Great News – Angeles Crest Highway Reopens Today!

Those of you who call Southern California home, know that we have some wicked cool roads on which we may pretend to some kind of driving hero. However, one of those roads – in fact one of the best if you happen to be of the sport-bike riding persuasion- has been closed now for nigh on 18 months. Angeles Crest Highway (SR2) snakes north out of La Cañada Flintridge, and traverses 66 miles of the San Gabriel Mountains east to the 138 at Wrightwood.
Following the Station Fire, rock slides and washouts made the first 7 miles of the two-lane road impassable, requiring a long detour if you wanted to visit, oh say Mount Wilson’s observatories, or Newcomb’s Ranch. Ever since then, a yellow gate has blocked egress to the road just north of Foothill, but as of this morning, that gate will swing open and the chapparal-lined road will be re-opened to traffic and disco bikes. If you don’t happen to live in the LA area, this might not have the same meaning as to those of us who do, but just think, now you’ll have something to do should you ever visit here!
Of course I now have one less excuse for not getting my Healeys on the road again.
Image source: [lawheelman.org]

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  1. B72 Avatar
    B72

    I didn't see it, but was told that the road – normally carved into the side of a cliff – was completely gone in spots. As in road ends.. jagged edge… huge drop. Anyone have pics?

    1. B72 Avatar
      B72

      I found one. This might have slowed you down:
      <img src="http://www.hdopenroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/hwy2.jpg&quot;,width=500>

  2. Tim Odell Avatar
    Tim Odell

    Dammit. Sure…finally open the road after I move…bastards.

    1. Robert Emslie Avatar
      Robert Emslie

      Your move was the final piece of the puzzle required for the re-opening. Thanks, Tim.

  3. Tim Odell Avatar
    Tim Odell

    Angeles Crest is but one of many incredible Southern California roads.
    Behold, ye mighty, and weep: http://goo.gl/maps/LWV0

    1. vwminispeedster Avatar
      vwminispeedster

      My mind is blown.

    2. ptschett Avatar
      ptschett

      Meanwhile, in North Dakota:
      http://goo.gl/C6GLz

      1. skitter Avatar
        skitter

        ..the lone and level plains stretch far away.

    3. LTDScott Avatar

      Damn, that's a hell of a route. Glad you included Palomar Mountain Road, but I prefer to go up South Grade and come down East Grade. Easier on your brakes.

    4. jeremy![™] Avatar

      thats it, there is my break-in route for the miata.

      1. Tim Odell Avatar
        Tim Odell

        17+ hours of driving…but not bad to do as a multi-day tour. Start at some swanky place in Santa Barbara, then overnight in Big Bear, then loop through Temecula's wine country on the way out.
        Still trying to find the equivalent up here in the Bay Area. This is the closest I can get: http://goo.gl/maps/1Tkd
        Or maybe http://goo.gl/maps/Zsz8

        1. jeremy![™] Avatar

          that first one has me craving some spaghetti. but, cant go wrong traveling to "unknown road."

  4. Van Sarockin Avatar
    Van Sarockin

    California will put a highway almost anywhere. But I remember being disappointed the first time I visited LA. I wanted to drive up into the San Gabriels and do a long loop. But one road I needed was closed by an old avalanche, not noted on the map, so I wound up taking a much longer and less interesting route. But it sure is beautiful up the canyons and in the hills.

  5. kvhnik Avatar
    kvhnik

    "Of course I now have one less excuse for not getting my Healey’s on the road again."
    Your Healey's what?
    /spellingnazigrumppointingoutsuperfluousapostrophes
    *fixed now* I'll go crawl back under my rock. Oh, and it DOES sound like a neat road.

    1. ptschett Avatar
      ptschett

      Taken another way, he could have just accidentally the word "tires".

  6. west_coaster Avatar
    west_coaster

    Took a quick drive up there this morning. It's pristine, with a new blacktop coating up the point I turned around at least.
    But almost as if to confirm that things are "back to normal," on the way back down I got stuck behind a spandex-clad cyclist insisting on riding in the center of the lane at 30-35 mph the whole way. He even made sure he was on the left side of the lane whenever there was a straightaway. Way too many CHP up there to risk going over the double yellow.

    1. Van Sarockin Avatar
      Van Sarockin

      If I was riding a bicycle 30-35mph downhill, I'd need the whole lane too, or become road pizza!

    2. Tim Odell Avatar
      Tim Odell

      My San Gabriel Mountains technique is to get up there before the cyclists…usually on the curvies by 5, maybe 5:30am on a Sunday and you're in business.
      When we did the SUV Showdown, we left my place in Glassell Park at like 3:30 or 4 am.

  7. Cretony Avatar
    Cretony

    Big Wheel Little Wheel annual mods & Rockers ride and campout leaves from Hollywood at 11 rides up this road past Newcombs Ranch to the Bandido campground for and overnighter of biker fun. no park rangers allowed.

  8. hwyengr Avatar
    hwyengr

    I christened it this morning, as well. Stuck behind a CHP motorcycle on the way up, and passed a CHP SUV on the way back down.
    The last time I ran up that way via Big Tujunga Cyn in early spring, there was a bunch of sand/gravel spread across the road as you neared chain control. Do they sweep that off for the summer? Or does it just have to get brushed aside by the occasional rain?