The Original Old "Ridge Route" - L.A to Bakersfield on Old U.S. Route 99 - High Speed Driving Video

This is the original drive from Los Angeles to Bakersfield via the Historical U.S. Route 99 with the Ridge Route included. If you had to drive anywhere from Calexico to Canada on the west coast during the years of about 1915 to 1932, this is likely the route you would have taken. After 1933, the Ridge Route was bypassed by the U.S. Route 99 Alternate, which used Piru Canyon and went through current day Pyramid Lake. This drive starts near the north end of the Arroyo Seco Parkway, north of the tunnels, at Figueroa and 26th Streets. The U.S. Route 99 then turned northeast onto San Fernando Blvd all the way up to Newhall. On the way up, through the City of Burbank, I had to jump a couple of obstacles using dissolves. The first is Burbank's Village Center Mall, which was built directly on top of old U.S. Route 99, making the alignment no longer passable. Second, I had to jump over the Interstate 5 Freeway from San Fernando Road from Grismer Avenue to San Fernando Road and Empire Ave on the other side of the Interstate. There was once a long existing tunnel there, but construction was going on while I did this video to re-install the underpass (which has since been completed). We then drive Sierra Highway to Newhall Road, then to Railroad Avenue to what is now Magic Mountain Parkway. As we approach the Old Road, we jump past it for a moment onto Feedmill Road, which was the old alignment before the bridge over the Santa Clarita River was washed out by the collapse and subsequent raging flood caused by the San Francisquito Dam collapse up on San Francisquito Canyon and washed things and bodies all the way to the Pacific Ocean, and even to San Diego. We then jump on the Old Road as a sort of proxy for the old alignment, which is really under the Interstate 5 easement. We then jump over Interstate 5 and hook into Ridge Route Road. After passing over the glorious and very curvy Ridge Route, we continue on northward through Lebec, hit a couple of the existing pieces of the old road in that area, and then make our way down to the tiny town of Grapevine and then Wheeler Ridge. Then back on I-5, which covers the old U.S. Route 99 alignment until we split off just past Wheeler Ridge on the original road on Union Avenue north to Bakersfield. Once in Bakersfield, one notices all of the old, run down hotels that once were actively dotted along the old U.S. Route 99 up to what is now signed as Route 204, which bears left and carries us over the Kern River and we then join the current CA SR 99. Like San Fernando Blvd in Los Angeles, the old U.S. 99 went through an older part of Bakersfield east of the current CA SR 99. The newer parts of the city mostly lie to the west of the CA SR 99 freeway. And an important note that U.S. 99 through Santa Clarita after the year 1930 was re-aligned over what is now, "The Old Road," west of I-5 from the CA SR 14 split to the 126. However, much of this U.S. 99 alignment sits under I-5. The Only portions that still exist are from San Fernando Road to Calgrove. And from Magic Mountain Parkway to CA SR 126. All other areas of that re-alignment now sit under Interstate 5.
This is where Dead Man's Curve is, just in case you want to know it's location:
• Where is Dead Man's Cu...
Here is the U.S. Route 99/Ridge Route playlist:
• U.S. Route 99/Ridge Route
Please note that this is one of the videos on Rapid Topography that will have mid-roll ad breaks. I only add these mid-roll ads to the larger project that I do since they take a lot of time and effort and gasoline. The majority of daily drive on my channel do not have mid-roll ad breaks.
If you have the SLIGHTEST interest in the Ridge Route, you MUST read Harrison Irving Scott's Book, "The Ridge Route: The Road That United California." He wrote the most comprehensive and most fascinating book on this historical road. Many of the facts, and the reason I knew where to look for locations, are because of Mr. Scott's great research and written efforts. He is the go-to person for information on the route. I originally shot and assembled this on June 04, 2015 and ran it on one of my other KZbin Channels for many years with differing music. This is one of my favorite video shoots. The high speed aspect of this video is simply a post-production effect and is not mean to encourage speeding. Please always drive safely and prudently.

[@GunnerAsch1]

I last drove this route about 15 yrs ago. I live in Kern Co, but work in So Cal and took this route on 2 occasions when I-5 was shut down due to big traffic accidents. Its a fascinating route and a look at a part of California few will ever see. About the only people that go up there are oil workers (big pipe lines run along this route, and power company workers, along with sheep herders. Do NOT take that route in the wet months or when there is snow on the hill. Not even in a good off road 4x4. The snow wont last long..a few days..but the caliche mud will cause you big problems in the slide areas. Ive gone over the "Grapevine" just over 5000 times in the past 26 yrs. Gotta make a living.... shrug

[@RapidTopography]

Wow, that's a lot. I've gone over the grapevine thousands of times for sure as well over the past 25 years. Another thing to keep in mind, especially for anyone going southbound on the route who expects to punch out the other side into Castaic, is that there is now a gate that is normally closed. So you can't exit out to the south. The gate is located north of Templin Hwy, and just north of those ranchers that live in there. I'm not sure whose jurisdiction the gate is under, but in the past few years, I've only seen it open a very few times. So I wouldn't recommend the route as a way around an I-5 incident anymore for that reason. You'd most likely have to backtrack up and start another way down. Thank you for watching, Gunner. -Fred

[@edwardclark3980]

Hey I also live in kern co.

[@edwardclark3980]

I live in kern co. Too.

[@taraskovali3175]

I’ll be moving to kern soon and making the commute to downtown LA as well. Any advice you have or experiences you would be willing to share with me ?

[@GunnerAsch1]

@@taraskovali3175 It depends on where in Kern Co, you move to. If you are south of Bakersfield, you are in pretty good shape. Interstate 99 traffice at certain times of the day, morning and afternoon make the 405 drive familiar. The only issues to be concerned about other than a traffic jam in the morning and afternoon (and they clear up pretty quickl) is the drive over the Grapevine. You will find it on rare occasions closed by either weather (usually snow or ice in the winter) or by the equally rare vehicle accident. When they close the Grapevine.. its closed. Bakersfield is 89 miles -/+ from LA so that can be an hour and a half trip, depending on where you are going to or coming from. Thats also 180 miles a day over a 4500' peak. So drive a cheap econobox that gets a gazillion miles per gallon or fuel costs will eat your ass. If you are traveling light, consider something like a FIAT or Honda, If you are traveling heavy,, tools etc... Toyota Tundra or similar. Or even a diesel car or pickup. Its a LOT of miles a week so you need to drive something very very reliable with a good life history and good fuel mileage. Unless you are rich as hell and can afford to buy a vehicle every other year. Ive been doing this for 28 yrs, but staying down during the week and only driving down on Mondays and coming home on Friday nights (not counting weekend work etc etc). Now that being said..,Kern Co is a crap load cheaper to live in than any place south of the Grapevine (humm maybe Hemet.. shrug) I put 3 engines in 2 Ford Rangers in those years and now drive a late 90s F-150 that is bigger, more comfortable and gets the same or better mileage than the Rangers did. But I travel with 600-800 pounds of tools. Im a millwright. Shrug. Its an easy drive, gives you lots of time to think or put your brain on cruise control. I live over on the west side in a little town called Taft. Been there since 1983.

[@mikebrady1767]

I made the same drive only southbound in 1985. It looks the same, I mean the road doesn’t look any worse now as it was then except it wasn’t gated back then. Still I was the only one on the road, nobody wants to drive it except the local ranchers and historical road enthusiasts like myself and occasional utility workers or sheriffs and firefighters. Thanks for sharing. Where I live outside of Lacey, Washington there are 3 separate roads within a mile of me that carried US 99 at different times before I-5 opened in 1969. US 99 has a fascinating history from Mexico to Canada.

[@RapidTopography]

That's cool that you know where those old U.S. 99 alignments are outside of Lacy. I'll check them out someday. Thank you for watching, Mr. Brady! -Fred

[@rolandrodriguez3854]

My step Grandfather drove truck from LA to Bakersfield.......took 8 hours in the 1930s. No heater, no windshield, a bucket of hot coals under the legs. Thanks, Nilo.

