This Is America’s Greatest Secret Road | Jalopnik Investigates

California State Route 33 is a piece of driving nirvana, so why does no one talk about it?
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[@computiNATEor]

Noooo! Don't publicize my favorite road!! You'll make it busy!

[@Jalopnik]

+computiNATEor Sorry. Not sorry.

[@computiNATEor]

+Jalopnik I thought we were friends. -_-

[@Jalopnik]

+computiNATEor We still love you.

[@racer98]

+computiNATEor let it go man. I never told anyone other then my local group, I really feel used by the Jalopnik people now after this post.

[@QwertyuiopThePie]

+racer98 The information was going to get out eventually. It's always annoyed me when in-groups have their little secrets that they refuse to let anyone with an interest in the subject use. Believe me, you wouldn't feel the same if you hadn't known about the road beforehand.

[@kaytlynkate6983]

I'm a Ventura county native and ever since I can remember we always took a ride up to 33 to decompress and reconnect after a trying day.

[@kobenoyashi3394]

People complaining about the road being spoiled... like seriously? How many of you actually live anywhere near Ventura County? I live in Los Angeles, and making it out to this road is somewhat of a trip

[@danielfernandez5721]

I live about ten miles from ojai, there is also another road to get up there that is really nice most of it goes through the mountains.

[@owning175]

+Papparazzoo I live in Ventura, and I love the road, but at the end of the day its a road, people should be aware of it and allowed to drive on it.

[@XxBeardogxX]

+Papparazzoo I grew up in Moorpark. The 33 and the 23 were my favorite roads nearby and I was glad they weren't busy

[@liljunior805]

+Daniel Fernandez the 150? I love both roads!!!

[@robbiehernandez8019]

Exactly hell driving to Oxnard is a trip to me.

[@dogcrick]

Every driver on the West Coast knows it is a drivers secret. Why in the hell would you make it a Jalopnik video? As a car guy and long time subscriber I am not really stoked on this video. You didn't even do it justice with the video. You simply made a promo video out of it. Not disliked but definitely not liked.

[@alexlam24]

But guess who views Jalopnik? Yeah. We are a minority

[@tdolan500]

As long as the cyclists don't watch this we are golden!

[@racer98]

+EXTREME SCALE PERFORMANCE RC Thank you +100 for you, This is done by someone who probably was stoned high as a kite. I also really feel used, I thought Jalopnik was cool people, but they are that meme douchebag steve. used people to get ahead. The Video creator of it forgot to mention the many pitfalls of this road from the 18wheelers that are mining trucks that use both lanes of the narrow road and car size boulders that are found on the road. Not to mention the light silt dirt on the road left over from caltrans. Since it does snow on this road there is gravel left on the road as well. I'm really irked by this video now.

[@ericboreen4040]

+racer98 Nice try sir, nice try. Yes, so many problems on that road, just don't go driving on it. So many problems! And no gas stations or food. And there are monsters...

[@racer98]

don't cry when you're stranded out there.

[@mrmurphy8609]

It’s still relatively untraveled with Sunday being the busiest of the week. Last Monday I watched 15 different super cars nose to tail run past Wheeler Gorge campground where I work as CampHost. Two days later two Ferrari’s went racing by one gray and one white I saw them a few hours later coming back down 33 headed towards Ojai. Except they were both on flat bed tow trucks with both back ends twisted and mangled.

[@FreakoDude709]

hwy 36 from humboldt county to redding ca is amazing. driven it thousands of times and it is super dangerous in spots and beautiful everywhere.

[@Terminxman]

Well it's not going to be so great when there's traffic...smart move

[@toshibavoodoo]

What a great video!! I live in CA and always look for great, top down roads! MORE PLEASE...

[@mmhoss]

Spinelli got a haircut!

[@MrBurgerphone1014]

+Mufti Hossain I almost didn't recognize him... almost...

[@alexlam24]

He looks better now.

[@tdolan500]

Maybe his hair got to him on Twitter....

[@edmfperez]

this production quality is amazing! keep up the great work

[@racer98]

+Ed Perez says the stoner club.

[@94BrunoO]

I can already see everyone going for a fast ride on an 'empty' road and 30 head-on collisions magically occurring.

