hollister State Route 27 SR 1 at Topanga Beach to Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles Topanga Canyon Boulevard, runs through Topanga Canyon and part of Topanga State Park Designated March 22, 2017, in Los Angeles County: Topanga Canyon State Route 28 SR 89 in Tahoe City to Nevada State Route 29 SR 37 in Vallejo to SR 221 near Napa Trancas Street in Napa to SR 20 near Upper Lake State Route 33 US 101 in Ventura to SR 166 near Cuyama Jacinto Reyes Scenic Byway (also a National Forest Scenic Byway), scenic drive through Los Padres National Forest past pine forests and semi-desert landscapes Designated February 18, 1972, in Ventura County: Wheeler Springs to near Sespe Gorge Designated July 11, 1988, in Ventura County: near Sespe Gorge to near Pine Mountain Ridge Road Designated February 18, 1972, in Ventura County: near Pine Mountain Ridge Road to near Lockwood Valley Road Designated July 11, 1988, in Ventura County: near Lockwood Valley Road to Santa Barbara County State Route 35 SR 17 near Redwood Estates to SR 1 in San Francisco Skyline Boulevard, runs along the ridge of the Santa Cruz Mountains Designated September 13, 1968, in San Mateo County: Santa Cruz County to near Page Mill Road Designated January 22, 1968, in San Mateo County: near Page Mill Road to SR 92 near Crystal Springs Reservoir State Route 36 US 101 near Fortuna to SR 3 near Peanut State Route 37 SR 251 near Nicasio to SR 29 in Vallejo State Route 38 I-10 in Redlands to SR 18 at Big Bear Dam Rim of the World Scenic Byway (also a National Forest Scenic Byway), drive through the San Bernardino Mountains with scenic views of forested mountains and desert areas Designated March 19, 1968, in San Bernardino County: Santa Ana River to State Lane near Sugarloaf State Route 39 I-210 in Azusa to SR 2 at Islip Saddle Interstate 40 Barstow to Needles State Route 41 SR 1 in Morro Bay to US 101 in Atascadero SR 46 near Cholame to SR 33 at Reef Station SR 49 at Oakhurst to Yosemite National Park State Route 44 I-5 in Redding to SR 89 near Old Station State Route 46 SR 1 near Cambria to SR 41 near Cholame State Route 49 SR 41 at Oakhurst to SR 89 at Sattley Part of the Yuba-Donner Scenic Byway (also a National Forest Scenic Byway), scenic drive through the Yuba River canyon past several historic mining communities of the California Gold Rush Designated July 14, 1971, in Sierra County: Yuba County to Yuba Pass U.S. Route 50 SR 49 in Placerville to Nevada Route 50, crossing of the Sierra Nevada via the American River Canyon and Echo Summit towards Lake Tahoe Designated April 2, 1985, in El Dorado County: Placerville Drive in Placerville (west of SR 49) to Echo Summit Designated April 1, 1986, in El Dorado County: Echo Summit to South Lake Tahoe State Route 52 I-5 in San Diego to SR 67 in Santee Route 52, runs along the northern boundary of Mission Trails Regional Park with scenic views of Cowles Mountain Designated February 2, 2016, in San Diego County: near Santo Road to near Mast Boulevard in San Diego State Route 53 SR 29 at Lower Lake to SR 20 near Clearlake State Route 57 SR 90 in Brea to SR 60 near Industry State Route 58 SR 14 near Mojave to I-15 in Barstow State Route 62 I-10 near White Water to Arizona Twentynine Palms Highway, runs through scenic high desert country and Joshua Tree National Monument Designated September 14, 1972, in Riverside County: I-10 near White Water to San Bernardino County State Route 68 Monterey to US 101 in Salinas Route 68, runs through areas of oak, sycamore, and pine trees east of Monterey Designated June 19, 1968, in Monterey County: SR 1 in Monterey to Salinas River State Route 70 SR 149 at Wicks Corner to SR 89 at Blairsden State Route 71 SR 91 near Corona to SR 83 in Chino Hills State Route 74 I-5 in San Juan Capistrano to SR 111 in Palm Desert, California Part of the Pines to Palms Scenic Byway (also a National Forest Scenic Byway), scenic drive from the forests of San Bernardino National Forest to Mojave Desert areas Designated October 18, 1971, in Riverside County: San Bernardino National Forest west boundary to SR 111 in Palm Desert State Route 75 I-5 in southern San Diego to I-5 near downtown San Diego Silver Strand Highway, scenic drive along the Silver Strand and across the San Diego-Coronado Bridge Designated March 4, 1974, in San Diego County: Imperial Beach to Avenida del Sol in Coronado Designated February 17, 1969, in San Diego County: San Diego-Coronado Bridge State Route 76 I-5 in Oceanside to SR 79 near Lake Henshaw State Route 78 SR 79 at Santa Ysabel to SR 86 near Salton City Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Road, traverses the low desert landscapes of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park