[@RapidTopography]

Wow, that's amazing! -Fred : )

[@lanefrank6208]

The big cut at 20:45 is known as the Culebra or Swede's Cut. It was one of the very few places along the Old Ridge Route where a power shovel was used as they were very expensive to transport and use. There were enough curves on that road to make 110 complete circles. The asphalt sections over the original concrete strip identified those sections where sharp curves were daylighted in attempts to straighten out the road. The three lane Ridge Route Alternate was opened in the early 1930s and the 1915 road was demoted to secondary status. In the 1950s, the three lane road was upgraded to four lanes. The northbound lanes from Castaic to Templin Hwy (The English Switch) and the southbound lanes from Grapevine to Ft Tejon follow the early Ridge Route Alternate alignment. From Templin Hwy to the locked gate at Piru Creek (just before the dam) is the old Alternate alignment that passes under Pyramid Lake and comes out at Smokey Bear Rd (old Hungry Valley Rd) off-ramp. The original Ridge Route from Templin Hwy to Sandberg (Pine Canyon Rd) sustained major damage from the rains of 2005-2006 winter and was never reopened to the public. The road was repaired by the utility companies that own the pipelines and electricity that run along the road but when the road ownership passed from Los Angeles County to the Angeles National Forest, the land owners who held the easements where the road passed would not renew them and the Forest Service declined to take the rights-of-way by Eminent Domain so the gates were erected to prevent passage. Except by special permission from the Forest Service (Huell Howser, etc.), or by luck of an open gate, It is a citeable offense to drive the road. Another excellent video.

[@RapidTopography]

Hi LaneFrank! Thank you for all of that great information. I covered the RR Alternate on this video, having to walk some of it and take still photographs past the gate. Thank you for watching the video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kITXnGuPf7Z5bZY Fred : )

[@thomasandrews8033]

I've been up on the ridge route so many times I can't even count but never been past the gates in either direction very far so this video was very special to me and I thank you for making it.

[@RapidTopography]

You bet, Thomas. If you do decided to go through it, say, this summer when the days are longer, you might want to start from the top side. Start from CA SR 138 where it meets Ridge Route Road and then head south. The reason that I say that is because the top gate is usually open, and even that is a ways down. But the bottom gate, which is only like a mile and a half north of Templin Hwy, is almost always locked. So you will get much more for your money if you start at the top side and head south. You will indeed need to turn around at the bottom gate if you decide to go that far, but by then, you have seen most of the Old Ridge Route. As a disclaimer, I haven't been through there since last summer (2023), so I don't know for a fact that the top gate is now open. But it's always been each time I've been through there, which is tens of times. Thank you for watching the video. Fred : )

[@neilforker84]

As a SoCal motorcyclist who has explored MANY off-the-beaten-track roads, I always wanted to find the end points of old 99 and ride it. However, now that I've seen how many washouts and broken patches there are, I think it might be a little too much and will probably have to live vicariously through you. I LOVED this video. These are just the kind of roads I love to discover. I don't why they attract me (us!) so much. Perhaps it's their lonely, quiet beauty, and romanticism of the old days. You can certainly tell by the road construction that they did things differently back then. If you could instill the past's common sense into people today, maybe it wouldn't be so bad now. We'd have and maintain more roads like this

[@RapidTopography]

I agree with everything you wrote, Neil. I feel the same way when I find a road that was once a main thoroughfare, but is now sitting quietly as if frozen from another age. You described it perfectly. I actually think you could enjoy some of it on your motorcycle. You would probably want to come from the north (from CA SR 138 onto Ridge Route Road), and just take it slowly for a while. Some of the turns are bumpy, but there is a lot of it that is ride-able, especially on a two-wheeler. And you could just go down it for a while, not the whole thing because the gate at the southern end is almost always locked these days... just about 3/4 of a mile north of Templin Hwy. So it's better to come down a ways from the top. Anyways, if you ever decide to do it, I'd love to hear about your experience. I have a feeling from what you wrote that you would find it absolutely meditative. -Fred : )

[@karlklein2966]

I thought the same thing. I would love to ride that road but it doesn't look Harley friendly. Maybe on the Pan American?

[@Torrque]

To hell! I’ll STILL ride my road cycle on this!! Taking slow and taking in a slice of rare past. Completely fine by me. It has been a goal of mine for some time now... would have been completed already if I didn’t live a ocean and state away. So, my trips back are a tad few and far between for all the road adventures on my list.

[@thebrhinocerous]

Yeah, I ride, too, and was thinking that this might be a nice day trip...until I saw the middle portion of the route between Castaic and where it meets up with Tejon. Still some nice road to ride, though, even if that middle portion is a no-go. If it wasn't so remote, I might be more willing to give it a try, but the thought of an unfixable flat or some other issue forces my common sense to step in. But if I had a dirt bike or dual-sport, I might be more willing.

[@RapidTopography]

I knew someone who road the Pan American highway. A guy from Munich, and he loved the trip. You should do it! -Fred : )

[@meatybtz]

Wife and I used to drive when we first met, anywhere. All along these old roads, just like this, barely paved, forgotten. It was just part of our lives for so long randomly going down roads, seeing where they lead in central and so-cal. It's so wonderful to see this. It brings back memories from decades back. We'd drive and drive. Thanks for this. All too soon, these roads will be gone from history. Here the are saved, for posterity. A memory of a time.

[@RapidTopography]

Thank you Nathaniel Schultz for your reminiscences of your drives. That's exactly what I like to do, and it's always an adventure. We travel on these slick interstates forgetting, or for some, not even knowing of these original routes that handled all of the traveling back in the day. I really appreciate your comments and your having watched the video. Thank you. -Fred : )

[@richardthomas6364]

Wow... That take me back to my childhood days going from Bakersfield to L.A. that was in the 70's, I often wondered what happened to that road, now I know ... Thanks for the Memories

[@RapidTopography]

Yeah, it's still up there baking in the sun every day. Lol. Thank you for watching, Richard Thomas. -Fred

[@nilo70]

We used to see deer , and Eagles and Bears ! back in the day and I’m saying it Right Now that things used to be a hell of a lot better then !

[@DJBassBoomBottom]

I'm a Bakersfieldian born decades after the Ridge Route closed and would love to take it when I go down south. Love a good twisty road, especially one without any traffic. Thanks for the detailed information.

[@RapidTopography]

You bet, DJ! Just know that there is a gate on the south side that is normally closed. It is about two miles north of Templin Hwy. So if you start from the north side (CA SR 138), you will be able to enjoy a lot of it. But most likely, you will have to turn around and go back up (north) to get back out. Enjoy! Fred : )

[@dobees8183]

Simply outstanding! I've lived in the SFV all my life, driven up and down the 5 freeway countless times and never knew this road actually went all the way to Bakersfield. I caught glimpses of it from Huell Howser's California's Gold, but he never drove the whole route.

[@RapidTopography]

Huell Howser was awesome. Just after having been graduated from U.S.C., I interned at KABC Talk Radio, checking mail and other stuff in the office. Huell had a mailbox there at the radio station, and one time he sat next to me while he checked his mail and I did something else. I told him how much I loved his, "California's Gold." He was so nice, and he had that folksy way about him and his thick Tennessean accent. -Fred : )

[@jamesneubauer8741]

Drove this road many times in the 1980's.found several old gas station foundations and a couple of building foundations,and the remains of an old petroleum pumping plant.There were tall rock pillars in line pointing north/south and suspect they were the early flag system for aircraft course direction.Loved the solitude of this road.

[@robbwhitewater]

Thanks for documenting this piece of history! My family has traveled that route in all its different variations for the past 100 years. Not sure if this has been mentioned but there is a group called Ridge Route Preservation Organization that is doing really great work in trying preserve the old route. A great group of volunteers!

[@RapidTopography]

Hi Robb. Yes! I know about the RRPO. They are great and I'm glad that there is some consciousness of wanting to oversee and preserve the Ridge Route. That's really amazing that your family has that kind of history with the route. Thank you for watching the video. -Fred : )

[@alexburke1899]

Are they the people doing the drainage work up there or is that the State? It looks like they did a lot of work that protects the road getting washed out by slides near the top.

[@whitsundaydreaming]

Great ASMR. I couldn’t keep my eyes open, just like when I drive this route!

[@RapidTopography]

Lol WhitSundayDreaming, I'm glad that the video enhanced your relaxation. It's the effect I'm going for most of the time. Thank you for watching. Fred : )

[@DuaneHinkle]

I love your video. I have been fortunate to be able to travel a large part of this route.but never through the South gate of the Ridge Route. Thank you for letting us experience that special drive and important part of California history. Your comment about the difficulty and challenges of driving a really old car up there was on target. It was a very tough drive with a lot of overheating and breakdowns.