[@94jrose]

Do more hidden driving roads please! This would be an awesome series.

[@racer98]

+94jrose pick up a map and read. and no to your post.

[@94jrose]

Thanks captain obvious

[@angry.8]

This road isn't what it used to be and the traffic is a nightmare.

[@zthweee]

Thanks to videos like this.

[@irwinbrar1438]

I went on that road after Monterey Car week, headed to LA, and it was empty and awesome. Jalopnik, should've kept it a secret.

[@ramos150]

Snap. Y'all really did ruin it. I live near Six Flags so roughly 30mins away from Ventura if that. HWY 33 here I come!!! EDIT: Honestly to any of you close to Santa Clarita it's located perfectly. We have little tujunga, san francisquito, bouquet canyon road, Angeles crest and the snake all within an hour or less and now this...........I love California.

[@jackbrown3270]

wow. never heard of bouqet or san fran canyon. thanks for some new roads!!

[@AdityaRaj-hd9jr]

Now every one wants to drive through the road and it became a celebrity.

[@hugh-johnfleming289]

And on 33 you gotta be so careful of teeny boppers on crotch rockets riding way over their skill level.

[@GetOutsideYourself]

Take it from a local, the claims made in this video are not entirely substantiated. I like 33, except when I get stuck behind some slow weekend drivers, or bicycles. Traffic may be light by Southern California standards, but by no means is this the best road in America.

[@BNR-Ant]

Video should go private

[@alvaro4k]

There's no cell service up there at all. Anybody that knows the road well goes prepared. Tempted to go see how much added traffic there is this weekend.

[@SomethingSeemsOff]

definitely the best way to end the video! 5/5 stars!

[@elkillerx]

CA highway 1 isn’t much of a secret stop anymore. Last time I drove there it was packed with tourists. Highway 33 is still a great secret stop without much tourist.

[@JM-uz6vt]

Chp is enforcing 33 and Lockwood Valley Road heavily now due to all the complaints from residents about car clubs racing and speeding through the area.

[@8bithavok]

I have two for you. Idaho 55 and Idaho 21.

[@mister0ldschool]

wow i never though i would see a video of the road iv been driving/riding for years. crashed my first car out there 8 years ago lol still ride this road regularly.

[@killersushi99]

I saw 50 BMW's all going to Route 33. Its ok they wont have to use their turn signal.

[@spidermight8054]

Back in August of 2018, our work crew saw an orange McLaren headed up 33. The next day, that car was in the newspaper because it flew off the road and down a hillside. Both occupants were fine.

[@MrTrefrog]

Neil Peart introduced me to this road in his travel book "Far and Near".

[@C-NoteMac]

Watch out for all the random rocks always falling in the road on 33.

[@lateapex9420]

I'm from the UK and planning an 8,000 road trip on my 1199s Paingale. The 33 has been on my list to bag on the way down highway 1.

[@alcaponed16]

I'm going there tonight actually!

[@EvanMoon]

Alex is back!!!!!!

[@XxBeardogxX]

The way he says Ojai...noooooooo. But the 23 is an amazing road too. From Fillmore to the coast with Grimes and Mulholland Canyon. Probably my favorite road ever, but that's probably just because I grew up on it

[@gr6e]

How do you pronounce it? I've been there a couple of times and only ever heard it the way he says in the video.

[@augiefash2239]

@@gr6e "Owe-high" is how you pronounce it. His voice pitches up at the end when he says the "high" part of "Ojai", so that's largely what makes his pronunciation incorrect.

[@mahamed92]

"are there speed limits" thats the question of a speed freak

[@Themayseffect]

highway 33 isn't a secret. Its just in the middle of fkn nowhere, thus the reason its rarely used. Unlike Angelest Forest which basically connects 4 cities together and isn't that far out to drive to. Its clearly marked on any map created in the past 30years but as stated you have two major highways flanking it that has a much more direct route to any destination you need to get to. Highway 33 simply IS the destination.

[@matthewhoskins282]

+Themayseffect This... Also CHP isn't out there to give warnings.

[@kennethj1956]

Oh Great! ....Now they'll find Casitas Pass rd from Ojai to Goleta. ........ I grew up in Ventura and lived in Ojai for a couple of years; now I live in the Ozarks of S.W. Missouri. (Talk about twisty hilly roads!) P.S. In 1985, I witnessed a head-on collision inside that first tunnel on 33. Man it was loud.

