A Santa Ana wind event in January 2026 cleared the air after a storm, revealing some impressive vistas. Here, you can see snow-capped Mt San Gorgonio in the San Bernardino Mountain, about 90 miles away from the University City area of San Diego at sunset. The hills in the middle-ground are near San Marcos.
I-5 between Santa Clarita and the San Joaquin Valley over Tejon Pass is known as “The Grapevine” and formerly known as “The Ridge Route”. It is an important corridor in California and has been so since 1915. Travel over the route can be quite treacherous in winter due to both rain and snow. Mudslides, rockfalls, …
Important Road Conditions Links: For local roadways, there are additional resources available on this site on our Southern California Highway Resources page. Winter in southern California can be quite an adventure at times. Some storms leave few routes open out of the Los Angeles area to points north and northeast. Some of these storms can …
Looking toward South Mount Hawkins in the West Fork San Gabriel Canyon from State 39. This road was planned to be improved but landslides prevented this work from being completed. In the case of this area, almost all of the low lying areas not covered in snow are landslides in one form or another. Even Crystal Lake, where this roadway is headed, exists because of landslides.
Looking for traffic, roadway conditions, and detours? Use the link below: Current Roadway Conditions and Detours I-5 between Santa Clarita and the San Joaquin Valley is commonly referred to as “The Grapevine” by locals and traffic reporters. Most assume the name derives from the twisty nature of the original roadway – the Ridge Route. That …
Southern California Regional Rocks and Roads
Exploring the highways, geology, history and landscapes of Southern California.