[@RapidTopography]

That's great that you have done some of the route, Duane. Yeah, it amazes me every time I've been up there to think that it was the main conduit between Southern and Central California. And now, you can just whiz along I-5 through the whole pass in about 40 minutes or so. I'll bet those original road builders would never have dreamed of an eight lane highway. Lol. Thank you for watching the video. -Fred : )

[@tomedwards53]

I lived in Bakersfield until 1970 when I got transferred to the LA area. Seems to me that I read an article about the old Ridge Road and decided to drive it in my VW bug . It was an amazing trip into the past. I remember back then there were several two pump gas station remnants along that narrow road (one was a Richfield) and every now and then you could look over the side of the road and see a wrecked truck or two that had been down there for decades. My best memory was the old Lebec Hotel that was located on the old road just before you started the down grade into the San Juaquin Valley. It had been closed for several years and was dangerously dilapidated but I went inside and shot lots of photos. I found room receipts on the floor that were dated from the early 50's with a nights stay listed at $4.50. After an hour or so of doing my photo thing several employees showed up from the Tejon Ranch and asked me to leave (nicely). A year or so later I was driving by on 99 and was sad to see the old Lebec Hotel had been torn down. Thanks for the trip down memory road.

[@RapidTopography]

Wow, tomedwards53! That's amazing that you got to see all of that! Well two thoughts. 1) If you still have those photos, please put them online somewhere. People would love to see them. If you don't have the ability to (access to a scanner, etc.), then just let me know and I'd be happy to scan them for you. 2) You mentioned the Richfield gasoline stations. You probably know this, but a lot of people don't. That is, that Richfield built those stations all up and down, I believe from L.A. into Washington State. They and tall towers with the Richfield name on their sides and a beacon atop each tower. The idea was that as a sort of promotion of their brand, they were helping pilots to orient themselves as they flew up and down the coast. These towers with the beacons were placed at intervals up and down U.S. Route 99, and also I believe U.S. Route 101 for part of it's length. Just such a cool fact. There are a few of the stations and a few of the towers still standing. Anyways, thank you for watching the video. -Fred

[@tomedwards53]

@@RapidTopography Unfortunately during a rather acrimonious divorce most of my Kodachrome transparencies were, shall we say, "lost". Such is life. I do remember showing the Lebec photos to friends (remember slide projectors?) and they were amazed-- had no idea the Lebec Hotel even existed. Sorry I can't share them now.

[@RapidTopography]

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. But at least you got to experience what was there once. Thank you, tomedwards53 -Fred

[@rikspector]

That ridge road is amazing, I can't imagine how much work and engineering it took. I see why it's often gated. Wouldn't be great if that were declared a Historic site and it was restored as a scenic byway?? I wish.

[@RapidTopography]

I totally agree. And yes, if you search on KZbin, you will see some videos that describe the work that it took using... Fresno Scrapers or something of that name, to grade the old Ridge Route. It must have just been grueling. Thank you for watching Frederick! -Fred : )

[@michaelwilson8336]

Amazing video! I enjoyed riding along with you!

[@RapidTopography]

Thank you, Michael. I really appreciate that you watched it. -Fred : )

[@ishinurskull]

More videos like this please! Great content!

[@RapidTopography]

Thank you, Ishinurskull. I really appreciate it. I'm working on some ideas currently. Thank you for watching. Fred : )

[@alexburke1899]

Pretty cool rock outcrop at 20:31 the sedimentary rock is tilted and dipping pretty steeply. That rock was originally laid down horizontally in a valley, so to get all the way up there is crazy when you think about it.

[@RapidTopography]

Hi Alex, so you're saying that that rock outcrop at 20:31 was brought up there? I just figured that it was cut through to make the road, and that like a lot of the sediment up there, it was tilted from being a part of the San Andreas fault over eons. -Fred : )

[@tammylewis2408]

Always fascinated by the old routes. Love the trip!!! Keep making CA road videos!!!

[@RapidTopography]

Thank you, Tammy! I really appreciate that you spent time watching it. And I'll keep making them. Fred : )

[@mistert8590]

What a peaceful drive, with a great soundtrack too!

[@RapidTopography]

Thank you very kindly, Mr. T. I really appreciate that you watched the video. -Fred : )

[@RD-qn4gt]

I love the, broken, forgotten, and the run down. It's were you find peace of mind and solitude. This drive changed my state of being. Powerful!

[@RapidTopography]

Thank you greatly, R D. I really appreciate it. I'm glad that the sense of serenity and solitude came over in the video. Thank you for watching it. -Fred

[@makosailing]

I remember this route from when I was a kid. My Grandpa preferred this route over the "New Road" as he called it. Until he drove a 1965 Mustang off the side with me in it. After that my Grandmother insisted that he take the new route from then on. Thanks for the flashback!

[@RapidTopography]

Wow!!! David, I'm glad that two were all right. Your grampa must have been a road racer. I had a Mustang too, and they're a lot of fun. Plenty of horses under the hood, so I can see how that could happen there. Thank you for watching David. -Fred : )

[@lljl5310]

Thank you for the upload!! Very nice! 👍

[@RapidTopography]

You get, LLJ L, I'm glad that you enjoyed it. Thank you for watching it. -Fred

[@californiasun5866]

I drove the Ridge Route in the early 70s in my VW. My reference back then spoke of turning onto The Ridge Route from what today is the Templin Hwy. I don't recall what it was called back then. But right at that intersection as you turned on the Ridge Route, was a diamond shaped yellow highway sign that said, "Not A Through Street". I can still see that sign in your video. There was a sign just like that somewhere before you reached Hwy 138. But I don't find a trace of it online today. It was located near the site of the Sandberg's Hotel, just north of it as I recall. I took photos of both signs. The only photos I took that trip. But regardless of what the signs said, I can vouch that the road went all the way through in the 70s, with not so much as an orange cone marking any problems. This day and age I can understand why property owners in the area of the Ridge Route, don't want strangers poking around. But for the BLM claiming the Ridge Route is too much of a liability, makes me think they are just trying to save some of their budget. All they have to do is put up signs, saying the route is not maintained, and anyone who drives it accepts any and all risks. Too, make notice that there is no gas or services until you get to Gorman. And rescues can be expensive or may not even be available. But regardless of what the BLM claims, I feel they should keep the Ridge Route open, as it is a very historical route. A lot of people want to see it. I for one, if I am ever in that area again, would want to drive it again. Regardless of its condition. If you watch old movies i think a number of car scenes were shot on The Ridge Route. But I haven't identified any sites for sure. Check "Radar Men From The Moon", The "Dick Tracy" movies,, and the "Superman" movies before George Reeves

[@RapidTopography]

I totally agree with you, California Sun, that the BLM should simply indicate to drivers that the drive takes on the liability of the unmaintained road. It's too historic not to let people experience it. Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments and anecdotes. I really appreciate it. And thank you for watching the video. -Fred : )

[@markmcwilliams2461]

Nice, well done video of the old route with lots of notes along the way.

[@jlbuttrick1948]

I had been on that route many many times in my 20s. I still live in Bakersfielfd to this day and I’m so glad I don’t have to do that again. Yes is is beautiful but curvy and scary too. Thank for these memories from over 50 years ago.

[@RapidTopography]

You bet, ibjbUSA. Yes, once you've driven it a few times, you really do appreciate the very straight interstates in regards to how swiftly they get you home. Lol. Thank you for watching! -Fred

[@619sdbdub]

Wow...what amazing trip! Thank you for sharing. I hope your vehicle handled it well! I look at this video through 3 different lenses: stagecoach, early cars and modern cars. Cant imagine the strain it had on the horses to go from Bakersfield to LA - not too mention the dust and the heat on both humans and beasts. I wonder what that length of time would be? The Model-T's - like you commented - 22 horsepower that could go 40 mph, but still with all turns through those canyon speed wasn't a factor. You could close yourself off from the dust, still a hot or cold drive depending on the season. And modern vehicles...great suspension, climate controlled...and quick. We have it good! I now live in Washington, there are remnants of Hwy 99 from Eugene to Portland, Or. and a 5 mile section through Vancouver. WA. Haven't traveled any other section of Hwy 99 except those.