[@evoemperor3776]

they cut the video after he ask are there speed limits? hahaha

[@racer98]

+evo emperor ojai section 55mph - where he was in the video 35mph, im not kidding.

[@dan428]

+racer98 the real answer is no, there's no speed limits because the police wouldn't enforce such an empty road

[@racer98]

You have no idea what you're talking about nor your 1 trip would pass as solid advice. Not a good road.

[@FrequencyOfThought]

Hey it's Camilo! I wish he would force GM to release something cool.

[@davidmitchell5638]

Everyone should report this video!! hey let's be honest Jalops NO matter how many of us go there it will stay empty! afterall we are only if not less than 5% .

[@racer98]

+David MuscleGuy +50

[@ColtonBlumhagen]

Of 66K subscribers, how many actually live near this road? I'm guessing not many.

[@The_Osprey]

The road between Balmorhea and Fort Davis Texas is pretty damn sweet.

[@mister0ldschool]

he pronounces Ojai weird

[@kennethj1956]

+mister0ldschool I know; .... he says 'o-HI!' ; but it's It's 'O-hi'

[@aluisious]

Pbbt. 33 is alright, but it's dirty and the pavement is broken. The twisty sections aren't that long compared to better roads like Angeles Crest or 36, or 96, which is extremely long for a winding road.

[@danielfernandez5721]

I live not ten minutes from the start of that road

[@racer98]

+Daniel Fernandez - keep it that way, tell people to go to sand canyon or angels crest.

[@Simonofcalifornia]

178 ain't that bad either or crossing 33 through los Padres to 101.

[@dane4327]

33 is a gateway to even more secrets in this region....

[@waynep343]

Hudson Ranch Rd Maricopa, CA 93252 is another off 33 as is lockwood valley road.

[@M4Nathan007]

Gee Jalopnik, thanks for this....

[@TheForresterOD]

00:39 I recognize that tunnel from Everyday Driver's C7 Covette review

[@specv_jonathan]

Whats the highway called in Angles Crest Higheay where its 9 miles straight trying to do some pulls?

[@assassin72]

Not much of a secret now is it?

[@racer98]

+assassin72 +1

[@alazka16]

Damn, that SM though.

[@QuinnProductions27]

"Are there speed limits?" Oh Christian von Koenigsegg

[@wantsanewvehicle]

Great.. I'm in Pennsylvania though and will more than likely never go to California in my life (no reason too).. so, any great 'secret' roads here??

[@spidermight8054]

I live in Ojai. Born and raised. I always see exotic sports cars driving up it.

[@BernonCars]

Isn’t this where Matt Farah does his vids?

[@alexbubis3085]

No he usually does it around Angeles Crest or the Malibu Canyons. He lives in Los Angeles so Route 33 would be a bit of a drive for him.

[@themockalove]

People are pissed that you spoiled it. but let's face it, not that many people watch this comparing to the amount of drivers out there and no, it's not going to be packed. ever, probably.

[@doughboy334]

tagged to tear it up on my motorcycle!

[@danielfernandez5721]

way to fucken go now everybody is going to be in that road. by the way ojai does have a good car scene everytime I take the small drive up there I always see exotic and performance cars.

[@dashcamwarriors732]

What happened to the hair??!!

[@DestDroid]

WV 33/250 into VA is fantastic.

[@Dogbreath1974]

Spinel finally turned, next he'll get an Alfa 916!

[@ck2503]

It was fun while it lasted.

[@joelbanzhaf2213]

Pretty sure that this is the same road as "Everyday Driver" uses of all of their videos.

[@danielvaldes5419]

how you gonna cut the video when you start talking about the speed limit. damn I was curious

[@madfiat8932]

Twisted Sisters in Texas is another "secret" route.

[@robgrt]

Reason 1 why its not a great road is that wind can be hellish allowing rocks to land all over the blind turns. Reason 2 is that when you hit a rock or someone going over the double yellows and send you over the cliffs and EMS can be more than a half-hour away. If you need to be helicoptered out. Then its a $35,000 minimum charge. Reason 3, CHP is all over this road and they love, love, love confiscating cars that go over 80mph. Reason 4 is ice forms in the shady areas which seems to always be on the backside of tight turns. Rossi's Driveway is a much better road as well as Tupesquay.