[@RapidTopography]

Yes, if you decide to drive it, Brian Wool, it's better to do it in a vehicle that has more ground clearance than less. It used to be a smooth ribbon of concrete, but after having been resurfaced with asphalt a few years after it was built, then adding in the lack of maintenance and the hill slides that have collected onto it, especially in the hairpin canyon turns, it's really become bumpy in parts. And like you said, I'm sure it was more of a strain on every type of transportation that went through those parts because you are ascending and descending a lot more than on U.S. Route 99, and then later, Interstate 5. They had the equipment to move huge masses of land later on in order to create a straighter, lower path. When you're on the Old Ridge Route, you know that you are really high up in comparison to what we drive today. Thank you for watching, Brian! -Fred

[@cup-a-joe8042]

Thank you for posting! Videos of historic California back roads are always so enjoyable. While watching this video I thought about a couple of drag racers out of Bakersfield, James Warren and Roger Coburn. During the 70's they ran the Rain For Rent top fuel dragster. They earned the nick name "Ridge Route Terrors" from traveling that road to drag strips in the LA area. In fact, they paid homage to that old road by having a mural painted on the cowl of the dragster. Ridge Route Terrors was custom painted like the letters were carved out of boulders complete with tailings. Above and below were road signs that said Bakersfield and Los Angeles. Just a little piece of Ridge Route trivia. Keep up the great work with the videos!

[@RapidTopography]

Those are great remembrances, cup-a-joe. I wish I had seen those adornments that you described. In the 70's, I was a kid, and my dad used to drive us up the Old 99, but I had not been on the Ridge Route until I was an adult. I'm so glad that so much of it is still there and pretty much intact, save a few bumps along the way. Thank you for watching, Joe! -Fred : )

[@cup-a-joe8042]

@@RapidTopography I found a video of old Fremont Dragstrip recently. At 27:41 you will see that mural. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fX_Le5dsfc5qf6M

[@RapidTopography]

@@cup-a-joe8042 Oh, how cool. I will check it out tomorrow. Thank you for finding this. Awesome!

[@RapidTopography]

I just watched the Fremont video, cup-a-joe. I really enjoyed seeing those great cars. Wow, some of them were so iconic looking. Thank you again for the video referral. -Fred : )

[@gordanagrubic7006]

Beautiful video!

[@RapidTopography]

Thank you, Gordana. I really appreciate that you watched it. -Fred : )

[@tommissouri4871]

I actually stumbled on this a bit tired and thinking 66 instead of 99 and then realized it wasn't Rt. 66. But I found it so interesting, I kept it and came back to it the next day to watch. It is really well done. I found the route on Google Maps to look up some of the areas and found there are many historical markers for the route. I see that there are many groups interested in the Ridge Route and have several websites for it. Thanks for the video.

[@RapidTopography]

Hi Tom, yes, there are definitely some historical groups that keep track of what's happening on the route, as well as know the history of it (better than I do). As you drive it, there are still a lot of those historical markers along the way. Some refer to hotels and inns, as well as service stations that used to be there, while others describe some difficult or notable feature that was a challenge in building the route (such as Swede's Cut). Thank you for watching, Tom! -Fred : )

[@NetWit20]

Back in the early 1970s I used to night hunt up along that ridge route in a '72 Chevy C-10 4WD. Spooky at night, but I would do it again any day.

[@RapidTopography]

I'll bet it was quite and serene, as it still is today. You couldn't go wrong with that Chevy either. Thank you for watching! -Fred : )

[@Kangenpower7]

This is very interesting video! I can recall Huell Howser doing a report on the same route, and that back in the late 20's the trucks would deliver LA times to Bakersfield taking this route each night, to arrive by 6 am in Bakersfield. They would use the concrete curbs to help slow the trucks, so they would not pick up to much speed! They probably drove from 1 am to arrive at 5 am in Bakersfield! A very long road trip! My dad "Died" along that route back in 1942 or 43, while sleeping and the driver started to take a nap too, and they ended up driving up a hill on the other side of the road at a curve. He went to sleep on the ground while waiting on a tow truck, and when they reached the bottom of the hill, he overheard another driver at the truck stop say "There was a real bad accident up there, and one guy died, saw him right there laying out on the hillside"!

[@RapidTopography]

It's truly an amazing old route. I didn't know that the L.A. times drivers used that route. What a load of driving every night that would have been. I think that you meant in your story that someone perceived as your dad having died when he was really just resting. I hope that this is the case. Thank you very much for watching this video, Kangenpower7. : )

[@erichughes284]

I drove that way once,but from the.other direction about 5 yes ago.Fun road you can really haul ass in places

[@RapidTopography]

Yeah, Eric, there are some straightaways that kind of surprise you, especially towards the southern end of the route. I'm glad that you gave yourself the experience of doing it. Most people have no idea it's even still up there. Thank you for watching! -Fred : )

[@danahsutton101]

It's hard to believe this was a major highway back in the day

[@RapidTopography]

Hi Dana Sutton. I'd probably call it, "the only highway," back then. Lol. You could have gone around through Bouquet Canyon, through Mojave, over the Tehachapis, and then into the Central Valley (by way of what later became Old U.S. Route 466). But it was so circuitous that the Ridge Route really was the only reasonable way once it was constructed. But yeah, driving through it must have been an ordeal. Thank you for watching, Dana. -Fred

[@nilo70]

I’m 70 years old. I have been driven , and drove the old road many times.

[@RapidTopography]

That is really great to hear, Olin. I wish I had when the road was the only way through the pass. I'd like to have seen it in its heyday! Thank you for watching. -Fred

[@chuckmorris7043]

Yes, this is good. I also remember our trips with our dad, 1940's into beyond the 1950's, from San Fernando Valley where we lived, traveling this same route to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park areas and camping in the back woods our of there. Definitely remember the ridge route. Also hunting for quail up on the ridge route not too far from route 138. Frazier Park during the winter and playing in deep snow up there.

[@RapidTopography]

That's awesome that you were old enough to have those vivid memories of those trips, Chuck! I enjoy seeing places along the road and imagining traveling through there during the really early days with the hotels and service stations along the way. Thank you very much for watching the video.

[@YahshuaLovesMe]

like visiting the past through a time tunnel...

[@RapidTopography]

I totally agree with you, YahshuaLovesMe. That's why I like finding old routes when I am able to. It's great to imagine that at one time, that old route was the main artery of people and car movement around the states and nation. I get totally obsessed with seeing where the previous route was before the main interstate came along. Thank you kindly for watching my videos! -Fred

[@Nscalemike56]

Can’t imagine 2 vehicles passing one another on this

[@RapidTopography]

I think back then they were probably bumping along at pretty slow speeds, Mike. And also, I have read about a lot of accidents that started to increase as more cars came through, including many that went over. But it is indeed narrow. Thank you for watching, Mike Cassidy! -Fred

[@wnewbury4]

Really enjoyed it. Thanks for doing it. Drove it twice approximately 30 years ago but from north to south. An old timer told me he drove a Bulldog Mack (chain drive) from LA to Bakersfield and when they got to the long downhill at Wheeler Ridge, they would tie off one of the chains so the truck would go twice as fast. Almost 60 miles per hour.

[@RapidTopography]

Lol. That's an awesome account, WG Newbury. Thank you for watching it. I really appreciate it.

[@MbisonBalrog]

Once I was in Tehachapi, and took a trip to Bako. I got off this exit before reaching Bako, and I was on this cliffside road. It was dangerous. I eventually reached a town/city called Arvin. I drove through some farm fields first though after successfully negotiating the cliff's edge road.

[@RapidTopography]

I'm thinking that you got off of CA SR 58 and onto CA SR 223. It leaves the 58 around where the National Cemetery is, winds around and down a lot of precipitously hilly road, then passed through Arvin and passes over CA SR 99, continuing west even past Interstate 5. That sounds like the road that you got onto. Thank you for the anecdote. -Fred : )

[@kimleone5496]

That was cool...I remember driving some of these old roads when I was a kid. I know progress is good but it is also dead to see some of this abandoned

[@RapidTopography]

That's very cool, Kim Leone, that you had the experience of driving them as a kid with your family or friends. I only went on it for the first time about seven years ago, though my dad used to tell me over and over about the Ridge Route when I was younger. Thank you for watching, Kim. -Fred

[@YahshuaLovesMe]

yah nice video great ride thanks!

[@RapidTopography]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@almoore948]

Wonderful video! Thank you! Many memories of old 99. My mother was born in 1925 and remembered making family trips to see relatives in a Model T, from Bako to LA and back. Took forever!

[@RapidTopography]

That's so great that your mother was able to tell you about the trips when it was really the only way through, other than going through the Antelope Valley and via the Tehachapi's. My spouse's grandmother took it too back in the day (also born 1925) and we loved hearing her talk about it. She always spoke about it with wonder, like it was really a trek. I'm sure it was back in those days with those older cars and such. Thank you Al Moore for watching the video! -Fred : )

[@EyeOnVenture]

It would have been cool for you to slow the vid to spotlight particular ruins with a flash of their original images where you could find them. I've been along that route on a motorcycle and NEVER knew there were once many stations and hotels along the way. COOL!!!

[@RapidTopography]

Yeah, I totally get what you are saying. On this channel, it's all about point to point, and I want to be careful of copyrighted stuff. But I collected a photo version of what you're talking about with my own photos a while back, which I still having finished putting together. When I do, I'll put that on another channel sometime in the near future and then point people to it on these videos using cards. It's really amazing how many ruins and foundations are still up there. That's why I recommend Harrison Irving Scott's book, "Ridge Route: The Road That United California." He really goes into great detail into each of those taverns, inns, service stations, hotels, etc. along the way. It was such an ordeal to drive that if someone left L.A. late, then they'd probably need to stay somewhere along the route. It's amazing that we can now be through the entire pass in 40 minutes or so on I-5. -Fred

[@EyeOnVenture]

@@RapidTopography I can't wait to see that too!!!

[@michaelgreen9484]

Back in 1988 I took my first trip on the Ridge Route Road from Templin Highway to the 138 in a 1988 Isusa 4 x 4 because I-5 had a big accident. The journey was slow, because most of the route is a dirt road with many curves, with few passing points. I plan on taking Ridge Route Road this September (2022) as part of group from the Ridge Route Museum in Frazier Park. This time I’m going to take my 2021 Nissan Titian Pro4X on this trip. Great video, you did some amazing research.

[@RapidTopography]

Thank you so much, Michael. That's great that you've done the route already, and that you knew that you COULD do the route to get around the traffic jam. A lot of people just plumb don't know about it. Also, these days, it's normally locked at the bottom side, so it couldn't be used as a detour. I'll bet your Nissan Titan Pro will handle it real well and that you'll have a blast. Please let me know how your visit goes. Enjoy! And thank you for watching the video, Michael. -Fred : )

[@williamwitzke953]

Im thinking about doin it on a motorcycle.

[@orangelion03]

@@williamwitzke953 Have you done it? It's a cinch on a moto, even a Wing or Wide Glide can do it =) You just slow way down. The only issue is the gates...best time to go is mid-week as this is the time water/power/pipeline workers are on the job and gates are typically left open all day. One can ride around the gates on smaller bikes. I or anyone I've know that has ridden there have even been cited or even stopped by Forest Service or work crews. If you are on a dual-sport or skilled on a bigger ADV, check out 7N23 (just north of Tumble Inn ruins)...spectacular views a couple miles up, and it goes across to Pine Canyon Road.

[@multilingualbusinessfriend1744]

At '3:51' while passing Burbank Airport (on the left) you mistakenly label the area as Sunland, CA, (Sunland is half a dozen miles northeast), you're actually in Sun Valley, CA... GREAT video none-the-less!

[@RapidTopography]

Hi Multilingual Businessfriend, your'e right, I did mislabel that area. I was definitely driving through Sun Valley there, not Sunland. Thank you for that. I was probably exhausted when I made that error. I'm glad you enjoyed the video, MB! -Fred

[@bboomer1948]

Very good video, thank you. Grew up in Burbank. The family would travel up Hwy 99 in the 50's, through 60's, Burbank to Stanislaus County. When the video got to the Old Ridge Route I swore I saw George Raft and Humphrey Bogart in their produce trucks. 🙂

[@RapidTopography]

Lol Bob. I'll bet you did. And I think I saw Alfred Hitchcock shooting another horror film along Gorman Post Rd. Thank you for watching, Bob! -Fred

[@mikekaup5252]

This would make for a great race with vintage race cars.

[@RapidTopography]

Wow, it would definitely be exciting, Mike Kaup. There are some real road precipices along the way! -Fred : )

[@donaldwarriner1640]

A wonderful exploration of a gem right under my nose! I've traveled so much of this route on my own but not after Gorman. I didn't know that the Ridge Road existed. Thanks very much. Now planning to make the trip and throw in a little rock collecting too.

[@RapidTopography]

That's awesome, Donald! I am really glad that you enjoyed the video and discovered something out of it. Just so you know, there is a gate that is most often locked at the southern end of the Ridge Route, just north of Templin Hwy by about a mile. So I would recommend entering the Ridge Route from the northern end (from CA SR 138, using Ridge Route Rd south). At least in that way, you'll be able to see more of it. If the gate is locked on the bottom, then you would just have to turn around and go back, which is most often the case. Enjoy your adventures! -Fred : )

[@Bob-xj8jl]

Great job, I actually watched the whole video while following along with my phone's map app! One little thing I would suggest is the part you walked with the camera on the closed section, (the jingle jangle part), still photos taken every 100 feet or so with a 2-3 second dissolve between photo i think would be less jangle and show a clearer image. Other than that, I really enjoyed the video!

[@RapidTopography]

Hi Bob! That's great that you followed along on the map app. Great idea. Also, regarding your idea about the Dead Man's Curve section, I totally agree with you. When I made that video back in 2015, I couldn't at that time think of another way to do it, and I kind of wanted to just at least show it. But your idea is great, and when I just redid the videos (both north and south), I used the photo dissolving technique for the section of U.S. Route 99 Alternate going northbound (LA to Bako) for the section of that highway in which no cars are allowed anymore. However, I didn't include Dead Man's Curve in that one, other than a reference to it in the bottom third written narration. I have to buy a drone soon to cover these types of things. Thank you for thinking about how to improve the videos that I do. I'm always thinking about it too. And thank you for watching. I really appreciate it, Bob. BTW, here are the links to the newer videos I just did. LA to Bakersfield: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6vben-hrsqkkK8 And Bakersfield to LA: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mGWpppWhi9BkgLs

[@dautolover]

I love myself a nice and twisty road, but you have guts taking that route, given how unkept it is. Still, fascinating.

[@RapidTopography]

Hi dautolover. It's definitely a twisty road. It's not too scary though. I sped up the video so the viewer gets through it faster and can get a sense of the topography one passes through, but I drove pretty reasonably through it. The only scary part, I suppose, is the prospect of the car breaking down in the middle of the route. The road is traveled enough so that someone would eventually see you, but the cell phone signal is not great in spots, and it would be a headache trying to describe to AAA where you are exactly. Luckly, I think they are able to triangulate road service calls these days in most areas. Thank you for watching the video, dautolover. -Fred : )

[@karlarasmith5944]

Thank you for this video. I live in Lebec and take I5 almost every day to Ventura. I have always wanted to drive as much of the old Ridge Route and old 99 and you have done it for me. I have done Castaic to Templin Hwy several times, esp if I 5 backs up. And I have driven around Lebec, Frazier Park and Gorman since it is my main street. I drove some of it south of 138, beautiful! But got nervous when I reached a section that said End of County Maintained Road and there were lots of rock and crumbling road, so I turned back. Fascinating history and interesting to see how the roads have evolved.

[@RapidTopography]

Thank you Karl. Yes, I would say that if you drive it, to do it in a high clearance vehicle. It's not off-roading or anything like that, but it's really bouncy and probably not good for the Honda's or Kia's shocks. I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee, and it handled it well. I have a Honda CR-V and had to do some pick up shots, and it was no fun in the Honda. I appreciate that you watched the video, Karl. -Fred : )

[@steevee1945]

Wow. What a fantastic video. The music is just right. And, though not on this route, reminds me of traveling up US 99 as a child with my parents, in the 1950s, where we would see northbound truck drivers, on the hot summer days, standing on their running boards with their shirt off, steering their rig, with a brick on their accelerator pedal. We always looked forward to seeing the big 76 sign over the gas station at the top of the Grapevine.

[@RapidTopography]

Great memories, Steevee1945! That's amazing that those truck drivers used to do those tricks while driving. I used to note the Union 76 sign at the base of the Grapevine as well. I was sad to see it dismantled. Thank you for watching and Happy New Year! -Fred : )

[@edwardclark3980]

Motion sickness must of been a big problem back then.

[@GM-gj8hs]

A drone view would be awesome

[@RapidTopography]

Hi G M, yeah, I've thought of that. It would be so much smoother if you could keep the drone, let's say, just over SUV roof height (for safety), and let it just follow the road. I don't have one yet. I'm guessing it would still have to be done in sections just for battery time and data storage, but maybe it could be done (the 11 miles at least) in one shoot. You could have one person driving, and one person in the passenger seat piloting the drone. I'm guessing somebody will do it at some point. Thank you for watching. -Fred : )

[@johnking6252]

Old 395 thru the back way was a interesting drive also.