[@hugh-johnfleming289]

Soooooo many great roads out West. SR 33 is the moss on the iceberg.

[@GeneralSirDouglasMcA]

Better not break down without a cell phone on this road...

[@LOUDFARTNOISES]

fuck... (sigh of relief).... you're not in Colorado. Yeah... that's totally the best road.. Keep driving that

[@racer98]

+artjohnson63 you guys have the best roads, I mean some of the worlds best. Super dangerous but epic still

[@pgtmr2713]

Next up, Vicotria's Secret. Someone doesn't get the concept of secret.

[@aaronfriedman6193]

I believe Motor Trend uses this road for their test

[@mayrasancruz]

Route 33.... ah.. Los padres national forest Canyon roads Is scary when driving in THICK fog AND NIGHT time....

[@Dewii33]

HWY 33 sucks, filled with bicyclists, motorhomes, and hikers. So please stay away and off of it! 🤣

[@CanyonsCarver]

California has the best canyon roads in the world. 33 is GREAT and super far, but nothing beat Mt Palomar as far as uphill and tight curves. Oh try mt Baldy too while at it! Keep it quiet since everyone has discovered Azusa

[@Thegoldenchopsticks]

Virginia has some slept on roads honestly

[@jackbrown3270]

holy fuck ca 33 is far as hell for me and i would be scared breaking down on that road. getting to malibu already is a mission so i normally stick in ACH but maybe one day i'll make the drive all the way out there with a rental car.

[@CaliforniaGuy88]

The way you say Ojai a couple times bothers me as a Ventura County native.

[@andrewrutolo7717]

I need to go to California just for 33

[@lookieBlou]

san juan is THE biggest kept secret ever

[@alecro2112]

Well we found the location for Jeepers Creepers 3!

[@Thedude175]

oh shit now next week going back to SF ima take this route hahaha

[@michaelpower7618]

WTF MIKE?!? What happened to the luscious locks of lusciousness???

[@furyiiiplate]

I love that a Progressive destroyed mass transit and put more people behind internal combustion engines. No, I seriously Love It!!!

[@LivingOnCash]

Lockwood canyon road too.

[@Humandriver5280]

Arkansas 16 is good not for scenery but curves and remoteness.

[@robbiehernandez8019]

5:05 dude is high!

[@CoffeeVSInvesting]

Another road I have to take my Charger on.

[@GrussimoGarage]

Hwy 49 south of Sonora is another great...

[@ericchacone3876]

Hwy 33 is to far out from LA that’s why we don’t praise it

[@TheIrishPhantom]

In Louisiana we got.... Aligator Bayou rd. Yeahhhhhh But seriously I've been to Tail of the Dragon and this road seems a bit mild in comparison... still a nice road tho!

[@Wilkwayadventures]

+Tiny Turbo I think the point is more that it's an amazing driving road that isn't crowded with thousands of other people trying to drive it. You can go out and enjoy it without really worrying about hitting traffic (or cops).

[@TheIrishPhantom]

Chris Wilkinson Well that's about to end soon...

[@Wilkwayadventures]

I'm imagining that this video will result in MAYBE 20 more cars per day on this road...Doubt it's going to start some huge revolution for SoCal drivers...

[@BDupy1]

Yeah man I live about 30 minutes west of Lafayette, all the twisty roads are absolutely riddled with pot holes

[@buzzerbill4018]

. . . " are there speed limits?" lol he must be a German

[@jetkeith]

And this is why I will always live in LA.

[@AA-yx2kf]

I won't tell you about my roads...

[@Brononomous]

I wish there was a series showing roads not in California. some of us live in the rest of the us :D but everyone always just talks a bout cali roads.

[@xanderrr521]

damn it J

[@EvanMoon]

Who is the Spinelli look a like with the short hair?

[@arleyki]

Has Ventura county and Jessy Ventura got anything to do with each other?? Idk, I'm from Australia and there was fuckall on Internet Explorer about it.

[@notavailable6472]

Cops?

[@RED89P13]

Lol they might as well all drive bicycles and there a Corvette in the background