[@RapidTopography]

Hi John, yeah, I was just starting to look into the 395 where it extended down towards Temecula southwards. It was a long road back then. I have to do more digging to find out what of the old route is still there. Thank you for watching the video. Fred : )

[@barryrahn5957]

No guardrails for your plunging pleasure!

[@RapidTopography]

Yes, and if you read about the history of the route, plenty of travelers went over the edge. It's extremely winding and it is indeed built on a ridge. It was done so because firstly, they didn't have the earth movers they later would need to build he US 99 Alternate (Piru Canyon) and Interstate 5 even later. But also, it cut down on drainage issues during rains and storms. But the result; extremely winding all the way through.

[@barryrahn5957]

@@RapidTopography It's like going back in time. You expect Bogie or Midland to appear at any moment. Old California - so cool!

[@sw8741]

Not only imagine driving it in "the old days" but imagine building it. I'd imagine a lot of steam powered equipment along with hundreds of men with shovels and picks. Thats the reason it so windy, it would take a lot of effort to cut and fill a road bed so you pick a route that wouldn't need as much of that and thats to follow the natural contours. You couldn't grade whole hill sides like they do today.. It would take a lot of labor back then to accomplish what they did. And you didn't drive to the job every day you'd stay in a work camp. You would be far pressed to find workers today who wouldn't bitch and moan living in those conditions. Plus, they weren't paid a whole lot either, they weren't the ones buying the fancy automobiles.

[@RapidTopography]

I think you nailed it, sw8741. Those giant land-movers didn't yet exist, so they found the most do-able route hugging the hillsides and sitting on the crests. It's exactly how the Ridge Route is when you drive it. What you said about the amount of labor in cutting the road... I think about this all the time, even with more modern day roads, such as Interstate 40, 80, 10, 8, 5. The distances these roads are laid over and cut through are really mind-boggling. When you drive them in a comfortable car or SUV with the radio or a podcast on, it's almost impossible to think of the labor that went into each 100 yards of these routes, let alone thousands of miles. And just as you said, the equipment of 1917 and such was minimal and involved a lot of human sweat. Just amazing! Thank you for watching. -Fred : )

[@karlklein2966]

I didn't realize Bakersfield had old sections of the 99 just like Fresno. It's called Golden State Blvd here. Old 99 also goes straight through the heart of Madera and is now named Gateway Dr. I'm old enough to remember the giant orange stands that dotted the 99 from Merced to Bakersfield.

[@RapidTopography]

Hi Karl, yes, I was just reading about those giant orange stands in one of my books about U.S. 99. What I have found is that a lot of the old U.S. 99 that was circumvented became "Golden.. something," like "Golden State Blvd," or, "Golden State Hwy." It seems pretty uniformly done. But there are exceptions through some of the smaller bits that were bi-passed. Sometime I want to video some of the areas north such as the areas you are describing. I have so many routes on my list that I get a little overwhelmed. LOL. Thank you for watching, Karl. -Fred : )

[@fiveolimo]

Do you know if that was really awesome. My father was born in 1924 I remember used to tell me about the old ridge route every time we drove i5 How did you learn all the information very interesting

[@RapidTopography]

Hi James Callan, thank you. How great your dad used to tell you about taking the Ridge Route. It's nice that even driving Intestate 5 years later, he still had a vivid remembrance of the Old Ridge Route. My dad was kind of like that too. If there was some fact that he knew about something no longer in the public conscience, then he was going to teach me about it. And I soaked it all up. So, I first read a book called, "Ridge Route: The Road That United California," by Harrison Irving Scott. This guy did a wonderful job of taking the reader though the history, not only of what happened, but why they happened, in building a pass between Southern California and Central California. I learned a great deal from that book. I also read a book called, "Highway 99: The History Of California's Main Street," by Stephen H. Provost. This book focuses more on U.S. 99, which was built later than the Ridge Route, but which each end of the Ridge Route used portions of what would later become U.S. 99, if that makes any sense. If you like this stuff, definitely pick up these two books. They are totally absorbing. Thank you James for watching the video. -Fred : )

[@edwardclark3980]

Self torture lol.

[@Aldamiras]

You should slow this video down to normal driving speed once you get out of Santa Clarita. My folks drove this "Ridge Route" with me a couple of times and I sort of remember it, but it flashes by too fast! Great Video though. One thing I do remember is how crowded it was. It would take my Dad all morning and into the afternoon to get up to Bakersfield.

[@RapidTopography]

Hi Aldamiras, you are not the only person to have suggested slowing it to normal speed. On this channel (by virtue of it's name), it's meant to kind of flow you through areas so you get a sense of the topography. However, as I made the video, I did slow it way down from my normal fast speed from Castic to CA SR 138 so that it would be too jarring. But I get what you are saying. It would just be a very long video. The other thing I would say is that if you get a chance (in a Jeep or something) to drive part of it so that you can get the visceral feeling of it, which really no video can provide. It's worth doing just to feel what people were doing in 1915-1933. Thank you very much for watching the video, Aldamiras. I really appreciate it. -Fred

[@Aldamiras]

@@RapidTopography A long video wouldn't bother me a bit, I enjoy watching these kinds of video-logs. 😉

[@johnallred716]

Love it (and I'm now the 420th subscriber, who knew?) I've spend many hours perusing the California Highways & Public Works volumes to see examples of the old alignments in their original form from areas I was familiar with. Tracing the Ridge Route on Google Maps always left me wondering what it looks like today, so thank you for documenting it! Living in Palm Springs for 10 years let me explore smaller decommissioned routes that still exist of US 60-70-99 around Banning and Whitewater, you can see the foundation of the old Sheppard's Restaurant along the alignment at Whitewater. Another favorite was the US 60-70 two lane adjacent to the 10 around Desert Center, with several bridges from the 1930's plus abandoned gas stations (2) and the DC Cafe. The Chevron pumps are still there, last inspected by Riverside County Weights and Measures in 1966. I found some old button reflectors interstate signs from the early days of the 10 behind the DC Cafe, and a painted sign for Kaiser's Eagle Mountain mine.

[@RapidTopography]

Hi John, thank you for mentioning the California Highways & Public Works books. I was not familiar with them. I have been researching exactly what you mentioned; those old 60-70-99 alignments in the Inland Empire and out to Coachella and Imperial Valleys. I have started doing some recording out there but have still a lot to do. I love those areas. I've been to the Whitewater alignment, which is very cool to see. Thank you for writing the above, and for watching. I really appreciate it.

[@tammylewis2408]

Wow! That is interesting, especially the gas pumps, showing how the constructions of I-5, I-10, and I-15 and the realignment and/or abandonment of those roads caused many businesses to fall by the wayside.

[@RapidTopography]

Yeah, Tammy, I think about that a lot for some reason. How a new alignment can just crash a bunch of businesses. It shows how driver really want convenience as close to their routes as possible. Thank you for your comments. -Fred : )

[@robinrussell7965]

This looks like a possible bicycle trip. Thanks. Gates, bikes...what gates? Lol

[@RapidTopography]

You definitely could, Robin. Mountain bike for sure. Not a racer. There are holes in the asphalt and cement along the way, lots of gravel, and quite a hill to climb (or go down). But I'm sure it would make a great day of biking. And yeah, gates are essential transparent to bikes, so no problem there. If you do it, let me know. I'll be impressed for sure. Thank you for watching, Robin. -Fred : )

[@having-fun-while-i-can]

What's the highest point on the old road? The new highway only goes to around 4500 feet.

[@RapidTopography]

Hi Jesse G, Leibre Summit was the highest point at 4,233 feet above sea level. It's on the northern side of the route, a bit before you start to head back down to today's CA SR 138. I-5 summit is 4,144. But, the difference is that for most of the Ridge Route, you are much higher than the equivalent location on I-5. Most of I-5 was built in the canyons leading to Piru Canyon, so it's always lower than the Ridge Route until you are going down Violin Canyon towards Castaic. They, they are for a shot time about at the same level. From Castaic on south, they are the same elevation. Thank you for watching, Jesse! -Fred

[@deandupont5503]

If you were driving on 99 through the Valley as a kid, you certainly remember the Giant Oranges. We'd head to Calaveras in the spring, and stopping for fresh OJ and nuts was always a treat.

[@RapidTopography]

That sounds awesome. I'm a child of the 60's, and a teen of the 80's, so I missed that time by a decade or two, but my dad remembers coming out in 1955 and seeing lots of groves still around. My mom came out in 1949 and she remembers the San Fernando Valley as mostly agricultural. Thank you for watching, Dean Dupont. -Fred : )

[@thomaslemay8817]

My parents drove that road several times when I was very young . The car was a Willie's Overland and later on a Chevrolet pickup truck with the kids asleep in the back truck bed .

[@RapidTopography]

I think that's a testament of how heavily children can sleep, Thomas. Lol. Thank you for watching the video. I really appreciate it. -Fred : )

[@frankwalker9078]

So that's where all the orange cones go to die....

[@RapidTopography]

Yes! Frank Walker. That is the orange cone graveyard. Lol. There is always something going on around a lot of these older routes. Thank you for watching it. I appreciate it. -Fred

[@xqqqme]

And, apparently, a lot of rubber mats.

[@annetteburchfield1067]

Went over the Grapevine several times a year to go visit grandparents or uncles before I-5 was ever put in. 2 lane road and getting caught behind a Greyhound bus was torture. The smell was horrendous. The route took longer but was more beautiful then.

[@RapidTopography]

Hi Annette Burchfield. It was probably former U.S. Route 99. They built what was called, "U.S. Route 99 Alternate," in 1933 to avoid the Ridge Route, which sent up Piru Canyon instead of up on the ridges of the mountains there. It was originally two lanes, and then they added a third lane. If you're ever going through the pass on Interstate 5, turn off at Templin Hwy, and then go west (if you're coming from L.A. turn left under the I-5 overpass, and if you're coming from the Central Valley turn right). The next road you hit, is Old U.S. Route 99. It gets buried under I-5 to the south, but it goes a few miles north towards the bottom side of the Lake Pyramid dam. So, if you ever want to see that road again, it's actually still there. Thank you for watching, Annette. -Fred

[@anonymike8280]

If I do it, can I just start at Magic Mountain? Or better yet, Castaic? About three hours from my street to Castaic. I can stop at Tommy's for -my last meal- lunch and make it a two-fer!

[@RapidTopography]

Original Tommy's! Yes! Thank you for watching. -Fred : )

[@howarddelacruz-bancroft4389]

If someone already asked I apologize but what were those square/rectangular rubber looking mat like objects scattered on the roadway? 21:59 shows some. Were they affixed or loose on the roadway? Any guesses as to the material and their purpose?

[@RapidTopography]

Hi Howard. At the time that I shot that video (I've shot a newer one since then... also on this same channel... see the Ridge Route Playlist), they were repairing the road towards the southern end. Those were large pieces of, the best way I would describe them... like those thick rubber mats that would be in a free-weight gym cover the floor. They were of that consistency. It almost seemed as though they had used them already and they were kind of scattered around the road. I'm not sure. But I re-shot the route in July of this year (2022), and the road during that portion is super smooth. So whatever their process, it worked! Thank you for watching my channel, Howard! -Fred : )

[@edwardclark3980]

Try this in a model A or T.

[@kathywebb6606]

Wish it were slower on the Ridge Route portion. Very hard to appreciate the road at that speed.

[@RapidTopography]

Hi Kathy, several people have mentioned this issue as you did. My channel is really about moving through topography, so that's why I keep some speed up. And, I actually lessened the speed quite a bit between Castaic and State Route 138 to see the route better. But if it were all at normal speed, it would have been a very long video. I do appreciate your comments, and thank you for watching the video. -Fred

[@christopherorourke6543]

Very enjoyable the video of traveling on the Old road(U.S.99) from Los Angeles to Bakersfield. Many people drive on U.S. routes for nostalgia & for the history of what it was like traveling before the building of the nations interstate highways. I subscribed.

[@RapidTopography]

Thank you Christpher O'Rourke for subscribing. Yes, that is exactly me. For some reason, I just love driving old routes and imagining what it felt like in the old days having to lodge at those motels and stopping at the service stations peppered throughout those old roads. Thank you for watching the video, Chris! -Fred : )

[@johnkemple]

Not all it was cracked up to be.. they would have had a lot of accidents there as well

[@RapidTopography]

Agreed. It was probably pretty treacherous a lot of the time. But still, it's nice to know that it's sitting way up there each day in the mountain sunshine. Thank you for watching, John Kemple. I appreciate it. -Fred

[@paulbeldenbush]

I don’t know how I tolerated living in LA area 45 years.

[@RapidTopography]

I did for 54 years. It's gotten so busy and hectic. These drives are my way of getting away from all of that chaos. You'll notice that a fair amount of them are open space and desert related just for the reason that you mentioned. Thank you for watching, Lame Disclaimer. -Fred

[@anonymike8280]

49:37 All that for a little kitty at the end. Guys never learn!😅😅😅

[@RapidTopography]

Thank you for watching. -Fred : )

[@anonymike8280]

It's so solitary up there. Just you ... and the vultures!

[@RapidTopography]

Yes, solitary and serene! Thank you for watching. -Fred : )

[@prmayner]

My stepdad use to talk about him and his dad going over the ridge route from Colton to Delano and that it would take them a days journey. I bet doing 30 miles an hour, if that back in 1925.

[@RapidTopography]

Yeah, Paul M. It was probably more like an ordeal than a quick zip over the mountains back then. Lol.

[@rayc.8555]

Love your channel. Just discovered it. Was a resident of So Cal for the first 55 years of my life. brings back memories. Now a MT resident. Thank you.

[@RapidTopography]

Hi Ray! I love Montana. I drove through a small part of it when I was up in Wyoming, and I've got two great friends from Montana. Thank you for watching. -Fred : )

[@douglaskaye1395]

Crazy road I had hate to try drive it in the dark or in bad weather. Great ride with excellent editing. Your luck to live in such a beautiful state.

[@RapidTopography]

Thank you Douglas. Yeah, can you imagine having to have done that road in rain, or worse, when the roads get iced or snowed on the couple of times per year up there. I'm with you. Sunny weather driving only for the Ridge Route. Thank you, Douglas, for watching the video. -Fred: )

[@you2be839]

I'm curious to see the whole Route 99, from LA all the way to Red Bluff! Someone should do a crowdfunding to help put it in video, seems like an interesting drive...

[@RapidTopography]

Hi You2be839. Yeah, I've thought of doing just that exact run. The issue for me is that current CA SR 99 runs pretty much over the Old US Route 99 for a lot of the way once you go north of Bakersfield. It deviates around most towns, whose original US route would be interesting to see, but it would be a lot of footage just driving the current CA SR 99. There are parts that do deviate a lot up by Shasta Lake, but some of it is now under water. Still, there are parts of the route that do exist up there still. I'll have to talk myself into it sometime, because as I stated, the original routes through the towns themselves would be interesting to see, and I know most of them. I've got a few other projects to do first, and then I'll consider that one. Thank you for watching the video. -Fred : )

[@you2be839]

@@RapidTopography Hi, you're talking with someone from the EU that is just curious about what's the best scenic road along that valley... I've already seen a video about the I-5 along the valley... and it's not that scenic tbh. I remember being bored throughout most of the video with nothing but flat, never ending fields with not much to entertain the eyes. So I thought, maybe that US 99 is the scenic road to take, but only found partial videos, not the whole route...

[@RapidTopography]

Yeah, I think that there is more to see along the 99, which is the original route through the Central Valley (formerly called Pacific Highway.. not to be confused with Pacific Coast Highway), because most of the little towns are built along the 99. Fresno, Madera, Pixley, Tulare, all the way up to Stockton and Sacramento. I will keep thinking about a way to do it that keeps the attention. I firstly, though, have a few other projects I'm going to be working on for the channel. Thank you for watching all the way from the UK. I loved London, the four times I've been there. Incredible city. I want to see other places such as Cornwall and the Lake District. -Fred : )

[@you2be839]

@@RapidTopography London?! haha I'm not even from the UK! I'm from a lovely, lush green, Iberian Peninsula northwest corner. And sorry, I've been to London while checking some stuff for University, not really my kind of place... I think I'd much rather live in other lovely places I travelled through south of London. As for the Pacific Coast Highway, yes, I already know that one, very scenic indeed, highly recommend for those with time... but for LA-SF, US-101 is probably my favorite: not as twisty as the Pacific Coast Highway; but definitely more scenic than the I-5. I think I'd only take the I-5 from LA to SF if short on time, or if going to Portland or Seattle... I only found the I-5 to be scenic from Redding-Mt Shasta onwards

[@RapidTopography]

Sorry about the London goof. I had not read that part of your message properly. Yes, your experience of US 101 being the nice median between scenic and somewhat efficient is how I believe a lot of people feel about that road. It's nice because it moves through the coastal range with so much to see. You just have to be careful about the CHP there, as compared with Interstate 5, because they want to keep the speeds down on US 101. I've seen a lot of speed checks up and down there. And I agree with you about I-5 becoming more scenic as you leave the Central Valley northwards. The Mount Shasta area is really gorgeous. Thank you for watching my channel, you2b. -Fred : )

[@alexandershatzko8748]

reminds me of the song....''was a lineman for the county''.....been past Bakdersfield a few times....lots of power lines ---canadian power

[@alexandershatzko8748]

went on the new 1-5 after it opened in the 1960's ---was still too young to drive

[@RapidTopography]

I love, "Wichita Lineman," Alex. One of Glen Cambell's best songs.

[@paulratto8638]

Enjoyed the video,, My life long friends father was a truck driver and would tell us fascinating stories of driving a truck on that road… How do you find out when the “gates” are open ?

[@RapidTopography]

Hi Paul, I'm glad that you enjoyed the video. That's cool that you got to hear stories about your friend's father. I wish I had heard some like that. The gate at the bottom (just north of Templin Hwy by a couple of miles) is almost always closed. But the gate on the north end, which is not really at the "top," but is down a ways, has been open each of the times I've gone there. I don't know if there is a way to find out any kind of schedule of gate access. But chances are that if you went from the top side (from CA SR 138), that you'd find the swinging white gate open. Thank you for watching the video, and for your story. -Fred : )

[@paulratto8638]

@@RapidTopography He mentioned that the trucks had no air conditioning, of course, so the drivers would stand on the “running boards” with the throttle pulled out in low gear and stay “cool” that way !

[@RapidTopography]

You know, I've heard of that method before. I cant recall if I read it in a book, or maybe another subscriber mentioned it. That's too funny! Fred : )

[@paulratto8638]

My “life long friend “ (we’ve known each other since the age of 3 and are Godparents to each others children) and I would take a few days “sabbatical” every year and leave the wives at home…We travel Route 66 a lot but also tried the Grapevine one year, south bound and were stopped at the locked gate ! The Grapevine was sentimental to us because his father drove truck there for years !

[@FCReggae]

Thank you , I have always wanted to do this .

[@RapidTopography]

You bet, Dakarai. I'm really glad that you found the video of the drive interesting. Yes, it's still there, and just awaiting your exploration on it. Just be aware that there is a gate at the lower end that is closed most of the time. So, when you go on it, you should enter from the northern side (CA SR 138 to Ridge Route Rd). It's serene up there. You'll appreciate it when you do it. -Fred : )

[@DjmDjm-hl8pt]

Back when L.A. had a population of 103 and Bakersfield a population of 6

[@RapidTopography]

Probably the Baker, his wife, and the kids who all lived in that field.

[@antonbruce1241]

At Approximately 2:45 in this video, you'll pass Alameda - the Chevron station in on the left. Across Alameda, you'll see five pillars - a monument to the founding of Burbank and a monument to U.S. Route 99.

[@delstanley1349]

30:48 Purple mountain majesties!

[@RapidTopography]

Hi Del, yeah, I was totally noticing that too as I was driving. You get high enough up there, and everything is kind of unbothered and serene, and colors light up the mountains and skies. Just really beautiful. Thank you Del. -Fred

[@abc123gpl]

i watch the video with 0,25 speed because i want to see the road . turned the good music off because it sounds weird with 0,25 speed. cheers from gerrmany.

[@joebarcena6265]

Got car sick 24. 50 I had to open a window in my house 😂

[@RapidTopography]

Sorry Joe. Yeah, you really rock and roll on the road, and I do have it at a higher than normal speed to get us through it in a reasonable time. Thank you for watching. -Fred : )

[@joebarcena6265]

@@RapidTopography I'm just joking 🙃

[@chili1593]

Ft Tejon up there is a fascinating place to stop and visit.

[@RapidTopography]

Ft. Tejon has such interesting history. Thank you for watching the video, Chili1593. -Fred

[@chili1593]

@@RapidTopography thanks for making it. Had family in Bakersfield and made the trip many times over many routes

[@waynehampson9569]

Where is the highest point on that route?

[@RapidTopography]

Hi Wayne, it's Liebre Summit, at 4,233 feet. It's just south of Sanberg, which is on the northern side of the route just a bit before you start heading down to current CA SR 138. The next time I update the video, I'll mark it on that one. I just didn't think of it. Thank you for watching, Wayne. -Fred

[@Nottallblonde]

Can you guys imagine being on that road at night

[@RapidTopography]

Well, you'd have seen a lot of stars in the nighttime skies. But don't look too long while driving. I think back then knowing that there were services including gas and hotels and inns probably made people feel a little better. It's actually nowadays that I personally wouldn't want to drive very far on the route at night. There is no one up there. -Fred

[@frednesbittjr.7862]

Now we know why it took weeks to cross...Have driven & hitch-hiked on 99 before I-5 came in. Thanx for the virtual ride...One of the few CA roads I'll never do... Slept under the 99/California Ave bridge 1 nite...'til the !#$%! trucks woke me up !

[@RapidTopography]

Sounds like you've lived California close up. Very cool. Thank you for watching the video, Fred Nesbitt Jr. I really appreciate it. -Fred

[@xqqqme]

I'm 69, was born in Ventura (though haven't lived in CA since 1977) and grew up hearing my father, whose family moved to Ventura from Caldwell, KS in 1922, refer to this road often. Although, on reflection, I suspect he appended the Ridge Route name to routings that were in service after 1933 (but very much pre-Interstate 5). As a kid, I remember there were hairpin turns of an old highway that could be glimpsed out the passenger window on southbound 99 (though where those were, I've long ago forgotten). Thanks for making this video! Oh, one more thing: straight ahead at 19:20...is that an even earlier alignment of the road? 🙂

[@RapidTopography]

Hi David, that's great that you have those memories. I think a lot of people referred to the U.S. 99 Alternate as, "The Ridge Route," as well because the name just kind of stuck. It's possible that the hair pin turns you saw as a child were along the section of U.S. 99 that descended down from Lebec. There is a section of road called, "Dead Man's Curve," which still sits there today. It's more visible from the southbound side since it is a vestige of road that goes around a hill to the west of the pass. But there are other sections that are still visible today from I-5, if you know where to look. and your dad probably knew of some of them. Thank you for watching the video. -Fred : )

[@EyeOnVenture]

FANTASTIC WORK. When did you take this run? You might have also pointed out the San Andreas Fault that you crossed just before you reached Frazier Mountain Park Rd.

[@RapidTopography]

Hi G Ruben, I just did it at the end of July with some punch-in's in early August. That's a great point about the San Andreas Fault. I'm so used to looking at the upended strata that I forget to note it on my videos. I'll remember. Thank you for watching! -Fred

[@AceNZ1964]

I started off thinking what a great road bike ride to do , but then mmm maybe trail bike would be better... then ok the quad bike is called for here and all the way back again . lol Thanks for a great watch, wasn't it relaxing seeing no cars at all and then you see the Rat race going by at 70mph on the freeway . You would love the roads and the land scape in New Zealand if you ever get the chance to come and see. Cheer from NZ

[@RapidTopography]

Hi Jason, you nailed it exactly. It's so serene and desolate with nature up there. And it's so easy to contrast being on the road when you know that Interstate 5 is way down below, busy with chaos. I have always wanted to visit New Zealand. I want to see the fiords. I saw them in Norway, but I want to have the New Zealand experience. Thank you for watching! -Fred

[@nucleargrizzly1776]

Those model T's and other cars of the era had to drive in reverse in the uphill portion. Otherwise the engine would get fuel and oil starved. It would either stall or sometimes lock up the engine. For the squeamish an experienced driver could be hired to drive your vehicle uphill.

[@RapidTopography]

I've heard that before about going up backwards for the difficult grades. That's amazing about hiring a driver. I guess there are certain parts of the nation where people have only driven in flat lands, and at that time, this route would have been very imposing. Thank you for watching, Nuclear Grizzly. Do you watch Grizzly True Crime? It's one of my favorite KZbin channels. -Fred